Faux Vows, True Desires

"Lucy, would you mind giving this coat to your mom?" Nathan handed the coat to his daughter, eager for her assistance.

"Sure, Dad," Lucinda responded cheerfully, always ready to help her father.

"Stefan, would you come with me to the study for a bit?" Nathan added. "We'll wait to have dinner until Keith and Hayes return."

Hayes Brooks, for reasons unknown, hadn't returned to Pinehurst with the rest of the family and was expected back in the evening.

"Of course," Stefan replied calmly, displaying the composure Nathan admired. Stefan, his son-in-law, handled everything with a steadiness that Nathan found more reliable than his own son's approach, perhaps aided by the five-year age difference between them.

The Anderson family was renowned for their strong family values. The siblings and cousins all got along well, appearing gentle and kind-hearted, though they were quite capable and ambitious. As heirs to a wealthy family, they had learned to be formidable when necessary. As long as you didn't cross them, they were the epitome of charm and politeness. But if you did, they could turn fierce.

Stefan followed his father-in-law to the study. Nathan's meticulous nature always impressed him. They typically had their study on the second floor of the house, which wasn't the most secure, but Nathan had taken different precautions. His study was detached from the main house, with no trees or shrubs nearby, making eavesdropping nearly impossible. Loyal bodyguards patrolled the area. Inside, the study was soundproof too.

What Nathan and Stefan discussed in that study, no one knew.

Meanwhile, Lucinda brought the coat inside and persuaded her mother to put it on just as her grandparents arrived.

"Grandpa, Grandma!" Lucinda exclaimed, her inner dramatist taking over as she greeted them warmly, holding her grandmother's arm in a gesture that pleased the old woman immensely. It made her think that if she could just make it up to Lucinda, all would be forgiven.

"Sweetheart, I can manage without help," Grandma said, though she was clearly enjoying the attention.

Grandpa chuckled, "Look at you, getting all the attention! Lucy gives you a hand, but not me."

"Oh, go on, you have plenty of grandsons to help you."

"And aren't my grandsons your grandsons too?"

noticing his

to the study,

to the elderly couple. She had no desire to sit with her in- laws. Lucy could be affectionate with them—they were her grandparents, after all—but Janice had no interest in pretending everything was fine. She was set on divorce and no longer cared about her in-laws' opinions. She was ready to leave this life behind,

at Janice, her expression turning sour. Not even a greeting? The Dewey family's upbringing was lacking, she thought. If her late in-laws were still around, she'd

rested on Hayes's shoulders, essentially under the Blue family's protection, which only fueled Grandma's

about Hayden and

so tired he took a long nap. By the time he got up, I'd already kicked Hayden out,

to

a complaint. Grandpa, Grandma,

БӘЛ

into our home, disrespecting Ashley's position. And here of all places, causing a scene as if it's a marketplace? My father's home, the head of the family's residence, should be respected. You two are their parents-it's your

around like she owns the place when

Grandma's face was unreadable.

now her granddaughter was

I'll have a word

they can work it out, fine. If not, they should separate. All

pushover. She knew how

during that commotion,

of

wife. Why

ου

to Lucy

Ashley, her elders, Grandma said,