Faux Vows, True Desires

Janice peered at her son's face, her eyes searching for signs of deception as she asked him yet again about the girl. She could tell Keith wasn't lying.

With a hint of disappointment, she said, "It's a shame you've met a girl you actually admire, and you don't even have a foot in the door yet."

Then, brightening up, she added, "No worries, just keep seeing her. Who knows, sparks might fly eventually. I have this feeling you two might just end up together."

Keith let out a long sigh. "Mom, how can I keep seeing her when I don't even know who she is or what she looks like? And what if she's married? She might have kids old enough to be raiding the cookie jar."

Janice was at a loss for words.

"Mom, I'm still young. There's no rush to settle down, especially with our family situation, which you're well aware of. I don't want to drag someone else's daughter into this mess. Give it a few years, and we'll see. And if you're itching for grandkids that bad, why don't you pester Lucy and Stefan to get a move on and have a baby?"

"I wouldn't mind being an uncle," Keith added with a playful grin.

Janice sighed, "I guess I'm the one getting ahead of myself. You're right,

considering the current state of our family, it might be better for you to wait a few more years to tie the knot."

"Mom, it's our family," Keith emphasized.

Janice fell silent, then said, "When I get back, I'll talk to your father about the divorce. If he refuses, I'll file for it myself."

"Mom, Dad's got his reasons," Keith tried to interject.

"I don't care about his reasons. He's neglected us for over two decades, left me to be ridiculed and tormented by that Kayla Ashley. Just thinking about all the years of hardship makes it impossible for me to forgive him."

Hating him would only amuse him. I feel nothing for him anymore, I just want to be free of him and

came when

harbored resentment toward Nathan, yet she couldn't bring herself to be entirely

try to persuade his mother further.

Dad had a bit to drink, might've been a little tipsy. He ended up crashing in your room, clutching your pillow all

something under her breath, too low for

to bed. You should

to his

"Clever boy, thinking I don't

She wasn't fooled anymore.

had mentioned intrigued her; she seemed just right for her son. But who was she, what did she look

to mention it to her daughter later, to ask her and

if Keith wasn't planning to get married in the next few years, the time would

bed, Janice returned to her dreams, and the night passed

the hustle of daily life blurring the line between day and night, and before they knew it, a week had gone

of Liam and the Paisley family's darling

Tiffany, Liam had opted for a traditional Western wedding in the city's most renowned

the bride on her big day and had her makeup toned down to

including his close friends, his cousin Keith, Hayes Brooks, and even Owen, who had practically begged to be part of the crew Liam, not

his wedding was still the talk of the city. The procession of luxury cars thạt made up the wedding motorcade was a

with pride. As Tiffany walked down the aisle on her father's arm,

over to Stefan and whispered, "Liam looks

back, "and I'll be even happier