Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 507

"Lucy, would you mind giving this coat to your mom?" Nathan handed the coat to his daughter, eager for her assistance.

"Sure, Dad," Lucinda responded cheerfully, always ready to help her father.

"Stefan, would you come with me to the study for a bit?" Nathan added. "We'll wait to have dinner until Keith and Hayes return."

Hayes Brooks, for reasons unknown, hadn't returned to Pinehurst with the rest of the family and was expected back in the evening.

"Of course," Stefan replied calmly, displaying the composure Nathan admired. Stefan, his son-in-law, handled everything with a steadiness that Nathan found more reliable than his own son’s approach, perhaps aided by the five-year age difference between them.

The Anderson family was renowned for their strong family values. The siblings and cousins all got along well, appearing gentle and kind-hearted, though they were quite capable and ambitious. As heirs to a wealthy family, they had learned to be formidable when necessary. As long as you didn’t cross them, they were the epitome of charm and politeness. But if you did, they could turn fierce.

Stefan followed his father-in-law to the study. Nathan's meticulous nature always impressed him. They typically had their study on the second floor of the house, which wasn't the most secure, but Nathan had taken different precautions. His study was detached from the main house, with no trees or shrubs nearby, making eavesdropping nearly impossible. Loyal bodyguards patrolled the area. Inside, the study was soundproof too.

What Nathan and Stefan discussed in that study, no one knew.

Meanwhile, Lucinda brought the coat inside and persuaded her mother to put it on just as her grandparents arrived.

"Grandpa, Grandma!" Lucinda exclaimed, her inner dramatist taking over as she greeted them warmly, holding her grandmother's arm in a gesture that pleased the old woman immensely. It made her think that if she could just make it up to Lucinda, all would be forgiven.

"Sweetheart, I can manage without help," Grandma said, though she was clearly enjoying the attention.

Grandpa chuckled, "Look at you, getting all the attention! Lucy gives you a hand, but not me."

"Oh, go on, you have plenty of grandsons to help you."

"And aren't my grandsons your grandsons too?"

"Where's Stefan?" Grandpa asked, noticing his grandson-in-law wasn't around.

"He's with Dad," Lucinda replied, not knowing they had gone to the study, but she wasn't wrong—the two were indeed together.

Janice discreetly moved aside, offering the loveseat to the elderly couple. She had no desire to sit with her in-laws. Lucy could be affectionate with them—they were her grandparents, after all—but Janice had no interest in pretending everything was fine. She was set on divorce and no longer cared about her in-laws' opinions. She was ready to leave this life behind, so why bother?

Grandma glanced at Janice, her expression turning sour. Not even a greeting? The Dewey family's upbringing was lacking, she thought. If her late in-laws were still around, she'd certainly have a word with them. Maybe next year at their graves, she'd voice her complaints.

The Dewey family now rested on Hayes's shoulders, essentially under the Blue family's protection, which only fueled Grandma's disdain. But with Lucinda there, she held her tongue.

"Does your father know about Hayden and Ashley's situation?" Grandma suddenly asked Lucinda.

"Well, Dad was so tired he took a long nap. By the time he got up, I'd already kicked Hayden out, so probably not," Lucinda said, not mentioning that her father had watched the drama unfold earlier.

Because of Lucinda's complaints, dinner was a quiet affair, with the elderly couple picking at their food without much appetite.

Meanwhile, Lucinda and her crew were thoroughly enjoying their meal, much to Grandma's silent frustration.

After dinner, the two elders asked Nathan to join them over at the west wing of the house.

As soon as they left, Lucinda visibly relaxed and whispered to her husband, "Finally, I can drop the act."

She paused briefly before asking Stefan in a hushed tone, "Honey, do you think I'm becoming more and more wicked?"

"I'm no saint either," Stefan replied with a cheeky grin. "If you're turning wicked, then we're even more of a match made in heaven."

Lucinda giggled at his playful words.

No one is born wicked.

It's the circumstances that change you, leaving you with no choice.

If the Blue family hadn't been so ruthless in the past, would Lucinda have turned out this way?