Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 270

Arthur hovered nearby, desperately attempting to piggyback off Eleanor's massive political and corporate network.

After all, Eleanor's connections were leagues above his own.

"What exactly is going on here?"

One of the VIP guests whispered, "Arthur and Eleanor are both here, but the groom is completely missing in action. How the hell are they supposed to hold a wedding?"

"Are you living under a rock?

Word on the street is Lucius refuses to take responsibility for his mistress.

He's exactly like his old man—only cares about the thrill, terrified of the consequences. He refused to show up.

The internet completely ripped him apart last time.

Just recently, Arthur stripped him of every single executive title he held. Arthur even threatened that if he didn't show up today, his manic-depressive mother would be tossed out onto the streets to starve, and Lucius would never find her."

"Wait, what? Didn't he cheat first? Why is he suddenly acting like the victim of a forced marriage?"

"Who the hell knows?"

"..."

Not far from the gossip, Silas took a slow sip of his tea.

He set the cup down gracefully.

But his eyes remained locked on the grand entrance. He was genuinely shocked that Lucius hadn't made an appearance yet.

The divorce was completely finalized; surely Lucius wasn't still stupid enough to obsess over Madeline?

Madeline had told him the other day that, mentally exhausted from surviving two separate murder attempts orchestrated by Liliana, she was taking a cruise to clear her head.

She planned to stay away until Lucius and Liliana's wedding circus was fully over.

In the meantime, she had asked him to step in and manage Photon Tech.

Silas saw absolute logic in her decision.

Liliana was currently backed by the terrifying combined weight of the Whitmans and the Prescotts. If Madeline stayed, she would be hunted down and destroyed.

Plus, Eleanor harbored a vicious hatred for Madeline, so taking a strategic retreat was incredibly smart.

It also bought Silas the time he needed to manipulate Eleanor into accepting Madeline.

Silas was only attending today to ensure Lucius and Liliana permanently locked themselves to each other, ensuring they never dragged Madeline back into their psychotic drama.

Particularly Lucius. Silas knew exactly how deeply Madeline had once loved that bastard. If Lucius kept hounding her, there was always a terrifying chance she might cave.

And Silas was absolutely determined to prevent that from happening.

Just as he was lost in thought.

Once she settled, Silas leaned in, his voice laced with concern. "Why are you here? I thought you were cruising the ocean. Why subject yourself to this toxic environment?"

Madeline let out a light, effortless laugh. She looked completely radiant, entirely free of the suffocating bitterness that should have accompanied her ex-husband's wedding.

She looked incredibly healthy.

Silas immediately picked up on her glowing aura.

"The ship just happened to be passing by," Madeline replied casually. "Figured I'd drop in for the show."

Silas barked out a laugh. "Do you own the damn cruise ship? You can just park it wherever you want?"

Madeline's smile deepened, because it was the absolute truth.

The cruise ship belonged to her husband, Quentin, which meant it was entirely hers.

She really could dock it wherever she pleased.

Though she had actually flown in on a private jet.

The cruise ship was trailing behind.

Spending the last few weeks with Quentin had given Madeline a terrifying look into the sheer magnitude of his empire.

Dozens of colossal luxury cruise ships.