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

knocking him down. Given how much her mom resented her dad, it was

crying out loud. How could you just push

it, it was someone's head - scared me half to death. Turns out it was your dad, that old scoundrel.

As expected.

done something under the influence to tick her

any bleeding on Dad's

shouldn't be injured from

all be an

it was genuine or a ruse, there was bound to be

I'll check, Lucy. But should I call 911? What if your dad kicks the bucket

not that easy to take down. Don't worry. If

had a hunch that

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

despite feeling weak in the

what's happened with

came from behind

with her mom. He was always alert, never one

snuck into Mom's room. This morning, she got a shock and pushed him to the floor. Mom thinks Dad might be hurt.

sat up, concern etching his face. "Is Dad

ruse, she'll be livid Who knows what they might get up to need to call my brother.

she began changing

don't need to come

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

you," Stefan

felt that his presence would prevent her parents

front of

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

anymore and urged him to dress

also called her brother Keith to give him a

Stefan, along with Keith, were hastily driving back to

down, and lifted his head to check for any signs of bleeding. There was no blood, and upon closer inspection, not even a hint

around her waist, Janice realized the