Faux Vows, True Desires

The Smiths, a family of four, had not traveled together. If it weren't for Janice's adamant wish to fly with her daughter Lucinda, she would have been on a separate flight.

Nathan and his son, Keith, were the first to disembark.

Before boarding the plane, father and son had been all smiles, but upon landing

at Skywatch Airport, their expressions turned stern. Keith, in particular, had a face as cold as ice.

The two men, dressed in matching suits, were followed by a line of bodyguards, each towering and formidable, with gazes sharp as lightning.

Lucinda, with her arm linked through her mother's, descended from the plane at a deliberate pace, prompting Keith to stride forward a few steps.

"Mom, Lucy," he called out.

Nathan stood in place, unmoved.

Members of the extended Smith clan had gathered at the airport to welcome the family back. All but the patriarch and matriarch had come out to greet them-it was, after all, beneath the elders to make such appearances. Led by Hogan Smith, they approached en masse.

Every influential member of the clan, those with a say in the family affairs, had made the effort to be there, creating an imposing crowd.

Lucinda, newly acquainted with her heritage, might have been overwhelmed by such a reception had she not been prepared.

"Big bro," Hogan and his brother Hayden hurried over, stopping a few steps behind Nathan and calling out with warm, brotherly affection.

Nathan grunted an acknowledgment but did not turn to look at them.

others greeted in unison, their voices tinged with

wife and daughter alight from the plane, Nathan turned, his brow furrowed with authority, and

quickly rallied, shouting,

their voices rising in a chorus

with the response and finally approached

hand, but Janice not only sidestepped his gesture but, taking hold of their

ever the diplomat, nodded and smiled politely, saying, "Hello, everyone," as

wife and daughter, walking alongside Janice. If he couldn't hold

path was cleared for the trio, as Lucinda, arm-in-arm

Smiths were initially surprised but quickly remembered that he was, after all, legally married

influence was centered in Pinehurst and Stefan was still the man in charge, they assumed he would merely stay long enough to reconnect with family before returning to Pinehurst. Therefore, they dismissed any

the new branch Stefan was setting up in Skywatch

spread among the clan members, "Isn't Mrs. Smith supposed to be aware of the

trail a few steps behind. In private, of course, they could

present, it was deemed a public setting, and

one whispered, "The head of the family tried to take her hand, but she avoided it

saw it too. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Who would have thought that after all these years of

added, "She's talking about divorce, isn't she? If it weren't for Lucinda coming back, I bet she wouldn't have returned from Pinehurst happy as a clam. How can we expect her to follow our rules when she's on the verge

in that statement. With the return of Lucinda, Janice

her dead. As for Keith, they had believed he would eventually be disowned, yet here he was, bis position unshaken, while his

one of the Smith family's subsidiary companies.

the children of the Smith matriarch held an unassailable position