Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 488

"I refuse," he said, spacing every word with devastating precision, actively blocking every possible exit strategy she might have.

"I will never divorce you, not even for a legal stunt, not even for thirty days. Do you hear me?"

"Quentin—"

"Do you understand me?" he repeated, his volume rising a fraction, only to be instantly extinguished by the fresh tears spilling from her eyes.

Madeline didn't sob aloud. She simply stood there weeping silently. Her tears slid through his fingers, dripping onto the front of his shirt and blooming into a dark, wet stain against the fabric.

"But I'm so terrified!" her voice trembled.

Every syllable felt like it was wrenched from her very bones. "Then what do you want me to do? Tell me, what am I supposed to do?"

Quentin froze.

"When Xavier confronted me, I can fight back.

When Jasper took you away, I can drive out to pick you up.

I can ignore how they view me, how they insult me, how they weaponize my background. I truly don't care about any of that."

Her voice was trembling, but she spoke faster and faster, desperate to finally unleash the paralyzing fear she'd buried so deeply.

"But do you know how scared I was today, sitting in my office, dialing your number over and over, and never getting through?"

Quentin's hands stiffened against her face, his knuckles trembling slightly.

"I kept wondering where you were, whether you were hurt. I kept wondering where I was supposed to look for you if I couldn't reach you. Who was I supposed to demand answers from? I didn't even have a single door I could knock on."

Tears hung from Madeline's lower lashes, yet her tone was stubbornly fiercely protective. "I'm not scared of them bullying me. I'm scared of them hurting you while I have to stand by and watch, completely powerless."

Her words twisted like a dull blade in Quentin's chest.

He closed his eyes and pulled her head against his shoulder. One arm banded tightly around her waist, while his other hand cupped the back of her head, locking her securely against him.

"I know you want to protect me." Her voice was muffled against his chest, absorbed by his shirt, but every word still rang with perfect clarity.

"But you fighting alone, and us fighting together, are two entirely different things.

Please let me do something, okay?

Even if it's just going through the legal motions, even if it's just putting on a show, at least I can help you. At least I can rip away their excuse to target you."

Quentin rested his chin against the top of her head, his Adam's apple bobbing with immense difficulty.

He understood the part she left unspoken.

The Yorks wouldn't stop.

If Xavier could block his approvals once, he could block them twice.

If Jasper could use 'national security' to detain him for an afternoon, he could find another excuse to lock him up indefinitely.

And every time they targeted him, Madeline would know.