The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2826
Francis nodded with a grimace, “I know you aren’t one to lie. If I find out even one word you’ve said today is false, I won’t let you
off the hook.”
Nolan nodded, “I accept that.”
Those two men had some sort of secretive conversation out there, and Imogen was just pacing frantically outside Regina’s door,
unable to hear a thing.
“Mom, have you lost your mind? Why on earth would you think of sending Nolan to Regina’s room? Are you out of your wits?
You know darn well that your daughter has fallen head over heels for Nolan, so why hand this perfect opportunity to that hussy?”
Madeline confronted her mother, her face a picture of despair, “Should I be asking if you’re hooked on playing the stepmother,
actually thinking you’re Regina’s mother? What on earth are you thinking?”
Madeline nearly lost it. The mere thought of the man she fancied having been intimate with the woman she despised made her
blood boil. She wanted to storm in there and harm Regina in whatever way, but alas, she was just standing dryly at the door,
unable to do anything.
“You think I’ve gone mad? How could I possibly do that for Regina? The guy I set her with should be a no-good thug!”
Imogen muttered under her breath and scolded Madeline, “You’re ready to write off your own mother just for a man? Do you
have any idea how much that hurts me? There must have been some kind of mix-up; I haven’t figured it out yet, and here you
are, tearing into me. You really outdid yourself just for a man, Madeline. All those years of effort I investe in you, all for nothing.
Don’t you care about your mother at all?”
“What’s the use of me caring when you botch everything up? You had already drugged that woman; how could it not have
worked? And instead of the thug in her room, it was Nolan. What the heck did you do? If you couldn’t handle it, why didn’t you let
me take over? Why did you insist on hoarding all the tasks to yourself?”
Madeline clutched her head, exasperated.
Since the mention of that unfamiliar name Domingo, her mother had been acting increasingly strange.

She harbored suspicions but was terrified to confirm the conjectures in her mind. She knew that some truths, once unveiled,
could never allow a return to the way things were, and she was quite content with her status as the carefree second daughter of
the Tanner family. She had no desire to return to those days of uncertainty and hunger.
Just as Imogen was about to defend herself, Francis and Nolan reappeared. She immediately switched to a look of concern for
Regina,
“What happened? What exactly is going on? Are you really dating Regina now? Well, Mr. Harris, I don’t want to be such
condescending as an elder, but your actions are a bit flippant. How could you not inform us, the parents, before whisking our
child away to a hotel room? If word gets out, what will become of our daughter’s name?”
Francis, hearing her increasingly absurd accusations, sharply scolded her, “Enough with your nonsense, or go back home.”
“I believe Imogen is well aware of what transpired today.” Nolan wanted to scoff, but his good manner prevented so. Otherwise,
Imogen might really think she had put on a convincing act. Did she actually believe she was a good stepmother?
Hastily, Madeline tried to explain, “Nolan, please don’t be mad. Something’s off with my mom lately, her mind isn’t quite clear,
perhaps it’s the menopause. She’s just worried about my sister. After all, it’s not a good look for a young lady to be discovered in
a hotel with a man. Rumors could tarnish her reputation. It’s one thing if you two are truly a couple, but if you’re not...”
Madeline blinked her big eyes, hoping for a denial from Nolan. But to her dismay, he arrogantly lifted his chin. “So what if we
are? What’s it to you?”
Madeline’s smile froze, and she added, “I-I wasn’t prying. I’m just concerned about my sister, that’s all.”