Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 322

After the old woman departed, Madeline's mood remained frozen.

The words echoed relentlessly in her mind.

*The woman you're engaged to is a million times more beautiful, a million times more dignified, and a perfect match in status. More importantly, she is completely pure and has admired you for a very long time.*

Driven by a gnawing curiosity, Madeline seized the moment Quentin stepped away to take a call and immediately searched for Penelope York online.

The more she read, the more bitter she felt.

Penelope was the heiress of the Yorks, the apex of Empire City's four great families. Born with a silver spoon, she possessed an untouchable pedigree and had received a world-class education.

Raised like royalty from birth, her academic credentials eclipsed Madeline's entirely—ranging from the Vienna University of Economics and Business to top-tier institutions in Tokyo, finishing with advanced studies in London. She was flawless across the board, even securing highly prestigious championship trophies in auto racing and badminton. Her resume was spectacular; without even relying on her family's influence, she conquered the financial markets, raking in fortunes through American stocks and bonds. She was famously crowned the Finance Goddess.

Madeline even found photos of her. There were plenty of shots from her competitions online, though fewer casual ones. She exuded a breathtaking, untouchable elegance.

A woman like that truly belonged beside a corporate titan like Quentin. They were both apex predators in the world of high-stakes investments.

But Madeline? Aside from writing code and designing games, she had no dazzling accomplishments.

Just as a suffocating wave of insecurity washed over her, a firm force suddenly tilted her chin up.

Startled, Madeline didn't even have a second to gasp before her lips were sealed.

A warm breath, carrying a familiar, intoxicating scent, washed over her.

It was Quentin.

He had finished his call and returned long ago.

It took an agonizing amount of control to hold himself back.

Madeline's voice slipped out between their tangled breaths. "Are we... still getting married?"

Eleanor hadn't been wrong. If Quentin could secure the York family's backing, he would be truly unstoppable. The engagement was a massive strategic advantage for him.

Even though Madeline possessed a massive inheritance, she faced a fiercely guarded board of directors she couldn't penetrate, and a corporation she knew nothing about. Inheriting the trust without Quentin's protection was far more dangerous than walking away from it.

Quentin didn't stop. His lips and tongue continued to possess hers as he demanded in a dark, husky voice, "What did you promise me?"

Her mind exploded with fireworks from the kiss, her eyes turning misty and radiant. "What?"

Before she could even finish, the large hand gripping her waist tightened possessively. Her waist was incredibly soft, yielding perfectly to his touch.