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

brow furrowed with authority, and spoke in a stern voice,

until Hogan quickly rallied, shouting, "Welcome back,

on, their voices rising in a chorus of "Welcome home, Mrs. Smith

seemed pleased with the response and finally approached his

for his wife's hand, but Janice not only sidestepped his gesture

diplomat, nodded and smiled

but a moment before he caught up with his wife and daughter, walking alongside Janice. If he couldn't hold her hand, he

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

was, after all, legally married to Lucinda. It only made

enough to make some wary, but considering the Andersons' influence was centered in Pinehurst and Stefan was still the man in charge, they assumed he would merely stay long enough to reconnect

was setting up in Skywatch through Ascend

walked away, murmurs began to spread among the clan members, "Isn't Mrs. Smith supposed to be aware of the rules now that she's come to her senses? How can

to trail a few steps behind. In private, of course, they could do as they pleased,

many relatives present, it was deemed a public setting, and they expected Janice to

one whispered, "The head of the family tried to take her hand,

saw it too. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Who would have thought that after all these years of madness, she'd challenge our family's

added, "She's talking about divorce, isn't she? If it weren't for Lucinda coming back, I bet she wouldn't have returned

fell silent, realizing the truth in that statement. With the return of Lucinda, Janice now

surprised everyone that Lucinda had been found alive; many had assumed her dead. As for Keith, they had believed he would eventually be disowned, yet

the Smith

beginning to realize that the children of the Smith matriarch held an unassailable position within