Faux Vows, True Desires

"Hey, Johnny."

The old patriarch spoke sternly, "Lucy was brought up well. The Moore family raised her to be polite and well-mannered. Her in-laws are very pleased with her. No need for any further schooling from them. But some people, no matter which family they marry into, need a good lesson from their in-laws."

"Raising kids is about instilling the right values. If their moral compass is off, that's a failure in upbringing. Lucy's got her head on straight. I don't think the Moores failed in raising her.

Hayden protested, "Dad, you're always defending Lucy. She doesn't treat Madeleine right. When Madeleine visits, she's a guest. Is that how you treat a guest? If I, Hayden, say something, she interrupts me. How is that good upbringing?"

The old patriarch's face grew colder, his voice deepening, "I feel like my biggest failure was raising a son like you. That's on me. I was too busy with the company and family affairs to educate you properly. Your mother's spoiling didn't help either."

Hayden was speechless.

The old lady, too, felt dragged into this mess. She didn't like Madeleine much, blaming her for causing trouble in her son's marriage, though she thought Lucinda could be a bit overbearing too.

"Uninvited guests don't count as company. You fail to act like an elder, yet you expect respect from the younger ones? Fix your own mistakes before lecturing others. Don't ruin Lucy with your nonsense."

After saying his piece, the old patriarch stood up to leave, nodding to his wife, "Come along, let's get some fresh air."

The old lady got up and followed him out.

Madeleine's face turned dark with anger.

Hayden quickly tried to appease her, saying, "Madeleine, don't mind my dad. He's getting senile with age."

Madeleine glared at him, snapping, "Everything I've suffered today is because of you."

In the past, whenever she visited the Blue family, everyone treated her as the lady of the house. The elderly couple were especially kind, with the old lady calling her "Madeleine" so affectionately.

Now he was openly criticizing her upbringing and values, all because of her relationship with Hayden. It was

rush of footsteps outside-several people were

you two lowlifes, come out

Ashley had arrived.

to a calculated charm, as she

"Hayden, I'm innocent. How could your dad

dad later. I won't let you suffer again. I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Please

crowd, though she was the real force to be reckoned with.

confrontation between the wife and the mistress was intense, both women unwilling to back

hold Ashley back and prevent her from attacking Madeleine, which led to Ashley being

Ashley even started hitting Hayden, while the supposed mediators subtly aided

gained the upper

you all doing? Stop it

her husband had taken their time arriving

the time they arrived, the

up the fight resulted in beatings è from his wife, and Madeleine, in her rage, also lashed out at him, blaming him for ruining her chances of becoming

her shoes nowhere to be found, but she

hair was a tangled mess, and her expensive jewelry had been ripped

hard slaps, and her hands bore long scratches from Ashley's nails,

up to see her glamorous mother standing at the top of the stairs, enjoying the spectacle, with

the drama to notice her

That couple.

attention, assessing Ashley's condition-thankfully, no injuries—then looked at Hayden and