Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 253

People instantly began to whisper among themselves. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

In order to reclaim their daughter, the Blue family's boss was pulling out all the stops. The missing daughter, who had not yet returned home, instantly became the most revered and untouchable woman in town.

Meanwhile, at the Porter family residence

The sound of objects being smashed echoed in the grand hall every now and then.

The servants were trembling, hiding in corners, trying their best not to draw attention to themselves for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.

After a while, the grand hall finally regained its peace.

Mrs. Porter, with a pain in her heart, looked at the shards scattered all over the floor and said to her husband, "If you're angry, why don't you just yell at them? Why smash these antiques? They're worth a fortune."

Mr. Porter had a gloomy face, with his eyes flashing with rage.

After a while, he said to his wife, "Call Madeleine now. Tell her to come home. Let Luna handle the situation over there. Luna will take care of it."

He knew that Lucinda Blue had been found, and he didn't just find out today.

He assumed Nathan would keep the news quiet for Lucinda's safety, at least for a while.

But to his surprise, Nathan quickly announced the news. The questions raised by the journalists he hired were easily brushed off by Nathan.

Now, who would dare question Lucinda's authenticity?

That would be questioning Grace's fidelity to her marriage. With Grace now residing in the Blue family's backyard, they shouldn’t underestimate her. She's a force to be reckoned with. Picking a fight with her was asking for trouble.

Their co-conspirator, Hayden Blue, and other members of the Blue family, due to Grace's presence, found it impossible for them to join him in questioning Lucinda's authenticity. After all, Lucinda was the spitting image of a younger Grace.

"I'll call Madeleine now."

Mrs. Porter understood too. The discovery of Lucinda was a major setback for the Porter family.

After calling her daughter, Mrs. Porter asked her husband in confusion, "What do you think Nathan is up to? He called a press conference before even bringing her home."

"What does he mean? By making it public, the whole world is watching. Who else can manipulate the situation? The police are incompetent? The more attention, the safer Lucinda is. We can't do anything at this moment."

Mr. Porter coldly said, "Nathan is a sly old fox."

Mrs. Porter paused for a moment, then asked, "So we just sit back and do nothing?"

"We can do something."

"What can we do?"

Mrs. Porter asked, her eyes full of admiration for her husband. She knew her husband was a real piece of work!

Mr. Porter slowly said, "Prepare some gifts and pay a visit to the Blue family. Congratulate Nathan on finding his biological daughter."

Mrs. Porter was speechless.

"Nathan's rebuttal to the journalist's questions silenced any doubts within the Blue family. Nathan, I knew you were no incompetent fool!"

Mr. Porter sighed inwardly.

Lucinda was found by them first, but they failed twice. That girl was lucky. By the time they found her, she had already become the daughter-in-law of the Anderson family.

Messing with Stefan at the Anderson's place? That's just asking for trouble.

"Now we can only hope Madeleine can get her claws into Nathan as soon as possible."

Mr. Porter sighed, feeling like he had already lost, even though the game was far from over.

Their plan almost succeeded back then, but then everything turned on a dime, and they found themselves on the back foot.

"Why not take her out on the way back?"

"Didn't you hear how Nathan answered the journalists? The whole Blue family is going to pick up Lucinda. It's a grand affair, and they're making a big show of it. If we make a move, we're just asking for trouble. We'll be hunted down in no time. The police have been helping Nathan look for Lucinda all along. They take this matter very seriously."

Everyone in Skywatch knew about the Porter family's rise to power.

Although they had whitewashed their history, they still retained their dark power. In this age of the rule of law, no matter what background or influence they have, if they clashed with justice, they were on the losing side.

He couldn't let the Porter family collapse under his watch, or he wouldn't be able to face his ancestors.

"Besides, Lucinda is lucky. Now that she's part of the Anderson family in Pinehurst, no one dares mess with her. When Madeleine comes back, let her get a grip on Nathan as soon as possible, get pregnant, and then force Nathan to marry her. Only then can our plan continue."

The goal of the Porter family was to annihilate the Blue family, swallow all their assets, and become the powerhouse of Skywatch.

When Mrs. Porter thought about her daughter's years-long obsession with Nathan, even frequently staying at the Blue family's house but still failing to win Nathan's heart, her confidence wavered.

Lucinda had no idea what was happening in Skywatch.

After meeting her biological father, her life returned to normal.

That night, just as she was about to cuddle up with a pillow to sleep with her mom, her man wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Sweetheart."

Stefan's chin rested on Lucinda's shoulder, blowing warm breath on her neck.

Lucinda was ticklish, and his touch made her all tingly. She was quick to push him away.

"Stefan."

"Call me darling."

"Darling, I am on my period. Even if I stay, we can't do anything. Be a sport and let me spend a few more nights with my mom. She has a lot to talk to me about."

Lucinda turned to face him, a grin on her face as she gently pinched his cheek. "Or, I could give you my used pillow. Cuddle it, and it'd be like you're holding me."

Stefan didn't take her pillow. "Even ten pillows couldn't replace you, Lucinda. You're irreplaceable. Darling, I don't want anything. I just want to chat with you for a bit, then I'll take you to your mom's."

She was on her period; he wouldn't dare do anything.

He was just regretting not eating his fill these past few days. Now he'd have to starve a bit.

Lucinda glanced at the time. "Chat about what? It's getting late. If I don't go now, mom will go to bed."

Stefan laughed. "If she's already asleep, then you won't need to go."

Lucinda rolled her eyes at him.

Stefan quickly pecked her on the lips, then said, "I want to talk about your parents' marriage. I think your dad might not be as bad as we thought."

Lucinda was quiet for a bit, then said, "I only met him today; I don't know him well. But my brother knows him very well. He saw our dad betray our mom. Are you saying his affair with that Madeleine was just for show? Madeleine was okay with it being for show? Mom was the victim; that's a fact. Even though he's my biological dad, what he did, from a daughter's and woman's perspective, is hard to forgive."

He was her biological dad; she couldn't be too harsh on him.

But to whitewash his actions? No way.

"Stefan, did you find out anything new?"

"I didn't find any new info. Just as your dad mentioned your mom, his expression made me feel like he might not be as bad as we thought. It's a guy thing."

Lucinda was silent again for a bit, then said, "My brother lived through all this. He's seen it all these years. How could it be fake?"

Stefan had no comeback.