The Kiss that Sparked it All

If it weren’t for the grand dining table creating a vast space between them, Imogen might have snapped her daughter out of her nonsense with a swift tap on the shoulder.

“Why put yourself through this embarrassment?” she thought. “The man doesn’t even notice you, and yet here you are, fawning over him like some lovestruck puppy.”

Madeline, not rushing to sip her soup, flashed a wry smile. “Sis, don’t be mad at my bluntness; I’m just speaking the truth. Take today, for example. The sudden visit from my brother-in-law, and Mom and Dad were clueless. It’s not exactly ideal.

The roast was barely out of the oven. If word gets out, people will gossip that the Tanners don’t know the first thing about hospitality. Besides, Nolan is family. You, of all people, should understand and look out for his interests, right?”

Regina calmly swallowed her mouthful of food before lifting her gaze to meet Madeline’s. The sharpness in her eyes said it all; she knew exactly what little scheme was playing out in Madeline’s mind.

What good did Nolan’s frequent visits do for the Tanner family? It was all just a ploy for Madeline to catch more glimpses of him. It seemed Madeline still harbored inappropriate feelings for Nolan.

After all these years, despite the Tanner family’s improved financial situation, Madeline hadn’t picked up a shred of decency or social grace from her time at school. A single woman openly inviting her brother-in-law over? It was scandalous and shameful, yet here she was, trying to leverage this to manipulate Regina.

Nolan, for his part, remained silent. This was Regina’s house, and no matter the circumstances, he needed to maintain her dignity. His role was to stand behind her when she needed him.

Regina served Nolan another helping of food, then gracefully wiped her mouth with a napkin before speaking in an even tone. “I’m curious when you started calling the shots around here?”

Madeline’s face contorted into a quick, embarrassed smile, trying to regain her composure. “What are you talking about, sis? When have I ever been in charge? I’m just echoing Dad’s feelings as a concerned daughter. If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself. He surely misses having you around, but being a father, he finds it hard to express.”

She turned her gaze expectantly to Francis.

Wiping his mouth, Francis nodded, “Your sister has a point. You can’t just marry and never look back. I raised you for years, and seeing you leave was hard enough, not to mention your mother needs you too.” NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

The mention of “mother” referred naturally to Regina’s birth mother, Magina, and at that, Imogen’s expression soured.

They were living in a secondary bedroom, having given up the master suite. Imogen and Francis had their fair share of hidden disputes over it, but he refused to budge, the master room filled with the essence of his late wife.

In the beginning, it was to preserve memories for him and his daughter. Regina, plagued by nightmares as a child, would find solace in sleeping there as if her mother was still by her side.