Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 395

The door swung open.

Mrs. Porter found her daughter Madeleine standing in front of her, her hair disheveled and her bare feet on the wooden floor. Her eyes were swollen red, and she looked gaunt. Mrs. Porter's heart ached at the sight of her.

But she quickly wiped away her tears, and hurried in with a tray of food.

"Madeleine, darling, I've made your favorite dish. Come, have a taste, see if my cooking is still as good as you remember."

She set the tray on the coffee table, and turned to look at her daughter, relieved to see her following close behind.

As long as Madeleine was willing to open the door, it meant she'd come to terms with her situation.

Once Madeleine was close, Mrs. Porter pulled her down onto the couch, placing a fork in her hand.

With a tender look, she touched her daughter's face and said, "Madeleine, my dear, eat something."

Madeleine looked at her mother, who had been worried for days. She knew her father had been giving her mother a hard time these past few days as well.

"Mom, I'm sorry for making you worry."

"Madeleine."

Mrs. Porter couldn't help it, her arms wrapped around Madeleine and she began to cry.

Madeleine didn't cry anymore.

With things the way they were, crying wouldn't turn back time.

"Mom, I'm okay."

Madeleine comforted her mother, and with her care, managed to eat dinner.

After dinner, Mrs. Porter asked her softly, "Do you want to go out for a walk?"

"Mom, does everyone outside know about me and Hayden? What are they saying about me? That I'm a gold digger, a flirt, wanting to have both brothers?"

Madeleine hadn't left the house, but she knew what was happening outside, especially about her and Hayden. Even if her father had intervened, the news had spread all over Skywatch.

"Madeleine."

"It's Hayden! He must have spread it, wanting to tie me down to him. Dream on!"

Madeleine scoffed. She wouldn't marry Hayden, even if she was willing, could Hayden handle his wife?

Hayden had so many mistresses outside, none of them dared to let his wife know.

That mistress in Echoville had been pregnant for months, and only a select few knew about it.

"Mom, I won't let him get away with this! His entire family won't have a good day! He has a daughter too, right? He treated me like this, I'll return it double to his daughter."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Porter quickly advised, "Madeleine, don't do anything rash. Hayden's daughter is still young, and innocent. You can take your anger out on Hayden and his wife, even his two sons, but don't involve that little girl. She's too young."

Madeleine thought back to how much Hayden valued his eldest son, Pete, and realized that his daughter Molly was indeed too young. She nodded, "Fine, I'll wait, until his daughter grows up. Revenge is a dish best served cold."

"Mom, did Nathan come today?"

Madeleine asked about Nathan.

Mrs. Porter sighed, "He didn't come today. I sent someone to inquire, and it seems he and his son went to Pinehurst."

Seeing her daughter's expression darken, she quickly added, "His biological daughter just came back, it's only natural for him to go see her when he has the time. Madeleine, don't think too much about it. He doesn't blame you. He even feels guilty about you."

Madeleine looked distressed, "He might not blame me, but I'm not pure anymore, I don't deserve him. Is he really just going to see his daughter? Janice is in Pinehurst too, could it be that he finds me impure and wants to go back to Janice?"

"Madeleine, don't overthink it."

Madeleine jealously said, "Mom, I'm not overthinking, but Nathan is acting like this. I knew all along that he never divorced because he still has a place for Janice in his heart. Mom, Janice can't stay. Mom!"

"Madeleine."

Mrs. Porter had to coax her daughter again. Finally, she managed to reassure her, "Think about these past few years Nathan has been with you. Even if Janice was not in her right mind back then, she wouldn't forget all this once she's sober. No self-respecting person could accept their husband

neglecting them for over twenty years, parading around with other women. Janice won't get back together with Nathan, don't worry! Janice will definitely divorce him."

"Mom, is that really the case? But after they divorce, will Nathan still marry me?"

Mrs. Porter didn't dare to answer.

Now, many people have rich romantic histories. Everyone has a past, and as long as they were loyal to their marriage, the past didn't matter.

But her daughter was stripped of her innocence by Hayden, Nathan's own beloved younger brother. Nathan couldn't possibly not care.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound echoed through the house.

They both turned their eyes towards the front door.

"Ma'am."

The voice of the maid was heard.

"Ma'am, Hayden is here. He wishes to see the young lady."

Hayden, like his brother Nathan, would come over every day to check on things, but they always made sure to visit at different times.

Of course, every time Hayden showed up, he was kept outside the Porter family's home, not allowed in.

Mrs. Porter feared that she wouldn't be able to control her temper if she saw Hayden, and might want to lay her hands on him.

Her precious, flower-like daughter was tainted by Hayden, a man old enough to be her uncle. The mere thought made Mrs. Porter's teeth itch with rage.

"Tell him to get lost!"

The moment Madeleine heard Hayden's name, she was furious.

The maid acknowledged her order, and the area outside the door returned to its usual tranquillity.

Hayden stood outside of the Porter family's house, still showing the signs of a beating he had received a few days ago. His face was still bruised and battered.

At the moment, he held fresh flowers in his hands, and he had also prepared several sets of jewellery, hoping to present them to Madeleine as an apology.

He also wanted to discuss their situation with Madeleine.

Things had happened, and they needed to be addressed face to face.

If Madeleine was willing to marry him and let him take responsibility, he was more than happy to do so.

As for the she-devil at home.

Hayden had grown tired of her long ago. He was only tolerating her for the sake of their children.