Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 265

She was absolutely certain of her impending success.

Thanks to the restorative surgery, she felt confident she was leagues better than the woman he had discarded.

After all, men were entirely predictable in their craving for novelty.

Liliana knew she had to ensnare Lucius quickly, ideally turning him into a compliant puppet.

Only then could she secure Eleanor's complete trust and cement her untouchable status as the Prescott Heiress.

Men, status, and vast wealth—she intended to hold it all firmly in her grasp.

The grueling wedding preparations kept Liliana running on empty.

This was the defining moment of her life, and she micro-managed every detail, leaving the Whitman family to bend entirely to her will.

Despite the wedding machinery operating at full throttle, Liliana found it impossible to reach Lucius.

He ignored her calls, and whenever she showed up at his estate, the head maid firmly blocked her at the gates.

Panic began to gnaw at her. If Lucius skipped the ceremony, she would become the biggest laughingstock in the city.

But when she rushed to the Whitman Estate to complain, Arthur confidently assured her that Lucius wouldn't dare pull such a stunt.

Millicent treated Liliana like royalty, even flying in top-tier specialists to monitor her pulse.

They were desperate to ensure her pregnancy remained completely stable.

Arthur was vaguely aware of how close Liliana had come to miscarrying during the engagement, and his frustration with Lucius's erratic behavior only grew.

He had ordered Lucius to treat Madeline well, but Lucius had stubbornly chased after Liliana instead.

Now that he was finally marrying Liliana, he was freezing her out and refusing to show his face.

Millicent showered Liliana with luxurious gifts, piling up premium caviar, truffles, and several priceless family heirlooms.

Caressing Liliana's hand, the old woman cooed, "My precious girl, the future of the Whitman family rests on you. Focus on resting so you can give us plenty of healthy baby boys."

Liliana offered a tight smile but stayed silent.

At that moment, Millicent signaled for the nanny to bring Leo out.

Millicent had no choice but to turn a blind eye to the vicious kick.

"Yes, yes, of course. But he's still your child, and you'll have to raise him eventually."

Ever since the Whitmans accepted Liliana as their future matriarch, they had repeatedly suggested sending Leo to live with them.

They thought the boy would act as a bridge to smooth over the couple's rocky dynamic.

But Liliana had flat-out refused every time, using the excuse that constantly moving the child was bad for his development.

Ultimately, Millicent took over the boy's upbringing, treating him with far more care than before.

She rationalized Liliana's cruel behavior as nothing more than extreme pregnancy hormones.

After offering a few more shallow pleasantries and securing the elders' unwavering support, Liliana made her exit.

She had managed to book a meeting with Lucius at the city's most exclusive fine-dining restaurant.

Getting a table there required a reservation at least a month in advance.