Faux Vows, True Desires

Lucinda watched as her father sat by her mother's bedside, clutching her hand tightly. She leaned toward Stefan and whispered, "Stefan, let's step outside for a bit."

Dr. Miller, the Anderson family's trusted physician, had already made a house call and assured them that Mom was going to be fine. It was just that the flood of memories had overwhelmed her, and she couldn't handle the trigger that caused her to faint.

Despite this, Dad was still a bundle of nerves, worried sick, not even touching his food, just sitting there, silently watching over Mom.

Even someone with the worst eyesight could see it: Nathan's feelings for Janice weren't cold. He was just too deeply in love.

"Alright."

Stefan glanced at the elderly couple, feeling the oppressive atmosphere between them, so heavy it was almost suffocating.

It was a strange thing to witness - two people so clearly in love pretending to be indifferent to each other.

All these years, Lucinda's mother had a tough time, and how could her father have had it any easier?

Because of her madness, her pain was solely due to the disappearance of her daughter.

But for Nathan, as a husband and a father, his pain was twofold.

Stefan took Lucinda's hand and led her out of the room.

Keith silently observed his parents for a moment before quietly stepping out, leaving them alone in their sanctuary. Right now, nobody could coax Dad away from that room.

Walking along the tree-lined paths of Ascend Estate, Lucinda looped her arm through Stefan's, resting her head on his shoulder before looking up at him and saying, "Stefan, if ever we face a situation like my parents', you can't pull a Nathan on me."

"I'd rather face it with you, side by side, than be shielded in the dark about everything."

Stefan switched from holding to embracing her, walking slowly forward as he spoke softly, "Lucy, we won't end up like your parents."

day ever comes, I won't do what your dad did.

you, not left in the dark and without a chance to explain, like

Lucinda sighed and added, "Even if Mom was willing

undeniable, her mother had

out and the dust settles, Mom will gradually understand Dad. Once she does, forgiveness will follow. Even if she can't fully forgive, she won't hold

someone is exhausting, especially when it's

their fair share of struggles. They've missed

their autumn years, even if they manage to mend their relationship,

years, someone who cares about you, is a

Lucinda confessed, a hint of nervousness in her voice at the thought of

believed that even once back in Skywatch, she wouldn't be much help to her father and brother. All she could do was protect

remember one thing: trust no one but your immediate family. Be wary of everyone else. In a family like the Blues, they all wear masks." "Madeleine and your brother Hayden's saga is still unfolding. When we return, stay close to

nodded in agreement, "I can do that. They bullied my mother before, and now it's

no sympathy

the

but not on your disappearance from years ago. Recent attempts on your brother's life and your kidnapping

to s

to crack, especially when you

brother is also focusing

uncle always seemed

her uncle and his wife didn't mingle as much as Hayden and his wife, and it was Ashley who dragged

they

put it, nobody in a family like

overtly social. For now, he's not a

&

that

everyone in the Blue family,