Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 505

"Hayden, Madeleine, you two stop right there!" Ashley's voice carried a firm authority as she stormed out, echoing down the hallway. A few peacemakers hurried behind her, hoping to calm things down. Soon, the grand hall regained its silence. The household staff quickly began tidying up, puzzled by the fact that the master and mistress of the house hadn't come down to investigate the ruckus. Were they genuinely unaware, or merely choosing to ignore it?

Janice watched the scene with a mix of satisfaction and intrigue. The scuffle had been quite the spectacle. Though chaotic and loud, witnessing two people she despised go at each other was a guilty pleasure worth the noise.

"Janice." A warm voice sounded behind her. Janice turned instinctively, almost bumping into Nathan. Startled, she stepped back, only to find herself teetering at the edge of the staircase. In a split second, Nathan's strong hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her back to safety with ease. Pressed against his chest, a wave of familiarity washed over her, tinged with a distant sense of strangeness. Dazed for a moment, Janice quickly gathered her composure and pushed Nathan away.

Her expression turned icy as she snapped, "Trying to give me a heart attack, are you?" She hadn't even realized he was standing there. Did he always walk so quietly, or was she just too engrossed in the drama to notice?

"I was just trying to get downstairs," Nathan replied, feigning innocence. Janice felt a twinge of annoyance. So she was in his way, apparently.

"My apologies for blocking the path of the great Blue family head," she retorted coolly. "I suppose you wanted to rush down and save your little sweetheart. Must have been hard seeing her get torn apart by Ashley. Heartbreaking, isn't it? Maybe if you hurry, you can still play the hero." Her words were laced with sarcasm, but to her daughter listening nearby, they reeked of jealousy.

The man beside her nudged her hand gently. Lucinda glanced at Stefan, who gave her a knowing wink. Understanding his cue, she quietly slipped away with her husband, leaving the scene to unfold without them.

Outside, the drama continued unabated. Ashley, true to her fiery reputation, wasn’t about to let Madeleine act up on her turf. After catching up to Madeleine, another round of hair-pulling and shouting ensued. Despite Madeleine’s martial arts skills, she hadn’t expected Ashley’s vengeful fury back in the hall. With Ashley’s allies backing her, Madeleine had found herself on the losing end. Now, with Pete Blue and his brother arriving on the scene, Madeleine stood no chance. The brothers, skilled in their own right, ensured she remained on the defensive.

Lucinda and Stefan watched from a distance before deciding they’d had enough of the spectacle. Ashley’s fiery confrontation with Madeleine was a fire they had helped stoke. As they wandered away from the chaos, they found themselves on the vast lawn. It was easy to see why Keith liked taking private calls there; the sheer openness ensured privacy, with no chance for anyone to eavesdrop.

Lucinda, recalling tales from her brother, felt at ease as they reached the center of the sprawling grass. She turned to Stefan with a sigh, "I miss home—our home. It’s peaceful and comforting. No matter how stressful things get outside, stepping through our door always calms me." Her father’s house was anything but calm—an endless carousel of drama. She had been warned about the intricate politics of the Blue family, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.

Sometimes, Darlene wondered if this was some kind of cosmic payback. Her line of work involved shadowing people, snapping candid shots like a paparazzo. Maybe the universe was giving her a taste of her own medicine. Yeah, she thought, this had to be some kind of divine retribution.

Lucinda and Cecilia finally wrapped up their conversation after what seemed like ages. "Lucy, Stefan," called out Janice as she walked over to her daughter and son-in-law. "Mom," they both replied, turning to see her. Lucinda beamed as she greeted her mother. "Mom, it's getting dark and colder. You should've worn an extra sweater," Lucinda chided gently.

"I'm fine, honey," Janice replied with a smile. Born and raised in Skywatch, she was used to its chilly evenings. Lucinda noticed her mother's lips seemed more vibrant and rosy than usual, but she couldn't decide if it was just her imagination.