Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 496

The Smiths, a family of four, had not traveled together. If it weren't for Janice's adamant wish to fly with her daughter Lucinda, she would have been on a separate flight.

Nathan and his son, Keith, were the first to disembark.

Before boarding the plane, father and son had been all smiles, but upon landing at Skywatch Airport, their expressions turned stern. Keith, in particular, had a face as cold as ice.

The two men, dressed in matching suits, were followed by a line of bodyguards, each towering and formidable, with gazes sharp as lightning.

Lucinda, with her arm linked through her mother's, descended from the plane at a deliberate pace, prompting Keith to stride forward a few steps.

"Mom, Lucy," he called out.

Nathan stood in place, unmoved.

Members of the extended Smith clan had gathered at the airport to welcome the family back. All but the patriarch and matriarch had come out to greet them—it was, after all, beneath the elders to make such appearances. Led by Hogan Smith, they approached en masse.

Every influential member of the clan, those with a say in the family affairs, had made the effort to be there, creating an imposing crowd.

Lucinda, newly acquainted with her heritage, might have been overwhelmed by such a reception had she not been prepared.

"Big bro," Hogan and his brother Hayden hurried over, stopping a few steps behind Nathan and calling out with warm, brotherly affection.

Nathan grunted an acknowledgment but did not turn to look at them.

"Head of the family," the others greeted in unison, their voices tinged with respect.

Watching his wife and daughter alight from the plane, Nathan turned, his brow furrowed with authority, and spoke in a stern voice, "What is this, a gathering of mutes?"

The crowd fell silent... until Hogan quickly rallied, shouting, "Welcome back, Janice and Lucy!"

The group caught on, their voices rising in a chorus of "Welcome home, Mrs. Smith and Miss Lucinda!"

Nathan seemed pleased with the response and finally approached his wife and daughter.

He reached out for his wife’s hand, but Janice not only sidestepped his gesture but, taking hold of their daughter, walked right past him without a word.

Lucinda, ever the diplomat, nodded and smiled politely, saying, "Hello, everyone," as she passed.

Nathan's stiffness lasted but a moment before he caught up with his wife and daughter, walking alongside Janice. If he couldn't hold her hand, he would walk beside her. That would have to do.

A path was cleared for the trio, as Lucinda, arm-in-arm with her mother, maintained her smile.

Seeing Stefan trailing behind, the Smiths were initially surprised but quickly remembered that he was, after all, legally married to Lucinda. It only made sense for him to accompany her back to the Smith fold.

Stefan's presence was enough to make some wary, but considering the Andersons’ influence was centered in Pinehurst and Stefan was still the man in charge, they assumed he would merely stay long enough to reconnect with family before returning to Pinehurst. Therefore, they dismissed any further speculation.

“Miss Madeleine, the belle of the Porter family, spent a night tangled in the sheets with Hayden, and now everyone and their mother knows about it. No way the head of the household could ever marry her now.”

Hayden, though, he's got a thing for Madeleine.

But Ashley, oh she's a force to be reckoned with, and she's raising hell over the whole mess.

Ashley's got three kids to her name, with her eldest, Pete, being the golden boy once pegged to take over the reins. He wouldn't stand for his parents splitting up and Madeleine stepping in as the new lady of the house.

So yeah, things are about to get real interesting.

It's no surprise that the head of the family isn't keen on divorcing his wife under these circumstances.

“We'll just have to watch how it all unfolds.”

We might be Smiths by blood, but we're the distant kind, clinging to the coattails of the main branch, never quite in the inner circle of power. We get to speak our piece now and again, sure, but we don't sway the decisions of the big three.

All we can do is sit back and enjoy the show.

And, between us, the more the main branch feuds, the better for us outliers. Who knows, we might just snatch a bit of influence amidst the chaos.