Faux Vows, True Desires novel 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.

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.