Faux Vows, True Desires

"Hey, Nathan, did you knock yourself silly or what?"

Janice was starting to panic as he remained motionless and silent on the floor.

Should she call 911 for an ambulance for the sake of their two kids? Maybe she should just make the call.

She spun around to grab her phone.

After picking up the phone, she glanced back at Nathan, who was still lying there, staring at her with puppy eyes. Janice hurriedly dialed, but in her rush, she accidentally called their daughter Lucinda first.

Realizing her mistake, she hung up immediately.

But Lucinda called back right away.

Janice reluctantly answered her daughter's call.

"Mom?"

Lucinda sounded groggy; she had had a rough night. Liam and Tiffany's wedding celebration had somehow turned her own husband into a party animal. He must have overindulged because he clung to her all night as if it was their own honeymoon.

She woke up feeling like she had been hit by a truck.

In her novels, she always wrote the male protagonists as insatiable lovers, leaving the heroines weak in the knees. She used to think those were just wild fancies of the writers. Last night, after being tossed around by Stefan, she learned those feelings were anything but fictional.

She lay in bed, not wanting to move, while the man who turned into a wolf the previous night was now sound asleep, showing no signs of stirring.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Lucinda asked with concern.

"Lucy, I pushed your father over, and he hit the floor, smacking his head. Now he's just lying there, not moving, not talking, just staring at me. Do you think he could have knocked himself senseless? Should I call 911?"

"I meant to call for an ambulance, but I dialed you by mistake."

Since Lucinda had called back, Janice decided to come clean.

Lucinda was puzzled. "Mom, why on earth did you push Dad over? What did he do to you?"

couldn't be that he was acting on drunken impulses, trying to get cozy with

Lucinda couldn't blame her mom for knocking him down. Given how much her mom

out loud. How could you just

me half to death. Turns out it was your dad, that old scoundrel. He sneaked into my room, and in my anger, I pushed him off, and down he went."

As expected.

must have done something under the influence to tick

Check if there's any bleeding on Dad's head. I'm

dad shouldn't be injured from such a

all

or a ruse, there was bound to be drama at home this morning.

he shouldn't be bleeding. I'll check, Lucy. But should I call 911? What if your dad kicks the bucket from my push? You and

not that easy to take down. Don't

a hunch that

lying there motionless, silently staring at her mom, he was probably trying to scare her, make her worry, and then while checking on him,

her mother, Lucinda, despite feeling

what's happened

voice came from

by her conversation with her mom. He was always alert, never one to sleep too deeply. If there was any disturbance, she

a shock and pushed him to the floor. Mom thinks Dad might be hurt. Stefan, I need to

etching his face. "Is Dad

she'll be livid Who knows what they might get up to need to call my brother. Having us there might

spoke, she began changing her

you drank too much last night. You don't need to come with me. Stay here and

had a few drinks and wasn't feeling clear-headed enough to drive

Stefan said,

would prevent her parents from making a scene, not wanting to

in front of the

despite their misunderstandings and conflicts genuinely loved Lucinda and strove to make amends. The last thing they wanted was

and

called her brother Keith to give him

with Keith, were hastily driving back to Ascend

estate, after speaking with her daughter, Janice returned to Nathan's side knelt down, and lifted his head to check for any signs of bleeding. There was no

around her waist, Janice realized