Faux Vows, True Desires

"After the Porters had given Hayden a good thrashing, they finally asked for the reason behind it. Dad was anything but shy, he laid out the whole story for the Porters. Then, Mr. Porter went on a rampage, almost battering his wife's face into a pulp. It was complete chaos."

"What happened next hasn't been resolved yet. Dad apparently stayed with the Porters the entire day before coming back. No idea if the plan is for Hayden to divorce and marry Madeleine or what." Keith narrated, a smug smile on his face.

The Johnson couple listened, equally engrossed.

Stefan pondered on his own investigation. Although he didn't have much evidence, the news that Keith brought via Hayes Brooks didn't match up with his findings. However, he had a hunch that the puppet master was likely one or both of Lucinda's uncles.

Of course, there was definitely more than one person pulling the strings.

Back when Lucinda was taken away, the Porters probably didn't intervene. After all, Madeleine was only two at the time and the Porter's power and influence hadn't reached the heights it has today.

The Porter's power has grown significantly in recent years, and so too has their ambition.

"Bro, if Hayden marries Madeleine, it won't bode well for us."

Stefan warned his cousin, preparing him for the possibility of a legitimate alliance between the Porters and Hayden.

Keith paused before saying, "I trust dad's judgement."

His dad wouldn't do anything to hurt them.

Stefan thought for a moment before saying, "Regardless, we need to be on our guard."

He wasn't in Skywatch, so he didn't know much about the Porters. If his father-in-law was bold enough to make this arrangement, he must have a plan to control the situation.

This matter was a double-edged sword.

Dad marrying Madeleine could lead to a fallout between Hayden and his family, given Ashley's sense of betrayal. She wouldn't agree to her husband marrying Madeleine and would surely raise hell. Having spent decades in the Blue family and raised two sons and a daughter, she wouldn't go down without a fight.

they'd have the

careful," Keith

is fine, I need to hang up

say anything else,

an emergency. Fearing his sister would

attempted

fired at his

was bulletproof, preventing the silent killers from taking him

"Drive faster."

driver in a

the car sped up, the assassin couldn't aim at the tires, allowing Keith to

several loyal bodyguards and convoy cars, Keith had no intention of stopping to

target's car speeding away, the assassins revved their engines

the bend. The

startled but managed

And then!

truck had hit

someone had run into the

ground. The motorcycles were in pieces, parts strewn

fate that had befallen their pursuers. It wasn't until they

firearms. Even if they survived, they would face

first one up. As per her routine, she went to unlock the doors. As she opened the garden gate, she noticed Owen crouched in a corner.

"Ouch."

cried

lock and key, and greeted Becca with a