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."

mother, and with her

asked her softly, "Do you want to go out

they saying about me? That I'm a

especially about her and Hayden. Even if her father had intervened, the news

He must have spread it, wanting to tie me down to him. Dream

She wouldn't marry Hayden, even if

so many mistresses outside, none of

pregnant for months, and only a

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

Mrs. Porter quickly advised, "Madeleine, don't do anything rash. Hayden's daughter is still young, and innocent. You can take your anger out

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

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

go see her when he has the time. Madeleine, don't think too much about it. He doesn't blame

deserve him. Is he really just going to see his daughter? Janice is in Pinehurst too, could it be that he finds me impure and wants to

"Madeleine, don't overthink it."

I'm not overthinking, but Nathan is acting like this. I knew all along that he never divorced because he still has a place for Janice in his

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

that really the case? But after they divorce, will Nathan still marry

Porter didn't dare

rich romantic histories. Everyone has a past, and as long as they were loyal to their marriage, the past

own beloved younger brother. Nathan couldn't

sound echoed through

eyes towards