Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 182

That put her mind at ease.

Since Quentin's only demand was for her to be his woman, Madeline actually found herself not resisting the idea. In fact, now that she had made her choice, a spark of anticipation flared within her.

"Should we do it now?" she asked, her ears burning crimson.

Offering herself to his bed felt incredibly shameful.

She had always thought the man should be the one to initiate this kind of intimacy.

The fundamental differences between men and women usually meant the man conquered while the woman surrendered.

However, Madeline couldn't help but worry—what if Quentin suddenly backed out? This arrangement clearly favored her, so she felt the need to fight for it proactively.

From what she had gathered, Quentin rarely stayed in the country, whereas her entire life was rooted here. If she didn't seize the moment now, she had no idea when she would see him again.

Rather than second-guessing his intentions, it was better to push things past the point of no return.

Quentin stiffened.

She slipped out of bed and approached his towering figure.

Madeline wasn't short, but Quentin was exceptionally tall, emphasizing the stark difference in their builds.

She reached out, sliding her hands around his waist.

Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she felt his radiating body heat and the relaxed, solid contour of his muscles.

A stern voice rumbled near her ear. "What are you doing?"

Though his tone carried a dangerous edge, Quentin didn't push her away. This seemed to validate Madeline's assumption that he harbored some interest in her.

If he didn't, he would have brushed her off without hesitation.

Madeline paused, looking up to find herself completely enveloped in his dark, intense gaze.

His eyes were fathomless, brimming with a commanding authority that reminded her of a strict father demanding answers.

Was she crying over Lucius Whitman?

When Quentin had returned to shore earlier, he had already been briefed on everything surrounding Madeline.

Hearing how Lucius had been publicly humiliated over his mistress's pregnancy, Quentin had secretly suspected the child wasn't even Lucius's to begin with.

The doctor treating Liliana had reported that she avoided birth control to hide her encounter with a street vagrant from Lucius. If she had taken the pills, there would be no baby.

But Quentin saw no reason to share this intel with Madeline just yet; he preferred to watch the chaos unfold.

He also knew that Madeline had gone to the Whitman Estate and been slapped.

It must have hurt her deeply.

Was she frightened now, hoping to secure her safety by throwing herself at a powerful man like him?

Her tears only made her face look more intoxicatingly beautiful.