Faux Vows, True Desires

Janice was wrestling with him, shoving, yanking, and even pulling his hair in a frenzy. With a wild flurry of actions, she finally managed to push the old bastard away. Panting, she stumbled back, scrambling to her feet and staggering a few steps before looking around frantically, searching for something to drive the scoundrel out of her house.

The thought of someone seeing them together, with her clothing slightly askew, and jumping to the conclusion that they had reconciled was unbearable.

There was no way she would reconcile with him. All she wanted was to stay far away from him and live out the rest of her days in peace.

This man, who once promised her happiness and swore never to let her be hurt, was the very source of her pain and misery.

Spotting a vase on a table, not too large, Janice strode over and lifted it, turning around to find Nathan had sprawled back onto the floor like some shameless deadbeat.

Fuming, she marched toward him, vase held high, ready to smash it down on him.

But as the vase came crashing down, she pulled back at the last second, sparing him from the blow. If she injured him, he might demand she take care of him, and that was a loss she couldn't afford.

She couldn't do it.

Janice, holding the vase, turned and walked away.

Eventually, she stormed into the bathroom and filled a bucket with water.

Thankfully, during her time staying with the Moore family, she had built up some strength helping out with chores, otherwise her pampered self would've struggled with the weight of the water.

Nathan, now second only to Owen in his antics, leapt to his feet at the sight of his wife wielding a bucket of water.

Janice thought he was finally scared.

But as he strode over and snatched the bucket from her grip, he chided, "You should've called me for this kind of heavy lifting. Let me help you; a bucket of water is quite heavy."

Janice was speechless.

After setting the bucket down where he had been lying, Nathan flopped back to the ground and suggested, "Janice, grab a cup, and pour the water over me, cup by cup. It's easier that way."

"Once it's half empty, then you can dump the rest on me."

Janice was flabbergasted.

decades of marriage, she was

truly

interjected, "Mrs. Bright, I assure you, I have never

Janice stormed over, intent on dousing him

told you, a whole bucket's very heavy. Don't do it.

dump the water, Nathan performed a swift kip-up, snatched the bucket from her, and poured it over himself, drenching his clothes

the self-inflicted dousing, he went back into the bathroom for

Janice stood there, dumbstruck.

do you want me to

the door, her face dark

Nathan laid back down, deciding to embody his shamelessness to the

that moment; he was just a man shamelessly seeking his

until I catch a cold or get sick, and then you'll

was at a loss

family, a man of stature. Back

you like this, they

anger and hatred mixed into

still, committed to his act of

Janice finally

is it

This s Ascend Estate, Lucy's in-laws' place. If the Anderson family sees you like this, how do you expect Eucy to face

s

for years. We were only reunited by some miracle, and Lucy is lucky to have found

out long ago, unwilling to put up with

spat was turning into a joke. What

said, "Go to my room, get me a change of clothes, and draw

push

how you

turned on

marry you! What kind of life did you give me? Can't you see? Oh, but now that I'm better, you want to pretend

promised never to let me suffer, that I'd be your one and only forever. And what happened. All my suffering came from