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."

her mother, and with her

"Do you want to

everyone outside know about me and Hayden? What are they saying about me? That I'm a gold digger, a flirt, wanting to have

was happening outside, especially about her and Hayden. Even if her father had

have spread it, wanting

even if

mistresses outside, none of them dared to let his wife

pregnant for months, and only a select

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 return it double to his

You can take your anger out on Hayden and his wife, even his two sons, but don't involve that

that his daughter Molly was indeed too young. She nodded, "Fine, I'll wait, until his

did Nathan

Madeleine asked about Nathan.

to inquire, and it seems

to go see her when he has the time. Madeleine, don't think too

I don't deserve him. Is he really just going to see his daughter? Janice is in Pinehurst

"Madeleine, don't overthink it."

acting like this. I knew all along that he never divorced because he still has a place for Janice in his heart. Mom, Janice can't

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

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

didn't

people have rich romantic histories. Everyone has a past, and as long as they

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

sound echoed through the

eyes towards