Faux Vows, True Desires

The door swung open.

Mrs. Porter found her daughter Madeleine standing in front of her, her hair disheveled and her bare feet on the wooden floor. Her eyes were swollen red, and she looked gaunt. Mrs. Porter's heart ached at the sight of her.

But she quickly wiped away her tears, and hurried in with a tray of food.

"Madeleine, darling, I've made your favorite dish. Come, have a taste, see if my cooking is still as good as you remember."

She set the tray on the coffee table, and turned to look at her daughter, relieved to see her following close behind.

As long as Madeleine was willing to open the door, it meant she'd come to terms with her situation.

Once Madeleine was close, Mrs. Porter pulled her down onto the couch, placing a fork in her hand.

With a tender look, she touched her daughter's face and said, "Madeleine, my dear, eat something."

Madeleine looked at her mother, who had been worried for days. She knew her father had been giving her mother a hard time these past few days as well.

"Mom, I'm sorry for making you worry."

"Madeleine."

Mrs. Porter couldn't help it, her arms wrapped around Madeleine and she began to cry.

Madeleine didn't cry anymore.

With things the way they were, crying wouldn't turn back time.

"Mom, I'm okay."

with her care, managed to

softly, "Do you

and Hayden? What are they saying about me? That I'm a

what was happening outside, especially about her and Hayden. Even if her father had intervened, the news had spread all

must have spread it, wanting to tie me down

scoffed. She wouldn't marry Hayden, even if she was

outside, none of them dared to let his

Echoville had been pregnant for months, and only a select few

I won't let him get away with this! His entire family won't have a good day! He has a daughter too, right? He treated me like this, I'll

don't do anything rash. Hayden's daughter is still young, and innocent. You can take your anger out on

valued his eldest son, Pete, and realized that his daughter Molly was indeed too young. She nodded, "Fine, I'll wait, until his daughter grows up.

did Nathan come

Madeleine asked about Nathan.

sighed, "He didn't come today. I sent someone to inquire, and it seems he and his son went

"His biological daughter just came back, it's only natural for him to go see her when he has the time. Madeleine, don't think too much about it. He

he really just going to see his daughter? Janice is in Pinehurst too,

"Madeleine, don't overthink it."

along that he never divorced because he still has a

to reassure her, "Think about these past few years Nathan has been with you. Even if Janice was not in her right mind back then, she wouldn't forget all this once she's sober. No self-respecting person could accept their husband neglecting them for over twenty years, parading around with other women. Janice won't get back together with Nathan, don't worry!

But after they

didn't dare to

romantic histories. Everyone has a past, and as long as they were loyal

was stripped of her innocence by Hayden, Nathan's own beloved younger brother. Nathan couldn't possibly not care. "Knock,

echoed

eyes towards the