Faux Vows, True Desires

"Such a golden opportunity, slipped right through our fingers."

Mr. Porter trailed off, his voice thick with frustration and resentment.

The person on the other end of the phone fell into a brief silence, clearly understanding the weight of the disappointment.

Keith had always been a hard target, surrounded by the best in the business when it came to personal security. With such protection, Keith had managed to dodge the grim reaper more times than anyone could count. They had accepted their past failures as part of the game. But this time, Keith had been alone, unprotected, ripe for the taking. Their plan should have been foolproof, or at least, Keith should have been left licking serious wounds. Yet, nothing.

Was it because the attempt took place in Pinehurst?

"It's late," the voice on the other end finally said, cutting the conversation short, uninterested in Mr. Porter's complaints.

Who would want to lose anyway? Since they had gotten involved, they had yearned for Keith's downfall. As long as Keith remained alive and took over the entirety of the Blue family, targeting him would become an increasingly daunting task. And now, even touching Keith seemed like an impossible feat. The last two assassination attempts had been abysmal failures.

How had that kid stumbled upon such damn good luck, turning misfortune into a stroke of serendipity time and time again?

After the call ended, Mr. Porter lingered in his study for a moment longer before finally rising to return to his bedroom.

Mrs. Porter was still deep in slumber, and in his sour mood, Mr. Porter felt a pang of envy at his wife's blissful ignorance. Without a second thought, he nudged her awake.

"Honey, what's the matter? Why aren't you asleep at this hour?" Mrs. Porter sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning, clearly disoriented from being woken up from her peaceful sleep.

"Can't sleep, I'm too worked up. And look at you, sleeping like a log, without a care in the world. I've provided you with such a comfortable life, and you can't even manage to raise our daughter right. Look at the state Madeleine's in now. Doesn't it break your heart?"

"It's all your fault, you know. If you hadn't bought that damn love potion, Madeleine wouldn't have fallen prey to that scoundrel, Hayden Blue."

fury was reserved for the fact that his precious daughter had

inner circle. And despite his willingness to use her as a pawn,

started eating again, and she's coming out of her room. Darling, I'm at fault, I know. I love her more than anything; she's my own flesh and blood. But what's done is done. And it's not

situation pained her as much

that it was Madeleine's own scheme that backfired, not trapping Nathan as intended, but instead playing right into Hayden's hands. Even with his rage boiling

had no choice but to swallow their

fell into

a moment, Mrs. Porter ventured, "Hayden has been coming by every day to see Madeleine, but she refuses to meet him. He mentioned that if we would

"What does Madeleine say?"

Porter asked

our daughter's heart; it's set on Nathan. She's determined to marry him. She doesn't care that Nathan's fifty years old; in her eyes, he's the best man in the world, and she

was her peer, and yet her daughter was eager to marry a man of such an age. Even if

say in the matter. Aside from advising her daughter, there wasn't much she could do. Madeleine was spellbound by Nathan,

Nathan's thumb, and his son Pete can't

Mr. Porter knew Hayden all

be within our grasp. But he doesn't have the chops to sit on the throne. We only work with him out of convenience, to use him.

comes by again and talks about taking responsibility, tell him that a daughter of the Porter family won't settle for being

eyes, asking, "Are you suggesting that Hayden should

three children, the two grown sons certainly wouldn't approve of their father divorcing

a divorce doesn't mean we're agreeing to let Madeleine marry

with a chilling disdain, "He thinks he can mess with my daughter and get away with just a beating? In his dreams! I'll make sure

Porter's eyes widened as the