Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 501

In the living room on the first floor, Kayla sat in a plush armchair, with two maids standing attentively behind her. A small collection of gifts she had brought was neatly arranged on the coffee table in front of her. She heard footsteps on the staircase and assumed it was Janice finally coming down. But when she looked up, it was Shirley she saw instead.

Shirley approached Kayla with a calm demeanor, her tone polite but lacking warmth. "Kayla, I'm afraid Mrs. Bright is taking her afternoon nap. She asked that you come back another day if you have something to discuss."

For a moment, Kayla felt a flash of anger, but she quickly suppressed it. She had come to apologize to Janice, but now it seemed Janice had no interest in seeing her. Since when did an afternoon nap take precedence over everything else?

In the past, she and her husband could drop by whenever they pleased. Janice was always available to see them - that was when they deemed her worthy of their time. Otherwise, who would bother with someone they once thought of as a madwoman?

But ever since Janice had returned, Kayla realized she'd changed. She was no longer the gentle girl Kayla remembered.

"Shirley, I came to apologize to Janice. You didn't tell her why I'm here, did you?" Kayla's voice was soft, but Shirley heard the reproach.

Without losing her composure, Shirley replied, "Well, Kayla, you didn't inform me of your intentions, so how could I have relayed them to Mrs. Bright?"

Kayla was at a loss for words.

"Now that you know, go upstairs and tell her, won't you?" Kayla insisted.

Shirley stood her ground. "Kayla, Mrs. Bright's instructions were clear. If you want to speak with her, you're welcome to wait until her nap is over. When she's ready, she'll decide if she wants to see you."

Kayla was frustrated but knew she couldn't push it, especially with Mr. Bright also resting upstairs. She dared not create a scene.

"Fine, I'll come back later when Janice is awake," Kayla said, standing to leave.

"Kayla," Shirley called, gesturing to the gifts on the table. "Please take these with you."

"I'll be back soon, just leave them here," Kayla replied.

"Kayla, the young master has instructed that if Mrs. Bright doesn't personally accept a gift, it's to be discarded."

aback. The Bright family, now four strong,

unless it was with the family. He never ate alone, always wary. Cautious to the extreme - but of

matriarch, she felt a pang of jealousy.

to marry someone as

gifts with her

at the

Hayden has arrived," a

admiring her freshly painted nails.

a few minutes later, Hayden walked in, grinning widely, holding a bouquet and

"Madeleine," he greeted warmly.

of her name from his lips made her stomach churn.

jewelry, his eyes hopeful. “I

can is over there. Toss the flowers. You can leave the jewelry," she instructed coldly. She had no interest in Hayden's

to Madeleine's interference, Hayden had stopped supporting Ashley financially. Ashley was

vel

allowance, though she had her

to use her money

expenses, Madeleine

to escalate. Knowing that Hayden lavished Madeleine with jewelry would surely drive Ashley

shame to throw them away," Hayden pleaded. He brought flowers every

"Throw them!" she commanded.

anything to happen to you," Hayden said hurriedly, placing the

next to

"Madeleine."

I'll move," Hayden conceded, shifting away with a resigned sigh. Despite her anger, Hayden found Madeleine even more captivating when upset. "So, Janice and her

being coy, and everyone

was making her grand return, and the Blue family had pulled out all the stops. They were throwing a lavish