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?"

was acting on drunken impulses, trying to get cozy with

for knocking him down. Given how much her

the Blue family, for crying out loud. How could you just push him over so

I felt it, it was someone's head - scared me half to death. Turns out it was your

As expected.

have done something under the influence to tick

panic. Check if there's any bleeding on

her dad shouldn't be

could all be

whether it was genuine or a ruse, there was bound to be drama at

on the floor, 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 your brother

not that easy to take down. Don't worry. If you're really concerned, you

that her dad was faking

staring at her mom, he was probably trying to scare her, make her worry, and then while checking on him, he might seize the chance

call with her mother, Lucinda, despite feeling weak in

happened with

voice came

probably roused by her conversation with her mom. He was always alert, never one to sleep too deeply. If there was any disturbance, she might not notice, but

got a shock and pushed him to the floor. Mom thinks Dad might be

sat up, concern etching

but I still need to go. If Mom realizes it's a ruse, she'll be livid Who knows what they might get up to need to call my brother. Having us there might calm things down. Mom

Lucinda spoke, she began

drank too much last night. You don't need to come with me. Stay here and rest. I'll have someone drive

had also had a few drinks and wasn't feeling

with you," Stefan said, quickly getting

her parents from making a scene, not wanting to

front of the

Lucinda and strove to make amends. The last thing they wanted was for her to lose face, so his attendance could

object anymore and urged him to dress

called her brother Keith to give him a

with Keith, were hastily driving back

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 blood, and upon

waist, Janice realized the old