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 her

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

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

death. Turns out it was your dad, that old scoundrel. He sneaked into my room, and in my anger, I pushed him

As expected.

done something under the influence to tick

bleeding on

her dad shouldn't be injured from such

all

bound to be drama at home this

bleeding. I'll check, Lucy. But should I call 911? What if your dad kicks the bucket from my push? You and your brother

Don't worry. If

had a hunch that her dad was

at her mom, he was probably trying to scare her, make her worry, and then while

her mother, Lucinda, despite feeling weak in the knees, got out of

what's happened

voice came from

waking up, 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 he surely

room. This morning, she got a shock and pushed him to the floor. Mom

up, concern etching his face. "Is

to go. If Mom realizes it's a ruse, she'll be livid Who knows what they might get up to need to call

Lucinda spoke, she began changing her

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

drinks and

with you," Stefan said, quickly getting out

would prevent her parents from making a scene, not wanting

front

conflicts genuinely loved Lucinda and strove to make amends. The last thing they wanted was for her to lose face, so

didn't object anymore and

her brother Keith to

along with Keith, were hastily driving back

with her daughter, Janice returned to Nathan's side knelt down, and lifted his head to check for any signs of

her waist, Janice realized the old rascal