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."

Bright family, now four strong, had always been cautious about

with the family. He never ate alone, always wary. Cautious to the extreme

and quickly won over the family matriarch, she felt a pang of jealousy. Lucinda had

marry someone as extraordinary as Stefan, to bring pride to

the gifts with her when she left, frustration boiling under

at the

has arrived," a maid announced, entering the

her freshly painted

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

"Madeleine," he greeted warmly.

name from his lips made her stomach

her the bouquet and the jewelry, his eyes hopeful. “I prefer Madeleine. It's such a beautiful

leave the jewelry," she instructed coldly. She had no interest in Hayden's gifts, but the jewelry was valuable enough

thanks to Madeleine's interference, Hayden

vel

meager allowance, though she had her own savings

to use

expenses, Madeleine wouldn't mind.

the couple's arguments were bound to escalate. Knowing that Hayden lavished Madeleine with jewelry would surely drive Ashley up

it'd be a shame to throw them away," Hayden pleaded. He brought flowers every time he visited

"Throw them!" she commanded.

alright, I'll throw them. Don't get upset, I'd hate for anything to happen to you," Hayden said hurriedly, placing the jewelry

next to Madeleine, who immediately barked, "Move

"Madeleine."

conceded, shifting away with a resigned sigh. Despite her anger, Hayden found Madeleine even more captivating

coy, and everyone

all the stops. They were throwing a lavish