Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 335

They never imagined that this breathtakingly beautiful woman had led a company to an IPO at such a young age, entirely without a wealthy family's backing. And she was the renowned creator behind a massive game. None of them were fools; they knew exactly how much weight those achievements carried if true.

While Penelope was undoubtedly exceptional, everyone knew her success was paved with money and power. Whenever she entered a competition, the Yorks made sure the path was cleared in advance.

Having had three sons before finally getting a daughter, Penelope was the apple of her family's eye, raised in a protective bubble of absolute privilege.

But Penelope seemed oblivious to this fact, and no one dared point it out to her. She simply believed her life was meant to be smooth sailing. She thought her trophies and accolades were won purely through her own genius. Even her success in the stock market was just a byproduct of her family feeding her insider information. She didn't know it, but her brother and the older, more experienced men in the room knew the truth: without the York family's endless support, Penelope wouldn't have achieved a single thing.

Her overseas education was bought, her awards were rigged, and her investments were spoon-fed.

Everyone else saw it, but Penelope was blind to everything except herself. Because Quentin had bruised her ego for Madeline's sake, she threw a tantrum. She childishly weaponized the Prescott family's broken promise to humiliate them, expecting her brother to blindly defend her and force Quentin to explain himself. Instead, Quentin effortlessly dismantled her attack while simultaneously elevating Madeline's status. Crying didn't help Penelope now. Her face burned crimson as she hid tightly behind Tristan, too mortified to show her face.

Tristan quickly pivoted. "That's certainly true. A rose blooming amidst thorns is a far better match for you than a sheltered greenhouse flower like my sister. Early congratulations to you both."

It felt as if tonight was finally the night. After all, Madeline had promised him that once they had a formal milestone to solidify their relationship, she would give herself to him completely.

That was why Quentin had her dressed so meticulously, even hiring an exclusive makeup artist. He had carefully wrapped her up like a prized gift, perfectly tailored for him to enjoy to the fullest tonight.

Just as Madeline's chest tightened with anticipation, Quentin picked up her wine glass. Finding the exact spot where her red lipstick had left a mark, he downed the rest of the wine in one smooth motion, then reached out to pull her away.