Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 144

He kept telling himself that as long as he found Madeline, he could make up for everything. By staying by her side and caring for her, she was bound to forgive him—after all, they had shared years of deep affection.

Searching for her endlessly day and night, he woke up each time feeling as disoriented as if he were drowning. Still unable to locate her, his assistant kept calling relentlessly.

He had to return home for work. The day before his flight, he could only sigh heavily; he was leaving Madeline behind all alone.

It wasn't until he received the news of Photon Tech going public that Lucius realized something crucial: as the majority shareholder, Madeline would definitely attend the bell-ringing ceremony at The Empire City Stock Exchange!

The day before the IPO.

Madeline had already returned to the country.

Tomorrow's ceremony at The Empire City Stock Exchange was the most important moment of her life.

It would be her first public appearance as the chairwoman of a publicly traded company.

The tech firm she had absolute control over was finally hitting the market.

Her net worth would skyrocket into the billions, establishing her as a benchmark of success in the industry. It was her childhood dream, and she had finally achieved it.

The Empire City Stock Exchange was bustling with energy. Many of the city's heavyweights had arrived to show their support, particularly several powerful and influential tycoons.

In her car, Madeline did one last check of her appearance. Her assistant was already waiting outside the venue, ready to escort her in.

Lucius and Silas were both relaxing in the VIP lounge.

Given their strained relationship, despite both being key shareholders in Photon Tech, they didn't exchange a single word.

Seeing that Silas hadn't arrived with Madeline made Lucius feel significantly better.

He knew, of course, that many of the current procedures required Madeline's signature, while Silas pushed things forward on this end. Lucius was certain the two had been in contact every single day.

What agonized Lucius most was that ever since Madeline handed him that letter, she had truly cut off all contact.

Adorned with hundreds of brilliantly cut diamonds, the dress made her look incredibly regal. As she walked, the misty fabric of her skirt flowed like gentle waves, giving her the grace of an enchanting woodland sprite.

Only true royalty could command a dress of such flawless, spirited beauty.

And in that moment, Madeline was undoubtedly the queen of the room.

Her entrance immediately captured everyone's attention.

It was purely because of how breathtakingly gorgeous she was.

Beyond the dazzling purple gown, her chestnut hair was parted down the middle and styled in soft waves. Resting against her luminous skin was a necklace featuring one of the world's rarest green diamonds, cementing her divine appearance.

She stood out entirely from the other female guests in their stiff formal wear and bold red lips. Instead of looking out of place, she embodied the absolute peak of elegance and grace.

The venue's starry lighting cascaded over her, making her glow radiantly, her eyes sparkling like a galaxy of stars.