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."

now four strong,

from a young age, wouldn't even drink water at home unless it was with the family. He

Kayla cursed the entire Bright family. And thinking of Lucinda, who had recently returned and quickly won over the family matriarch, she felt a pang of jealousy. Lucinda had married into the esteemed Anderson family, a billion-dollar empire, and her husband, Stefan

for her daughter to marry someone as extraordinary as Stefan,

Kayla took all the gifts with her when she left, frustration boiling under

at the Porter

arrived," a maid announced, entering

looked up, admiring her freshly painted nails. "Let him in," she replied

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

"Madeleine," he greeted warmly.

name from his lips made her stomach churn.

and the jewelry, his eyes hopeful. “I

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

but thanks to Madeleine's

vel

she had her

use

expenses, Madeleine wouldn't mind.

Hayden lavished Madeleine with jewelry would surely drive Ashley

a look, it'd be a shame to throw them

"Throw them!" she commanded.

get upset, I'd hate for anything to happen to you," Hayden said hurriedly, placing the jewelry down and disposing of

next to Madeleine, who

"Madeleine."

a resigned sigh. Despite her anger, Hayden found Madeleine even

being coy, and everyone

throwing a lavish party in a couple of days inviting all the