Faux Vows, True Desires

"Ike told me his childhood buddy is back in town," Mason said.

"So what? Stefan is now married to our girl Lucinda. If his friend was all that, Lucinda wouldn't have ended up with Stefan."

"Stefan probably doesn't even love her, or else he wouldn't have married Lucinda, let alone refuse to divorce her."

By now, everyone in the Moore family knew that Lucinda married Stefan just to get her mother off her back about getting hitched.

Mason didn't speak again.

"Get some sleep and stop worrying. I'm sure Stefan will make Lucinda happy. Our granddaughter is a lucky girl."

Mason recalled the day they brought their granddaughter home, the clothes she wore and the gold necklace she sported, saying, "We can't control these things. Lucinda is headstrong, we can't change her decisions."

"Lucinda's biological parents must be loaded. As long as she finds them, she can reclaim her status. She's totally in Stefan's league."

Every time the topic of finding Lucinda's biological parents came up, Madison's face would drop.

She sank into bed, letting out a long sigh.

Although she talked like she's open-minded, deep down, she was reluctant.

The child they raised for over two decades might be claimed back by her biological parents.

"Fiona accepted it so quickly. Could it be..."

"Stefan knows what's up. Even if we don't come clean, Lucinda will find out. It's better if we tell her straight up, letting her know we won't stop her from finding her biological parents. She'll be grateful." "Besides, we raised her. Don't we know her character? Don't worry, she'll still be our granddaughter."

Mason seemed to take it all in stride. The couple talked for a while, until they heard Lucinda and Stefan coming upstairs. Then, they drifted off to sleep.

The next morning.

When Lucinda woke up, the first thing she did was check the time on her phone. Seeing that it was almost seven, she quickly sat up and nudged Stefan awake. "Stefan, it's almost seven. Get up, wash up and get dressed. I'm going downstairs to make you breakfast. After breakfast, you have to go to work." Without even opening his eyes, Stefan stretched out his arm and pulled her back into bed, causing her to fall onto him.

He wrapped his arms around her, rolled over and pinned her underneath him.

He kissed her, very gently.

his kisses, but

end, he kissed

lips away, opened

plans for today. I'm taking the day off. Tomorrow is Saturday, I don't

going home alone. From now

Stefan said softly.

vacation was due to Lucinda. Because she went home alone,

but to put work aside and

your work? Because of me, you've given up a day's work. That's a

you're more important than my work, more important than my life." "Lucy, I love you.

the first time Stefan confessed his

the depth of his feelings in his

wrap her arms around his neck and kissed

course, Stefan

they spent

the time they appeared downstairs fully dressed, it

deliberately wore a high-necked dress, covering the marks left by their passionate

only their two grandparents

as that at the Anderson family, just a bowl of

"Morning."

greeting. Madison put down

out a big bowl

"Stefan, have breakfast."

made this porridge for you this morning. Try it. If you're not used

a good breakfast for country people, but Stefan was special, and Madison was

not picky. I'll

Lucinda eat the porridge in the big bowl, and he went into the

forehead and scolded her in a low voice, "Stefan is so busy during the day, and you don't even let him rest at night. You

last sentence was said with a spoiling

out her tongue, "I didn't

said while eating his porridge, "It was your grandma who woke me

finished speaking, Madison lightly kicked

obediently took