The Kiss that Sparked it All

“Seriously, don’t you trust me? You’ve got to weigh the pros and cons of this whole deal. Do you think anyone could line up a marriage to Nolan so smoothly?” Imogen lounged back with a leg draped over the arm of her chair, oozing arrogance.

Madeline’s heart raced with understanding. To secure her marriage to Nolan, she needed Imogen to whisper sweet nothings into Francis’s ear. But now it was clear she couldn’t keep Imogen in the dark any longer.

“Well, here’s the scoop. Last week, I overheard something at the kitchen door. Apparently, the Harrises owe a huge favor to the Tanners.

When Grandpa Tanner passed, Nolan’s granddad made a special trip over. He promised Dad that he and his descendants could ask for anything they wanted, no strings attached, from the Harris family.”

Imogen’s jaw dropped. “You sly fox, you’ve got your ear to the ground! Looks like you’re all set to be Mrs. Harris. It must be fate!”

With Imogen’s words, Madeline’s joy bubbled over.

“Right? So I told you, Mom, there’s no need to fret. Just bring it up with Dad. The Harrises take their promises seriously. Once you mention it to them, Nolan will have to marry me, whether he likes it or not.”

“If Mr. Harris knew he was getting our angel-faced Madeline, he’d be over the moon! Who needs that promise, anyway? Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make sure this engagement happens without a hitch, and you’ll be betrothed to Mr. Harris in style.”

Meanwhile, Regina, having heard Imogen’s approaching footsteps, quietly slipped away. Only when Imogen’s silhouette vanished down the hall did she silently follow.

If they were so keen on marrying Madeline off to Nolan, then she’d be damned if she didn’t throw a wrench in their plans.

From that day on, Regina was determined to stand against them, even if it meant turning the Tanner household upside down. Ever since the day Imogen brought Madeline into the Tanner family, they had been shortchanging her. She hadn’t picked a fight over every little thing all these years, but now it was time to settle accounts. Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

She was going to make Imogen understand that every action had a price.

“Francis, with all those wealthy young men at the party, did anyone catch your eye?”

Imogen feigned concern for Regina’s matrimonial prospects, secretly hoping she’d marry a nobody.

Francis, massaging his temples, was about to relieve a headache when Imogen’s familiar hands took over the task.

He patted the back of her hand in comfort. “After all these years, your massage skills only get better. With you by my side, work isn’t so tedious.”

Imogen chuckled softly. “We’ve been married for over a decade. How could I not know you by now? Every time you frown, it’s a headache coming on. Surely, with all those gentlemen, there wasn’t one who caught your fancy?”

“It’s not that I didn’t approve; it’s just that Regina is my daughter. I know what these rich kids are like. Polished on the outside, but who knows what kind of dirt they’re into behind closed doors? How could I let my daughter marry into that? But there was-”

“There was what? Did you find someone you like? Francis, I’m not rushing you, but Regina’s already twenty. Look at Miss Meisner at her age, she was already engaged and settled down.”