Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 195

Desperate for some fresh air to clear her head, Madeline stumbled out the moment the elevator doors opened—and slammed face-first into a rock-solid chest.

"Oh, God," she gasped, stepping back quickly. "I'm so sorry."

"Madeline?" A familiar, cultured voice echoed above her, tinged with obvious relief, as if he had been searching for her all night.

She blinked, her vision slowly focusing on Silas's handsome face.

"Mr. Hayden," she murmured, trying to stand up straight.

Silas frowned. "I thought we agreed on Silas."

"Silas," she corrected, rubbing her temple.

He offered a warm, reassuring smile. "I came because of Lucius's engagement party. I was worried you might do something impulsive, so I decided to check on you. Someone said they saw you head to the elevators."

His eyes dropped, instantly zeroing in on her flushed skin. "Madeline, are you okay? Your face is burning up."

Hearing him say it made the symptoms ten times worse.

Damn it. The incense really did affect her.

A suffocating wave of heat rolled through her veins. She felt a desperate thirst clawing at her throat. "I'm fine, Silas. Thank you for checking on me, but I really need to go. Goodbye."

"Madeline, wait." Silas reached out, catching her arm. "You're clearly not okay. It's not safe for you to leave like this."

She yanked her arm back, panic rising. "I swear I'm fine. I have people waiting for me outside."

"I'm sorry, that was out of line." Silas instantly backed off, reverting to the perfect gentleman and distinguished professor she knew. His voice softened. "Why don't you come rest in my suite for a few minutes? You can barely stand up straight. What if you trip on the stairs and hurt yourself again?"

A jolt of fear spiked in her chest, but she knew safety was just past the lobby doors.

She didn't want to drag Silas into this mess. "No, thank you, Silas. It's late. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to be alone in a hotel room."

Madeline's consciousness was slipping fast.

It felt like she was being roasted alive. The heat was unbearable, turning her skin hypersensitive to the sheets.

Silas brushed his fingers against her forehead, feeling the unnatural heat radiating off her. He stood up, retrieved a first-aid kit from the bathroom, and pulled out a medical cooling patch.

"You're going to be okay, Madeline," he murmured smoothly. "A divorce is nothing. You're still the same brilliant, radiant girl I met in college. You'll survive this."

Through her blurred vision, Madeline saw his hands moving, tearing at a small plastic wrapper. The hallucinogen warping her brain took over. She thought he was tearing open a condom.

Panic seized her. "No! No, please... Silas, don't..."

Silas frowned, thoroughly confused by her terrified pleas. He peeled the backing off the cooling patch and pressed it gently against her forehead.

He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper. "Madeline, there's something I've never told you. The truth is..."