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?"

acting on drunken

Lucinda couldn't blame her mom for knocking him down. Given how much her mom resented her dad, it was a wonder she didn't

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

my stomach. When I felt it, it was someone's head - scared 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,

As expected.

have done something under the influence to

don't panic. Check if there's any bleeding on

shouldn't be injured

all

of whether it was genuine or a ruse, there was bound to be drama at home this morning. She needed

call 911? What if your dad kicks the bucket from my push? You

easy to take down. Don't worry.

hunch that her

motionless, silently 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

the call with her mother, Lucinda, despite feeling

what's happened with your

came

was always alert, never

into Mom's room. This morning, she got a shock and pushed him to

etching his face. "Is Dad

to go. If Mom realizes it's a ruse, she'll be livid Who knows what

Lucinda spoke, she began changing her

to come with me. Stay here

also had a few drinks and

with you," Stefan said, quickly getting out

her parents from making a scene, not wanting

front of the

The old couple despite their misunderstandings and conflicts genuinely loved Lucinda and strove to make amends. The last thing they wanted was for her to lose face,

and urged

also called her brother Keith to give him

Keith, were hastily driving back to

Nathan's side knelt down, and lifted his head to check for any signs of bleeding. There was no blood, and upon closer inspection, not even

waist, Janice realized the old rascal was