Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 418

The Porters were so close to claiming a fortune worth hundreds of billions, but that was the total family wealth. Lucinda's father alone had only a few billion to his name.

As for Lucinda herself, she couldn't even dream of a billion, let alone a hundred billion.

"Lucinda, you're really shooting for the moon!" someone accused her.

Lucinda replied with a smile, "I'm just stating the facts. My dad is worth that much; I'm not inflating the price."

"Your father is a person, not a product. You can't measure his worth in dollars."

Lucinda chuckled, "You suggested giving my mother some compensation and asked her to name her price. Isn't that like putting a price tag on my dad? In business, no one wants to take a loss. I'm just trying to get a fair deal for mom, not a penny more than what's fair."

"Of course, if Ms. Porter can't afford it, you better skedaddle before you embarrass yourself. Biting off more than you can chew can be deadly!"

Madeleine was seething with rage.

And she truly stormed off.

She couldn't bear to stay another moment.

She was livid!

When she first met Lucinda, Madeleine thought she was an easy target, someone she could manipulate. But after their confrontation, she realized that Lucinda was infuriatingly unyielding.

"Safe travels, Ms. Porter. I won't see you out."

Madeleine felt there was something off about Lucinda's farewell, but in her anger, she couldn't quite catch it.

It wasn't until she stepped out of Ascend Estate and felt the breeze that her fury subsided and she caught the undertone of Lucinda's words—it was as if she was bidding farewell to the dead!

Lucinda, just you wait!

Madeleine boarded her private jet, instructing, "Take me to the Ikella Group."

Dealing with Lucinda from her remote location in Skywatch was a challenge.

But she could seek out allies.

Her father had arranged for Ruby to be her ally, but Ruby turned out to be useless and ended up behind bars.

She was glad she hadn't teamed up with Ruby, or she would have been in the hole financially.

Apart from Ruby, she thought of Owen.

Owen and Stefan were arch-enemies.

Owen was deeply in love with Ruby, who had been locked up because of Stefan and Lucinda. Owen must despise the couple.

The enemy of her enemy could be her friend.

Madeleine considered joining forces with Owen to bring down the Stefans.

In Pinehurst, the only one bold enough to confront Stefan was Owen, since they were sworn enemies.

Madeleine had acted on impulse and left just as impulsively.

She hadn't done her homework and was unaware that Owen had moved on from his obsession with Ruby, and she knew nothing of Owen's history with Cecilia.

Owen, while still competing with Stefan in the business arena, had no desire to provoke the Stefans in his personal life.

After sending Madeleine on her way, Lucinda glanced at the clock and called upstairs, "Honey, hurry up! We need to get to work, I'm going to be late."

Normally, she would leave on her own, but Madeleine's visit had delayed her, and now she needed to ride with her husband.

And she hadn't even put on her makeup yet.

Lucinda was in a rush, cursing Madeleine in her mind a million times over.

That woman, Madeleine, couldn't hold a candle to her angelic mother.

Madeleine was just riding on her family's coattails.

"I'll go see Tiffany to help me with my makeup."

Lucinda didn't wait for Stefan to come downstairs; she bolted out the door. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Keith had enjoyed watching her put Madeleine in her place.

Usually, it was he who ended up frustrated by Madeleine.

He wasn't good at arguing with women, nor did he care to.

His sister had given him such satisfaction, it was a joy to watch!

Meanwhile, Lucinda hurried out to work, and on the other side, Madeleine arrived at the Ikella Group.

It was lucky that the Ikella Group had a spacious entrance to accommodate her private jet, which drew a lot of attention.

Madeleine didn't want to sneak around; she was there openly to propose a partnership with Owen!

To put some pressure on Lucinda, to make her scared.

However, Madeleine had arrived too early. Owen hadn't returned to the office yet.

He had spent the morning at the Yates family's, had breakfast there, insisted on taking Cecilia to work, helped her open the shop, lingered for a cup of coffee, and only after Cecilia's repeated urging did he reluctantly leave the café.

When he returned to the office at ten in the morning, he noticed a private jet parked at the entrance and frowned. Who was showing off their wealth on his turf?

As if he didn't have his own private jet.

It's just that he preferred to keep a low profile.

Owen's limousine drove straight in without hesitation.

Madeleine disembarked from the jet.

Her phone rang.

It was her father.

"Madeleine, where are you?"

The head of the Porter family was worried his daughter would be at a disadvantage in Pinehurst and had rushed over. After being told at Ascend Estate that she had already left, he had no choice but to call.

Thankfully, she answered.

"Dad, I'm at the Ikella Group."

"What are you doing at the Ikella Group?"

"Dad, I'll talk to you when I get back."

Madeleine was eager to meet Owen and didn't want to get into details with her father, mainly because it was too hot.

She had waited for Owen for two hours!

Today was definitely not a good day to be out, waiting on people.

"Madeleine, come back! Owen won't help you."

"Dad, I'll come home, I promise. Let's talk when I get there, okay?" Madeleine said, swiftly ending the call before her father could add another word.

The patriarch of the Porter family sighed.

Owen and Stefan might be fierce rivals, but as pillars of Pinehurst Inc., their local business feud was to be expected. If an outsider tried to muscle in on their turf, they'd band together to protect their interests. So the idea of his daughter trying to use Owen was a non-starter.

He didn't call back to douse her hopes in cold water. Maybe it was best for Madeleine to learn the hard way. It might bring some sense into her.

But what if, just what if, Owen agreed to collaborate with his daughter?

Being constantly overshadowed by Stefan must be a thorn in Owen's side. Perhaps he was desperate enough to join forces with an external ally to take Stefan down.

Just like he himself had been.

Always striving to surpass Nathan, he had never quite managed it on his own. Instead, he had to form alliances with others, pooling their strength to challenge Nathan's dominance.

Owen had barely settled back into his office, not even a sip of water gracing his lips, when he heard that the heiress of Skywatch, the Porters' own, was requesting an audience with him.

He paused, puzzled. The heiress of Skywatch looking for him?

Did they even know each other?

Not at all.

But if someone from the Skywatch clan was reaching out, it had to involve Lucinda somehow.

Curiosity piqued, Owen decided to grant Madeleine an audience, despite her lack of appointment.

With permission granted, Madeleine found no obstacle in her path.

Soon enough, she was standing at the door of the CEO's office.

Owen's male assistant knocked softly, waited for the affirmative from within, and then ushered Madeleine inside.