Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 187

"Ah!"

Madeline cried out in shock.

But the heavy thud of the door slamming shut swallowed her scream.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she recognized the face towering over her. It was Lucius.

"What... what are you doing?" she demanded, her heart pounding.

"Maddy, I'm so sorry. I messed up," Lucius pleaded, desperation leaking into his voice. "Liliana trapped me with that pregnancy. The same goes for the other child—I didn't know he was hers until much later. If I had known, I would never have let you raise him. You have to believe me."

Madeline's expression turned frigid, laced with absolute disgust. "That has nothing to do with me."

"Doesn't it?" A spark of anger ignited in Lucius's eyes. "Let me remind you, Madeline—I merely signed a piece of paper. The divorce isn't finalized. I can withdraw my consent at any time. And even if it's filed, there is a mandatory thirty-day cooling-off period."

His dark gaze churned with a chilling possessiveness. "I never wanted to divorce you. Agreeing to Liliana's demands was forced upon me. I'll give her a wedding ceremony, but I won't legally register the marriage. Once this storm blows over, I'll come back for you. Okay?"

Even now, Lucius still delusionally believed Madeline was waiting for him.

Maintaining his insufferably arrogant savior complex.

He grabbed her hand, noticing for the first time that her wedding band was gone. But he didn't panic. Instead, he pulled out a velvet box—clearly a new purchase—and snapped it open to reveal a massive, ostentatious diamond ring. Without asking, he forcibly shoved it onto her ring finger.

Madeline stared at the colossal diamond he was using to buy her forgiveness. The carat weight alone meant he had dropped millions of dollars on it.

Yet, her heart remained utterly dead to him. Not a single word he had said sparked even a ripple of emotion.

"I said," she repeated coldly, "your mess has nothing to do with me."

"Really?" Lucius sneered softly. "You truly feel nothing for me anymore? Have you forgotten all the happy times we shared?"

His gaze locked intensely onto her lips.

Hungering for a taste he hadn't claimed in far too long.

"It wasn't good! It was a nightmare!" Madeline screamed, tears of sheer frustration spilling over.

A wave of bitter annoyance washed over Lucius. If Liliana hadn't caused such a catastrophic public scene, Madeline would have already forgiven him by now.

If Liliana hadn't crashed the event, Madeline would have returned home.

If Liliana hadn't weaponized Eleanor Prescott against him, Madeline would never have secured the divorce papers.

After Madeline left him at the hospital, he had been sent to the ER. Ever since waking up, he had been plagued by insomnia, obsessively agonizing over how things had spiraled so completely out of his control.

He truly believed Madeline was just throwing a tantrum over Liliana.

It never even crossed his mind that eight years of devotion could evaporate into pure hatred in just a few short months.

Staring down at the breathtaking woman he still viewed as his property.

He gritted his teeth. "I told you, I am never getting a divorce. I will never let you go!"