Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 531

"Stefan still not up yet?" Nathan shifted the conversation, trying to save face after being lightly chastised by his daughter.

"He's out for a morning run with my brother. Dad, I've put on the ointment, so try to avoid cold water for the next few days to prevent any inflammation," Lucinda advised.

"Got it."

Lucinda stood up, "I'll go and keep Mom company."

Nathan opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately decided against it.

After leaving her father's room, Lucinda went to join her glamorous mother. The two wandered around the estate, stopping when they ran into Amy.

Amy, clutching something in her hand, was hurrying towards another part of the estate. Upon seeing Lucinda and her mother, she halted, stepped back respectfully, and greeted them, "Mrs. Blue, Miss Lucinda."

"Amy, where are you rushing off to? What's that in your hand?" Lucinda asked curiously.

Amy instinctively tightened her grip on the yellow envelope, lowered her head, and replied, "Ms. Porter asked me to deliver this letter to Ashley."

Lucinda nodded, "I saw Ashley heading towards the main house with Kayla. They're probably still there chatting with Grandma. Why don’t you give me the letter, and I’ll pass it to Ashley?"

Considering it was from Madeleine to Ashley, it must be something "interesting."

Amy hesitated for a moment but eventually handed the envelope to Lucinda.

"Off you go, Amy," Lucinda instructed. Amy took two respectful steps back before turning away.

Once Amy was out of sight, Lucinda whispered to her mom, "Mom, some people in our family are getting a bit too bold. You're the lady of the house; you should rein them in."

Janice tapped her daughter lightly on the forehead, "Stop trying to set traps for me. I have no interest in being the lady of the house anymore. Either you take over, or talk to your dad. But Amy has been here for decades, and your grandma relies on her. Your dad, with his show of filial piety, won't do anything to her over minor issues."

To get someone like Amy out, she’d have to make a major mistake—one even Grandma couldn’t overlook.

"If Madeleine gave Ashley a letter, I wonder what’s inside. Mom, do you think it could be a love letter from Hayden to Madeleine, and Madeleine is just trying to taunt Ashley?"

Janice started walking again, with Lucinda keeping pace beside her.

"Yesterday, when I was talking to Madeleine, I noticed something. If I’m not mistaken, Madeleine is pregnant with Hayden's child. The envelope probably contains a test result."

Lucinda’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "This is going to be good! Mom, let’s go deliver this letter to Ashley."

Janice chuckled at her daughter's eagerness for drama.

In the opulent main hall of the central house, Grandma and Grandpa sat listening to Kayla and Ashley's complaints, while Nathan, who’d just come downstairs, stood by.

Living there for decades had made the second and third families forget that their rights were limited to residency; they had no claim to the land itself.

"Nathan!" Grandma called out displeased.

"Are you trying to drive your brothers' families out?"

Nathan replied unperturbed, "Mom, I’m just stating the facts."

Grandma was left without words.

Soon enough, she said, "Janice is just too much. She comes back and destroys all the flowers in the garden. If she can't even tolerate the plants, how's she going to handle the rest of the family? Your father and I are still alive, and she dares to act like this. Nathan, this wife of yours is a real problem."

Nathan's eyes flashed coldly, his face stiffening. He replied in a low voice, "When Lucy lost her mind, didn't the families of the second and third kids ruin all of Janice's favorite plants too? Mom, it's like you're letting them set the house on fire and not allowing Janice to light a candle."

"And Mom, stop talking about whether Janice is the right wife for me. Do you think your son is a hundred-dollar bill that everyone loves and treasures? Right now, it's me, your son, who's acting like a fool in love!"

The old lady's face turned ashen, her hands trembling from her son's words.

"How can you talk to your mother like that, Nathan? Look at how upset she is," the old patriarch admonished his son, then turned to comfort his wife. "Honey, calm down. Don't let something small like this upset you so much. Nathan has a point. After all, Janice is still the lady of the manor, the true mistress of this estate."