Faux Vows, True Desires

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.

and Stefan

been locked up

her enemy

with Owen to

the only one bold enough to confront

on impulse and

from his obsession with

in the business arena, had

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

she would leave on her own, but Madeleine's visit had delayed her, and now she needed

she hadn't even put

in a rush, cursing Madeleine in

a candle to her angelic

was just riding on her

see Tiffany to help me with my

come downstairs;

enjoyed watching her put

was he who ended up frustrated

with women, nor did he

sister had given him such satisfaction, it was a

and on the other side, Madeleine

a spacious entrance to

sneak around; she was there

put some pressure on Lucinda, to make her

had arrived too early. Owen hadn't

work, helped her open the shop, lingered for a cup of coffee, and

morning, he noticed a private jet parked at the entrance and frowned. Who was showing

didn't have his own

he preferred

limousine drove straight in

disembarked from the

Her phone rang.

It was her father.

"Madeleine, where are you?"

had rushed over. After being told at Ascend Estate that she had already left, he had no choice but to call. Thankfully,