Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 526

"Nathan, Nathan." Madeleine called out to him through her tears, but he kept walking, never even glancing back. The thing that mattered to him was her past with Hayden. When it came down to it, everything that had led them to this point was because of Hayden. She loathed Hayden with every fiber of her being. Fine, Nathan had made it clear that there was no going back for them. So, she’d continue her plans of revenge, determined to throw the entire Blue family into chaos. She wanted Hayden to regret ever taking advantage of her.

Lucinda's day of shopping with her mother, Janice, was abruptly cut short by Madeleine's unexpected appearance. Once they returned to Sunnyglade Abbey, Janice went straight upstairs to her room. Lucinda knew her mother was upset, though she tried to act as if nothing was wrong. Being upset was good; it meant there was still something to fight for. The worst would be if she felt nothing at all. If her mom wasn't angry, her dad wouldn't stand a chance.

In less than ten minutes, Stefan came home too. He walked into the living room, which was filled with Lucinda's shopping bags, and sat down beside his wife with a smile. "Done shopping already? I thought you and your mom would be out all day." Lucinda grinned, "We were ambushed by an unwelcome surprise that spoiled the fun." She looked a bit regretful. "I didn't even get to buy you clothes or the new car." Resting her head on Stefan's shoulder, she said, "Honey, let's go car shopping tomorrow. I want to buy you a luxury car. As my husband and part of the Blue family, you deserve your own ride." Stefan chuckled indulgently, "Alright, tomorrow we'll get that car. The one you buy me will be my treasure. I'll keep it spotless."

Lucinda wrapped her arms around his waist, breathing in his familiar scent. With him by her side, she felt at peace. Living with the Blue family was like a rollercoaster; you never knew what would happen next. But with him, she had a safe haven. His presence was her calm in the storm, and she cherished the idea of growing old together. "We're having a party soon, and Grandma said I should change my last name back afterward." Lucinda wasn't keen on changing her name. She was comfortable with how things were. Her adoptive family, the Moores, had raised her since she was a baby. Their kindness and care meant the world to her, and even her birth parents respected the bond she shared with them.

"If you don't want to change it, you don't have to," Stefan assured her. Caught between two families, Lucinda felt torn. The Moores had been there for her since she was six months old. To her, their love and care outweighed the Blue family's biological connection. "I'll talk it over with my parents. If they don't insist, I'll keep my name as it is. No matter what my last name is, I'm still their daughter." She then recounted to Stefan the events of the day. His heart ached for her. His dear wife, who should have been carefree, had to deal with such drama and deceit. "Honey, I support my dad completely," she said with a knowing look. Stefan understood her perfectly.

Nathan hadn't returned yet. Janice stayed holed up in her room for hours, and Lucinda had to bring her lunch upstairs. The day passed in a haze of frustration. Lucinda had little to do but eat and relax, unlike her father and brother, who were busy with the family business. Later that evening, after leaving her mother's room, Lucinda returned to her own. Stefan was in the study, leaning back in his chair, speaking on the phone. Hearing her enter, he quickly ended the call and shut down his computer. "Is your mom okay?" he asked. "She said she's tired and wants to rest. Aside from being in a bad mood, she's fine. No wife would be happy dealing with a homewrecker."

Lucinda held a small bottle of liniment in her hand. "What's that?" Stefan asked, taking the bottle from her. It was a remedy for bruises and sprains. "Mom gave it to me, saying I’m clumsy and might need it someday." Lucinda examined the bottle, frowning. "When have I ever been clumsy? I'm always careful!" Stefan asked, "Did your dad get hurt?" "No, but my mom did scratch his hand. I saw a bit of blood. Her nails are too long." Lucinda kept her nails short because she wrote a lot. Long nails slowed her down, and she had no interest in getting them done. "Stefan, I think Mom gave me this liniment for Dad, didn't she?" Stefan gently pinched her cheek, "My wife is getting sharper by the day." "Not as sharp as you. You figured it out before I did." "No wonder I only manage a small café while you run Ascend Global." Stefan laughed, "Doesn't my clever wife owe me a reward?"

Lucinda leaned in and gave him a sweet kiss. Stefan wasn't the type to be satisfied with just one kiss. As she tried to pull away, he drew her back in, taking the lead this time. When you're a young couple and the love is strong, everything just seems to fall into place naturally. While the young couple was lost in their passionate moment, Keith had just returned home next door. For once, his dad took pity on him and let him leave work early, taking over his duties for the day. Keith was thrilled to have some free time, so he happily made his way back home. As he passed by his sister's room, Keith paused. He considered knocking but decided against it. The door was closed, and for all he knew, the couple might be engaged in something that wasn't exactly family-friendly. Best not to disturb them.

He headed to his own room, and as soon as he opened the door, he sensed something was off. A sly grin spread across his face as his dark eyes twinkled with satisfaction. He stepped inside, casually shutting the door behind him, and leisurely turned on the light. Sure enough, there she was—a mysterious masked woman sitting on his couch, thoroughly enjoying a box of cookies.