Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 32

Lucius stood up and walked over to her. “You said you were assaulted yesterday? What happened?”

His expression was incredibly somber.

It was as dark as a looming storm.

Even if he didn't care about Madeline, he couldn't accept another man laying a finger on his woman; it was a matter of basic male pride.

“How could you not know?” Madeline lowered her eyes slightly, answering truthfully.

“Last night, I went back to my own place. In the middle of the night, someone picked the lock. They even had a signal jammer, so I couldn't make any calls. Remembering we had a satellite connection, I called you for help.”

Lucius couldn't remember what had happened yesterday. He had gotten drunk at a business dinner and passed out as soon as he got home.

When he woke up, he was lying in Liliana's room, even though he distinctly remembered going back to his own bedroom.

Lucius didn't blame Liliana for answering his phone, considering he was the one who got drunk first.

He was just surprised. “And then? Who did you end up calling for help?”

He was astonished that Madeline managed to survive the ordeal without him. Who had helped her?

Madeline thought for a moment. There was no need to reveal that a mysterious person had been protecting her, so she said, “A neighbor came in and subdued the attacker.”

Lucius breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a neighbor.

But then he found it strange—why had he felt a little tense?

Was he afraid Madeline had another man?

Why would he be afraid of that?

In Lucius's eyes, Madeline merely possessed a stunning exterior. She looked absolutely radiant, yet she understood nothing about romantic relationships, only knowing how to bury her head in coding.

She was indeed a gorgeous woman; dressed up, she would be breathtaking. But her beauty felt rigidly dutiful, belying an incredibly conservative heart beneath that stunning surface.

But looking at it now, a man who cheated right after they wed had no honeymoon to offer her. Their marriage was destined to be devoid of any sweetness.

She stayed silent for a long moment, suppressing the ache in her heart. Finally, under Lucius's pressuring gaze, she spoke up. “No.”

Lucius was shocked. How could Madeline refuse him?

He knew exactly how much she loved him and how badly she wanted to travel with him.

But now, she had blatantly rejected his invitation.

“What... what did you say?”

Madeline took a breath. “I said no.”

She didn't want his hypocritical charity, especially when it was an empty promise—a tiny vacation dangled in front of her like a carrot she would never get to eat.