Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 30

Madeline followed Gavin to the executive floor.

Lucius was reviewing documents at his desk. Hearing her enter, he looked up.

"Come here and sign this transfer agreement."

Technically, this was HR's job, but Lucius wanted to handle it personally to ensure she didn't throw a fit. He was confident that because Madeline loved him, she would blindly accept whatever role he assigned her.

Gavin handed the file over to Madeline.

She flipped it open. The contract explicitly stated she was being demoted from Chief Engineer to Deputy Chief Engineer, and her new core responsibility was to assist and execute tasks assigned by the Chief Engineer.

Madeline let out a dry, incredulous laugh. "What exactly makes you think I would ever work as Liliana's deputy? Does she have a single successful patent to her name? Can her academic degrees even hold up to a basic background check? Does she know the first thing about our flagship games?"

Lucius looked genuinely shocked by her defiance.

He had always believed she possessed flawless professional integrity. He couldn't fathom why she was being so petty in the workplace just because Liliana had accidentally hurt her kid.

Lucius warned, his tone patronizing, "You colluded with hackers, Madeline. The executive board already proved it. I am doing you a massive favor by keeping you on payroll. Stop being so ungrateful. Yes, Liliana is fresh out of school and lacks experience. You just need to develop a few solid patents and transfer them to her name so she can establish her authority."

Madeline rubbed her temples, feeling entirely nauseated by the sheer audacity of his words.

Years ago, out of pure, unadulterated love, she had unconditionally transferred the entire Lightning Interactive patent to Lucius, letting him take full credit so he could win over the board. That move had eventually secured his position as the heir to the Whitman Group.

Because she had truly loved him.

And how had he repaid her?

Last night, while a man was breaking down her door to assault her, Lucius had handed the phone to his mistress and let her cut off Madeline's only lifeline.

And now, he had the nerve to look her in the eye and demand she willingly act as a disposable stepping stone for Liliana.

She was completely, utterly disappointed.

So he roared, slamming his hand on the desk, "Are you out of your mind? Are you seriously quitting just because I didn't visit your grandmother?"

"Yes! Exactly because of that!" Madeline laughed.

She laughed, the sound sharp and slightly unhinged.

Their marriage had been dead for a long time. When he moved his mistress in to play house with him and their illegitimate child, her silence hadn't meant she accepted it.

But now, she truly didn't care. If Lucius wanted to believe that was her only reason, then so be it.

"When I held a vigil for my grandmother in the hospital, you didn't show up. When the only family I had left in this world passed away, you refused to see her one last time. You didn't come to read the eulogy, you weren't there for the memorial, and you didn't stand by me at the edge of the grave!"

Her voice dripped with raw, venomous sarcasm.

Lucius's arrogant demeanor faltered. He knew his absence had been incredibly callous. "Madeline, how can you abandon the company's future over this? Would my presence have magically brought her back to life? We are a family; you need to be more understanding. Stop obsessing over something neither of us could control. Your grandmother wouldn't want you throwing your life away over this."