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 would

in her tracks,

Stefan question your relation to us?

secrets and discovered the truth about Lucinda's adoption? But it was such a well-kept secret. And the timing was uncanny.

girls were

she had dressed Lucinda in her daughter's clothes, she had

had raised Lucinda for nearly twenty-four years. In her

family, no

two nights. I told him about it, and

reaching out to grab some food to eat, only to get her hand

use

mentally ill. She was old but very beautiful. She kept calling me her baby, and I

She cried so hard. I woke

she noticed that Fiona was in a

"Mom?"

Lucinda stopped eating.

Her mother's reaction...

that she really wasn't

such a question out of

probably knew many things

what are you

and quickly

some water into the

said as she scrubbed the wok. "You are my daughter. I had a difficult time giving birth to you. Even the doctor still remembers you." Lucinda casually said, "That's what I told Stefan when he asked me that question. How could I not be your

dream might have

already had

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

confront them. Why had they left her behind? They had given her up once, and they had no right to disrupt her life

story. It suggested she might have been kidnapped rather than abandoned. If this was true and her biological family had been searching for her

be if she were a true-born

her even better than many parents

"Is Lucinda back?"