Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 730

He knew perfectly well that Henry Fairchild would call him back.

If Henry genuinely loved his daughter, he would agree to the terms to guarantee her safety from the Lancaster fallout.

But even if Henry didn't give a damn about Nora, he would still agree!

Because the sheer value of Lancaster Research Lab was enough to drive any billionaire insane with greed.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Just as River was reveling in his flawless calculation, a knock at the door broke his concentration.

He glanced over his shoulder as Arthur Lancaster II walked in, carrying an elaborate fruit basket.

"Your leg hasn't even healed! Why are you out of bed?"

Arthur rushed forward, immediately trying to usher River back to the mattress.

River completely rejected the gesture, violently slapping his father's hands away. "What are you doing here?" he demanded coldly.

Arthur looked stung. "What... what kind of question is that? I'm your father. I came to see how your recovery is going..."

"I don't need you managing my life..."

"How can you say that? You're my son. How could I not worry?"

River let out a bitter, explosive laugh. "Now you remember I'm your son? When the manor was burning to the ground, you seemed to forget I existed entirely!"

Guilt flashed across Arthur's face, but he scrambled to defend himself. "River, I already explained everything. Your mother was in excruciating pain. She was about to pass out. You know how delicate she is. She’s never suffered a day in her life. How could she handle that kind of torture?"

"She couldn't handle it, so I'm supposed to?!"

River viciously yanked up his pant leg, exposing the horrific, mangled burn scars covering his calf. "I owe this nightmare completely to you two..."

Arthur's face flushed with shame. "Alright, River. I admit I made a terrible mistake. But I swear, I will never abandon you again..."

"What about the ashes? What about The Ivory Pill?!" River interrupted, his voice dripping with venom.

Arthur instantly looked at the floor, refusing to meet his son's eyes.

He knew the truth.

River had practically begged him, ordering him to take the secrets of the ashes and The Ivory Pill to the grave...

But Arthur had caved instantly, giving Hudson everything and single-handedly destroying River's entire master plan.

"River, I know I failed you on that front, but... you have to understand the situation. If I didn't tell him, your mother was going to take another knife to her leg. Could you really stand by and watch her..."

"Yes!"

River's eyes widened with unhinged fury. "I could have used the ashes and The Ivory Pill to turn this entire war around! No matter how ruthless Hudson is, he wouldn't dare kill us as long as we held those cards! The location of his parents' ashes? The only cure to his poison? We had the ultimate leverage to force him to the negotiating table! And you threw it all away!"

"River..."

"I don't want to look at you anymore. Get out." River spun around, turning his back on his father entirely.

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