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 care, managed to

asked her softly, "Do you want

know about me and Hayden? What are they saying about me? That I'm a gold digger,

but she knew what was happening outside, especially about her and Hayden. Even

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

marry Hayden, even if she was willing, could Hayden handle his

none of them dared to let his

been pregnant for months, and only

away with this! His entire family won't have a good day! He has a daughter

hearing 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 on Hayden and his wife, even his two sons, but don't involve that

his eldest son, Pete, and realized that his daughter Molly was indeed

did Nathan

Madeleine asked about Nathan.

someone to inquire,

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.

anymore, I don't deserve him. Is he really just going to see his daughter?

"Madeleine, don't overthink it."

overthinking, but Nathan is acting like this. I knew all along that he

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

case? But after

Porter didn't

has a past, and as long as they were

innocence by Hayden, Nathan's own beloved

echoed through the

eyes towards the