The Kiss that Sparked it All

Imogen sat quietly to the side, tears streaming down her face, making no attempt to defend herself.

Only Madeline was trying futilely to explain, but no matter what she said, Francis wouldn’t believe her. He had trusted Imogen and Madeline time and again in the past, but now he realized he had been gravely mistaken.

Regina had always been so understanding and well-behaved. Yet, it seemed that ever since Imogen and her daughter arrived, Regina had turned sly, constantly competing for his attention.

Now, he understood that Regina was only trying to get more attention, even just wanting fair treatment alongside Madeline.

But he had never seen it that way before, thinking instead that, as the older one, Regina should be the one to make concessions.

“If you’re so fond of your biological father, then from now on, you can go live with him. Don’t come back to the Tanner household. As for your mother, she’s carrying a Tanner child, so of course, she can’t reunite with her ex-husband.”

Madeline, still tied to her chair, her tears not yet dry, asked in disbelief, “Dad, what do you mean? Are you really kicking me out of the Tanner family?”

Francis cut her off coldly, “You’re not my daughter, so stop calling me ‘dad.”

Imogen had already accepted this outcome. She said, “Francis, even if you don’t b me, when the baby is born, it will prove that I had no intention of getting back with man. You know how much he tormented me. I finally escaped that nightmare; why I ever go back?”

Francis still had some faith in Imogen, but he couldn’t tolerate what Madeline had don Regina, given that Madeline wasn’t even related to him by blood.

“Don’t worry, I’m not heartless. You can stay until your wounds heal, then you must leav Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

However, Madeline had no real injuries; Nolan hadn’t allowed anyone to hurt her, aside from binding her wrists with coarse rope, causing minor abrasions. A servant untied her, but even then, she just sat there, not knowing where to go. She couldn’t understand how things had come to this. This was supposed to be a time for a joyful family dinner, excluding Regina.

Soon, she thought she would rise in status. Nolan might grieve Regina’s loss for a while, but he wouldn’t forever. Her chance would come.

But now, she was being expelled from the Tanner family?

Madeline was confused.

After Francis left, Imogen approached her and sighed, “I told you not to be so greedy, but you wouldn’t listen to me That Lawson boy was a good match, wasn’t he? Now, no gentleman will consider you. I’ve raised you to adulthood, which wasn’t easy. I’ve saved up some things for you. Take them when you gave

Madeline looked up in shock Mom, are you abandoning me too?

Imogen frowned, troubled. “It’s not that I don’t want you, but look at the situation with Francis How can you stay? Go to Domingo he won’t mistreat you Live a good life with him

After Francis left, Imogen approached her and sighed, “I told you not to be so greedy, but you wouldn’t listen to me. That Lawson boy was a good match, wasn’t he? Now, no gentleman will consider you. I’ve

raised you to adulthood, which wasn’t easy. I’ve saved up some things for you. Take them when you leave.”

Madeline looked up in shock. “Mom, are you abandoning me too?”

Imogen frowned, troubled. “It’s not that I don’t want you, but look at the situation with Francis. How can you stay? Go to Domingo; he won’t mistreat you. Live a good life with him.”