Faux Vows, True Desires

"Mom, I don't want to worry you guys. Plus, I can handle things on my own. I can't just run to you every time I hit a snag, right?" "Ever since I was a kid, you and dad always taught me to tackle my problems and only come to you if I really can't manage." Fiona was momentarily silenced by what her daughter had said.

She and her husband had always instilled the value of independence in their children. Perhaps they had done their job too well, as their children had grown fiercely self-reliant. When troubles arose, they often chose to handle them on their own, rather than turning to the family for support.

Had Fiona not been adept at navigating the Internet, she might have remained oblivious to the incident at her daughter's shop.

"Does the woman who trashed your shop come from a wealthy and powerful family?" Fiona asked with concern.

Without waiting for her daughter's reply, she sighed, "Lucy, you see, we're not poor, but if we go up against a rich family, we wouldn't know what to do. We might not be able to help you with your problems. And that's just when outsiders are giving you a hard time. If it's Stefan messing with you, with the Anderson family's power and influence, we might not even have a chance to know about it."

The thought of her daughter being treated unfairly, or even being tricked into believing she was ill, filled her heart with dread.

No, she can't think like that!

Nothing like that will happen!

Fiona quickly dismissed her thoughts.

She was afraid that her wild imagination might become reality.

"Mom, don't overthink it. Stefan said his family is easy to get along with. You've met his grandparents and one of his brothers. Don't you think they're nice?"

"We only met them once, and there's a difference between meeting and living with someone. That's when conflicts can arise."

Lucinda chuckled, "Mom, don't worry, I can handle my relationship with Stefan's family. I saw how you interacted with my grandma when I was a kid. Are you still worried I can't handle these relationships?" "Your grandma was easy to get along with. She's different from others, especially those from rich families."

"Mom."

"Alright, I know you don't want to hear about this. Go wash your hands and we can eat when your dad comes home."

Lucinda nodded and turned to wash her hands.

"Mom."

"Yes?" Fiona started cooking.

asked what

stopped in her

a moment, she collected herself and inquired, "Why would Stefan question your relation to us? Of course

influence sent a jolt of anxiety through Fiona. Had they delved into their family secrets and discovered the truth about Lucinda's adoption? But it was such a well-kept secret. And the timing was uncanny. They

two girls were about the

she

twenty-four years.

their family, no

for two nights. I told him about it, and then he

grab some food

you use a

saw a middle-aged woman who was mentally ill. She was old but very beautiful. She kept calling me her baby, and I felt

taken away by someone. She cried so hard. I woke up with my pillow

she noticed that Fiona was in

"Mom?"

Lucinda stopped eating.

Her mother's reaction...

that she really wasn't

wouldn't just ask her such a

knew many things that ordinary

are you thinking

back to reality and quickly dished out

poured some water into the wok and started cleaning

always have vivid dreams and like to write them into your novels," Fiona said as she scrubbed the wok. "You are my daughter. I had a difficult time giving birth to you. Even the

mentally ill woman in my dream might

already had her

inconsequential. She had grown up surrounded by the love of this family. If Fiona claimed her as a daughter, then that's who she

biological parents were to come to her, she would confront them. Why had they left her behind? They had

might have been kidnapped rather than abandoned. If this was true and her biological family had been searching for her all these years,

be if she were a true-born

than many parents

"Is Lucinda back?"