The Kiss that Sparked it All

“Who’s spreading rumors? It’s all out in the open, isn’t it? Everybody’s talking, so why can’t 12 Besides, you brought this on yourself. If your mom was still around, I wouldn’t have anything to say. But who told her to check out so early?

Now the task of finding someone willing to take you off our hands falls on my mom. You might not get it ’cause you don’t have one, but it breaks my heart.”

Madeline was smug, knowing she always had one up on Regina in this department.

But then, out of nowhere, Regina’s expression changed, and teardrops started rolling down from the corners of her eyes. She was usually so composed, but now, with her rimmed red from crying, she looked even more pitiable. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

While Madeline was frowning, wondering what Regina was up to, a voice called out from upstairs

“Madeline, is this how we talk to Regina?”

Madeline flinched. She turned around and the moment she saw Francis, she knew what Regina was playing at.

“Dad, when did you get back?” Madeline’s smile couldn’t have been more forced, and Imogen, who had been at Francis’s side, wasn’t looking too happy either. She reached out to link arms with Francis but he dodged her with an uplifted arm.

“If I hadn’t come home early, I would’ve never known how you guys talk about my daughter behind my back!” Francis was furious.

Regina lowered her head and wiped the tears from her eyes, “Dad… don’t be hard on Madeline. She’s just young.”

Imogen quickly chimed in, “Exactly, Francis. Madeline is young, and sometimes she doesn’t think before she speaks. We’re all family here, so she thought she could be casual. Madeline, apologize to your sister. Promise you won’t speak like that again.”

Francis, seeing Regina so forgiving, felt even more heartache, “If I hadn’t come back tod I wouldn’t have known you were all calling my daughter a child without a mother! Imoge is this the fine example you’ve set as her mother?

Back in the day, I ignored all the stares and whispers to bring you and your daughter into our home, just so my daughter would have a female figure to look after her. Was I wrong?”

Francis didn’t spell it out, but each question hit Imogen like a ton of bricks. She stepped forward and yanked Madeline’s arm harshly. “What are you still standing there for? Go apologize to your sister! And Francis, believe me, Madeline just blurted it out without thinking. She’s not ill-natured. She’s been raised by your side all these years. You should know her true nature, right?”

“Well, I can’t be sure of that. After all, you can’t see into people’s hearts. I can’t even claim to fully understand my own daughter, let alone someone else’s.” Francis’s words plunged Imogen’s heart into despair.

She pleaded, “Francis, what are you trying to say? I’ve been nothing but diligent in the Tanner household for so many years. I’ve treated your daughter well and done my duty as a mother. Now you’re saying I don’t get any credit for that?

Sure, she’s grown up and doesn’t need me, but how have I wronged the Tanners? You say you didn’t care about the looks you got when you brought us into the Tanner family, but do you think it was easy

for me? Do you know how they called the wicked stepmother every time I step out of here?”