Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 417

Taking a closer look, Madeleine was young and stunning—a fact that didn't escape anyone, especially since her brother had mentioned she was only two years her senior.

At twenty-six, Madeleine was set to marry a fifty-year-old man, which made everyone wonder what on Earth she saw in her aging beau.

Despite her meticulous makeup, a certain weariness couldn't be concealed. It was clear that she was under a lot of stress, probably thanks to Uncle Hayden's shenanigans.

Lucy couldn't help but smirk internally: Serves her right!

She had never seen a society heiress so eager to tie the knot with an old chap. And the fact that he hadn't laid a finger on her didn't deter her; she even resorted to using some underhanded tactics.

"Lucy, I'm here to see your mom, Janice."

Her tone was blunt, matching Lucy's own lack of cordiality.

As far as Lucy was concerned, there was no need for pleasantries between them—they were hardly old pals, and their families were practically at war. Straight to the point was best.

"Mom's not here. Whatever you need to say, you can tell me, and I'll pass the message."

Lucy could pretty much guess why Madeleine was there. NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

"Janice isn't here? Is it that she doesn't want to see me or is she afraid to?"

"And what if she doesn't want to see you? Who do you think you are that my mom has to meet with you on command?"

Madeleine was at a loss for words—she was used to getting her way and being defiant, but Lucy's rebuffs revealed her true colors.

"I have something to discuss with your mother, and it's about her and your father, Nathan."

"My parents can sort out their own issues. Even I, their daughter, don't interfere. What gives you the right?"

Lucy stood her ground.

"Ms. Porter, I told you to speak directly to me."

"Lucy, I'm your father's girlfriend! Watch your tone with me!"

Madeleine's usual domineering personality flared, but Lucy just laughed.

"My dad's girlfriend? My parents aren't even divorced yet. In my eyes, you're nothing but a mistress —a shameless one at that. You think you can lose all self-respect and still demand respect and kindness from others?"

"Ever seen children cozy up to their father's mistress? I haven't sicced the dog on you—that's me being civilized. I don't want to stoop to your level."

"Your dad stopped loving your mom ages ago. The only reason they haven't divorced is out of some misplaced sense of loyalty. He worries about what would become of your unhinged mother without him. You think he still loves her? He loves me, and you better advise your mother to get the divorce over with. If I'm happy, maybe I'll convince your dad to cut her in on some of the assets, so she doesn't walk away empty-handed."

Lucy was seething inside.

Just as expected, mistresses always had the thickest of skins.

But she kept her cool; showing anger would only play into Madeleine's hands.

After Madeleine had finished her piece, Lucy responded coolly, "Yeah, my dad loves you so much that despite all your scheming, you still haven't made it to his bed. Instead, you spent a night with Uncle Hayden. Shouldn't you be pressuring him to take responsibility instead of bothering me at the crack of dawn?"

Madeleine's face turned a furious shade of purple.

After a long pause, she managed to find her voice again, "Your father is just being respectful to me. He wants to preserve my honor until after we're married."

"Keep fooling yourself if that's what you want. Have you ever considered that maybe my dad's just not capable anymore?"

Madeleine was speechless.

Nathan, overhearing the conversation, felt an indignant flush of embarrassment.

He might be fifty, but he was in good shape, possibly even better than many younger men!

The grand foyer fell into an awkward silence.

Stefan, eavesdropping from the staircase, nearly burst into laughter.

Keith whispered from behind, "Maybe dad really isn't up to it."

Stefan whirled around, whispering back, "Bro, you're up? I was just coming down when I saw you hiding here. I got curious."

Stefan grinned, "Lucy told me to let her handle Madeleine, so I stayed out of the way. But dad's okay, right? You called me the other night to talk to Lucy about persuading mom."

Keith hesitated before agreeing, "Yeah, he's fine."

Their father had abstained from other women all these years. It was impressive he hadn't succumbed to temptation.

Back downstairs, Madeleine finally spoke up, "Lucinda, he's your father. Are you really going to slander him like this? Does he know?"

"And why should I remind you that if he's completely fine, why hasn't he touched you all these years? How come all your plots against my dad have failed?"

Madeleine tried to speak but found herself without a retort.

Maybe Nathan really wasn't able.

And that's why all her attempts had been unsuccessful?

This time, she had even lost herself to Hayden.

"Ms. Porter, is there anything else you want me to tell my mom?"

"I want her to go back to Nathan and get a divorce! I don't care whether he's capable or not, I love him for who he is. I want to marry him and spend my life with him."

"Wrong. You can't spend a lifetime with him. He's already fifty; even if he lives to a hundred, that's only half a lifetime," Lucy corrected her coldly.

Madeleine's face was a sickly green, "Lucy, you don't need to keep reminding me your dad's an old man."

"Oh, so Ms. Porter realizes my dad's an old man, huh? Look at you, barely older than me, trying to step in as my stepmom. You've got quite the taste."

"The matter of my parents' marriage is not my concern, nor yours. Whether they divorce or not is their choice. What right does Ms. Porter have to demand their separation? You've got the wrong target. You should be talking to my Aunt, asking her to step aside because, after all, it was my Uncle Hayden who spent the night with you."

"Don't go putting a green hat on my dad's head. He's got me and my brother to think about; he doesn't need to raise Uncle Hayden's kids."

Madeleine was fuming with anger, but Lucy had made her point clear.

Suddenly, it dawned on her that she had forgotten something critical.

She hadn't taken the morning-after pill, and the thought that she might be carrying Hayden's child sent a wave of panic through her.

"I could offer your mother some compensation. Just name your price," she said, trying to negotiate her way out of the potential scandal.

"Sell my father to you? Do you think you can afford him? Let's do the math. My dad's a billionaire, and I'm not even talking about the Blue family fortune. Just his personal assets are worth a fortune, and he's only fifty years old. These days people work until they're almost eighty, which means my dad has about thirty more years to increase his wealth, maybe even to a trillion."

"Do you think, Ms. Porter, you can cough up a trillion? If you can, you'd better start getting that money ready. I'll have my mom hand you over to him, cash on delivery, no backing out!"

Madeleine was left speechless.