In the car, Madeline recounted how her red carpet invitation had been canceled, her eyes welling up with tears as she spoke to Felix. She looked pitiful and wronged.


    "I worked so hard to get this opportunity. I can''t believe Noreen would be so


    ruthless, leaving me with no way out."


    "I don''t even know what I did wrong."


    "I''m just trying my best to save my career."


    After a long silence, Felix finally said, "You can walk the red carpet with me."


    This was the answer Madeline wanted, but she feigned hesitation. "But didn''t Old Mrs. Quigley forbid you from getting involved in my affairs? I don''t want you to ruin your rtionship with her because of me. She''s getting old, and we need to consider her feelings. We can''t let her get upset."


    Felix had known all along that she had been soft-banned.


    But Old Mrs. Quigley had given a strict order, forbidding him from intervening.


    Madeline had been patient about it, never once begging Felix for help. Instead, she had carefully cultivated the image of a stoic, self-reliant victim.


    And now, it was clearly paying off.


    At least Felix hadn''tpletely abandoned her.


    Suppressing her excitement, she asked with a worried expression, "What about Old Mrs. Quigley?"


    "I''ll have my assistant contact the mediater and suppress any news from here."


    A flicker of something passed through Madeline''s eyes.


    The old woman had sworn that as long as she was alive, Madeline would never set foot in the Quigley family home.


    But what if she died?


    Would that mean she finally had a chance?


    Just as Madeline was pondering this, Felix''s phone rang.


    It was hiswyer.


    Felix answered, and thewyer began updating him on the divorce case.


    He exined that ire had fully entrusted the case to Coley, making no demands


    and even willing to walk away with nothing, her only condition being a sessful divorce from Felix.


    Under these circumstances, the probability of the divorce being granted was extremely high.


    "Stall it for as long as you can."


    That was Felix''s answer.


    Madeline''s hands, resting on herp, clenched unconsciously.


    So ire had already filed for divorce.


    But why wouldn''t Felix agree? He didn''t even love ire.


    Cleverly, Madeline didn''t ask about it. Inste


    askin


    bet


    she changed the subject,


    Felix why he had suddenly


    She added that if she had known he wasing, they could have traveled together.


    Felix simply said he was invited to attend the charity g.


    Madeline believed him.


    Until Genesis informed her that ire was also attending the event tonight.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Could Felix be here for ire?


    Impossible!


    She must be overthinking things.


    She knew better than anyone why Felix had married ire—it was all for business.


    He couldn''t possibly be here for her.


    With that thought, she felt a sense of relief.


    Just before the red carpet was


    about to begin, Raina found Noreen again, reporting that Mr. Quigley from Northerest''s Quigley Group wanted to walk the red carpet with a femalepanion.


    ire''s brow twitched.


    Felix was here too?


    "Hispanion wouldn''t happen to be Madeline, would it?" ire asked.


    "Yes, it is," Raina confirmed.


    She had guessed right.


    ire wasn''t surprised by this oue.


    Without batting an eye, Noreen said, "Cancel his red carpet ess as well."


    Raina hesitated. "Is... is that appropriate?"


    After all, he was from the Quigley family of Northcrest. They should at least show him some courtesy.


    "It''s no trouble at all," Noreen said airily.


    "Noreen, you don''t have to offend


    anyone on my ount," ire


    advised. "Who he walks the red


    carpet with is his business and


    frankly don''t care at all."


    Noreen calmly took her hand. "I know you don''t care. I''m just standing up for my


    goddaughter, whom I haven''t even met yet."