Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 58

Cyrus answered a rapid-fire call from the Whitman legal department, quickly locking in a timeline for the asset transfer. He ended the call with a satisfied click.

Turning to Madeline, he delivered the news. "Everything is proceeding smoothly. We've essentially won. Lucius ordered his lawyers to initiate the handover. He wants no part of a lawsuit and has fully accepted that he's losing Lightning Interactive. Once we finalize the paperwork, we'll sign the transfer."

Madeline let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thank you, Cyrus. Seriously. Without you, this would have been a bloodbath."

She knew perfectly well that an ordinary attorney would have been crushed trying to pull off a move like this.

Cyrus waved off the gratitude, ever the pragmatist. "Business is business. I'm getting my fifteen percent, so there's no need to thank me."

Madeline insisted on paying for their coffee, murmuring, "If it hadn't been for Silas, I never would have crossed paths with someone of your caliber."

Cyrus paused, a faint smile touching his lips. "Honestly, I'm here because someone else called in a massive favor. Silas and I are merely acquaintances."

Madeline's eyes widened in surprise. "Who?"

"A mutual friend living overseas," he replied cryptically, grabbing his coat and walking out before she could press for details.

Just as Madeline stepped out of the cafe, her phone began to buzz.

It was Leo.

"Mommy, where are you?"

His soft, sweet voice trickled through the speaker.

Sliding into her car, she kept her tone neutral. "What's going on?"

"Mommy, I'm craving BBQ ribs and mushroom soup. Will you come home and make them for me?"

Madeline froze.

Just last night, the boy had swallowed a foreign object, throwing up constantly and suffering agonizing stomach cramps that nearly led to a ruptured stomach. In an absolute emergency like that, she hadn't minded rushing over to help.

But now...

A dull ache started to throb behind Madeline's eyes. "Leo, be good. The nanny makes it exactly the same way..."

She tried to redirect him to the staff, but Leo simply threw a tantrum and slammed the phone down, abruptly ending the call.

A suffocating tightness settled in her chest. She had poured her entire soul into raising that boy, yet the second she didn't bend to his every whim, she was suddenly the villain. He punished her without a second thought.

Meanwhile, Lucius and Liliana hadn't lifted a finger to raise him, yet the boy worshipped the ground they walked on.

Tossing his phone aside, Leo decided he was going to give his mother the silent treatment. Suddenly, the rumble of an approaching car caught his attention.

Thrilled that his father and Mommy Lily had finally returned, he raced down the grand staircase to greet them.

The car doors swung open in the driveway.

Normally, Lucius would chivalrously walk around to open Liliana's door. This time, however, he was far too exhausted and irritated to care. He simply climbed out and marched straight toward the house.

He left Liliana behind, her eyes bloodshot from crying. But no matter how many tears she shed, his hands were tied. The second the transfer went through, her supposed executive title would become a massive, humiliating joke. And he had absolutely no comparable position to offer her.