Faux Vows, True Desires

After the family reunion, lunch was served a hearty spread of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and green beans filled the dining room with the comforting aromas of a traditional Western meal.

As the last bites of apple pie were savored, Grandma and Grandpa announced they were tuckered out and headed upstairs for a nap.

"Come on, Lucy, let's go up," said Janice warmly as she took Lucinda's hand, guiding her away from the lingering relatives.

The grandparents' departure was the cue for everyone else to scatter. Janice, already bored with the small talk, eagerly led her daughter upstairs.

Not long after, Kayla and Ashley gathered their broods and retreated to their respective corners of the large family home.

Once inside her room, Ashley turned to her daughter, her voice a mix of curiosity and trepidation. “Erin, bring me those two jewelry boxes your grandma gave you, sweetheart."

Erin trotted over, her small arms clutching the ornate boxes with ease—a bad sign. What Grandma had given her might just be the boxes-empty promises.

Little Erin, still naïve in her youth, reveled in her triumph of having been favored by Grandma. She had always heard how her cousin Lucy, who had gone missing years ago, was the apple of Grandma's eye.

Now that Lucy had returned, Erin's status as the cherished princess of the Blue family felt threatened. She realized that not only her position but also the attention at fancy gatherings might shift towards her cousin, who was, after all, the legitimate daughter of the head of the family.

But don't be fooled by Erin's tender age of ten; in the Blue household, even the youngest had their wiles.

whatever Lucy gets from Grandma, I'll ask for the same. I can't let her outshine me. I'm

indeed just boxes-empty at that. Not even a single bracelet, much less any precious

her intuition

they empty?" Erin's confusion was evident

as barren. She tossed them to the floor in frustration and gave Erin a pointed look. "Didn't you think to ask for the jewelry and not

face fell, her innocence unable to shield her from the sting of the lesson. Her eyes

"It's alright, sweetheart. I'm not upset with you. But you have to be smarter, Erin. We can't let

another part of the house, Kayla was lecturing her own daughter, Judith, who was approaching her eighteenth

Yet you seem as impassive as a log. If you just asked, Grandma would show you with heirlooms from her noble lineage. You're nearly an adult; why not just

lounged on the sofa. "Didn't you notice how

"Surely Grandma didn't just hand

that's exactly what she got," Judith replied with

to Ashley's and see the show,” she said, eager to witness

With Ashley is not wise to kick someone while they're down.

husband are more cunning than they seem. Tread carefully," Judith advised before heading upstairs,

herself, vexed

oblivious to the wisdom in Judith's