Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 491

Lucinda watched as her father sat by her mother's bedside, clutching her hand tightly. She leaned toward Stefan and whispered, "Stefan, let's step outside for a bit."

Dr. Miller, the Anderson family's trusted physician, had already made a house call and assured them that Mom was going to be fine. It was just that the flood of memories had overwhelmed her, and she couldn't handle the trigger that caused her to faint.

Despite this, Dad was still a bundle of nerves, worried sick, not even touching his food, just sitting there, silently watching over Mom.

Even someone with the worst eyesight could see it: Nathan's feelings for Janice weren't cold. He was just too deeply in love.

"Alright."

Stefan glanced at the elderly couple, feeling the oppressive atmosphere between them, so heavy it was almost suffocating.

It was a strange thing to witness – two people so clearly in love pretending to be indifferent to each other.

All these years, Lucinda's mother had a tough time, and how could her father have had it any easier?

Because of her madness, her pain was solely due to the disappearance of her daughter.

But for Nathan, as a husband and a father, his pain was twofold.

Stefan took Lucinda's hand and led her out of the room.

Keith silently observed his parents for a moment before quietly stepping out, leaving them alone in their sanctuary. Right now, nobody could coax Dad away from that room.

Walking along the tree-lined paths of Ascend Estate, Lucinda looped her arm through Stefan's, resting her head on his shoulder before looking up at him and saying, "Stefan, if ever we face a situation like my parents', you can't pull a Nathan on me."

"I'd rather face it with you, side by side, than be shielded in the dark about everything."

Stefan switched from holding to embracing her, walking slowly forward as he spoke softly, "Lucy, we won't end up like your parents."

"If that day ever comes, I won't do what your dad did. In any case, I want to be in it with you, not left in the dark and without a chance to explain, like Mom."

After a pause, Lucinda sighed and added, "Even if Mom was willing to give Dad a chance to explain, would she really listen?"

It was undeniable, her mother had endured so much.

"Time heals, Lucy. Don't overthink it. Once this mess gets sorted out and the dust settles, Mom will gradually understand Dad. Once she does, forgiveness will follow. Even if she can't fully forgive, she won't hold onto the hate."

Hating someone is exhausting, especially when it's someone you once loved deeply.

In a nutshell, both Nathan and Janice have had their fair share of struggles.

They've missed out on so much.

Now, in their autumn years, even if they manage to mend their relationship, they'll be little more than companions.

But having a companion in your later years, someone who cares about you, is a blessing in itself.

"I'm completely in the dark about what's happening over there," Lucinda confessed, a hint of nervousness in her voice at the thought of returning to Skywatch the next day.

Feeling helpless, she believed that even once back in Skywatch, she wouldn't be much help to her father and brother. All she could do was protect her mother and seek justice amongst the women of the household, to settle old scores.

"Once we're back, remember one thing: trust no one but your immediate family. Be wary of everyone else. In a family like the Blues, they all wear masks."

"Stefan, thank you."

"There you go with 'thank you' again."

He gently tapped her forehead, his tone affectionate and loving, "I've said it before, we're in this together. I can't rest easy about your future visits home until the Blue family is cleaned up and reformed."

Lucinda hugged his arm tighter, resting her head on his shoulder again, feeling incredibly fortunate. "Stefan, meeting you was my lucky break, and thank you for waiting for me all those years without giving up on me."

"A girl I've watched grow up, of course I'd rather keep her safe in my arms. Handing her over to someone else? I can't bear the thought, and it doesn't sit right with me."

The first time he heard Ike go on about his little sister, Lucinda was even younger.

When Stefan actually met Lucinda, she was a mere thirteen-year-old, a slip of a girl.

Realizing his heart was fluttering for a thirteen-year-old scared the daylights out of him. He felt like a creep and tried countless times to force himself to give up on the feeling.

But he never succeeded.

In the end, he decided to wait patiently for her to grow up, to come of age.

The thing was, the young girl had no clue he was waiting for her to blossom. She had her fair share of admirers, and she had taken a fancy to some of them too.

Stefan, in the shadows, found himself busy playing the role of the silent guardian, quietly dealing with rivals. It was quite the undertaking.