The Kiss that Sparked it All

“Before I turned eight, I lived with you in that rundown alley, and even now, the stench of the gutters comes back to haunt me. If you’ve forgotten, I sure haven’t. If you miss the past, be my guest; but don’t drag me along!”

Imogen stood up and stormed over to Madeline despite her pregnant body, trying to clamp. a hand over her mouth. “Have you lost your mind? Think about where you are! When have I ever met up with him? It was just Regina bringing it up randomly. I haven’t been in touch with him for years. How he treated my daughter and me back then I haven’t forgotten. What reason could I possibly have to get in touch now?”

Regina crossed her arms and watched the drama. Domingo seemed to be more useful than she had thought.

Just the mention of his name was enough to set mother and daughter at each other’s throats.

It seemed Madeline truly minded the past, still nursing old wounds even after all these years.

Well, for someone as vain as her, lineage was everything.

Madeline shook off Imogen’s hand yet again. “I don’t care about the occasion. I’m telling you, if you dare get in touch with Domingo, I’ll cut ties with you. I’m a Tanner, not a Skinner, and don’t you forget it!”

With those resounding words, Madeline turned and left, vanishing into nowhere.

Imogen, fuming, collapsed into a chair.

Regina then asked, “Imogen, you okay? You have to look after yourself. That little one needs you. If anything happened, it’d be a real mess. You and Dad have been so excited for this baby. Take care of yourself!”

Imogen shot her a venomous look. “You think you’re being kind? You’re probably hoping lose the baby, aren’t you? Too bad I’m in good health. I’ll take real good care of my child. Just you wait. The Tanner fortune won’t be yours alone.”

Regina didn’t even bother looking back. Once Emma tidied up the tables outside, Reginal moved over there immediately. The Tanner legacy was never hers alone, and she never intended to fight over it. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t fight; she just found it beneath her.

But if someone tried to take what was hers, that would be a different story. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Imogen’s constant vigilance was all because she feared Regina would swallow up the Tanner family whole, that her father would leave everything to Regina. But she seemed to forget that only she was the rightful heir to the Tanner estate. As if Madeline and the unborn child could even compete.

Yet, Regina never truly wished ill on the unborn child.

No matter the friction between the adults, it had nothing to do with the innocent baby in its. mother’s womb.

Emma didn’t rush off after setting down some pastries. Instead, she looked at Regina with concern.

“My dear, all these years have been hard on you. Ever since your mother passed away, you’ve been under the thumb of those two. It must have been tough, huh?”

Regina smiled and shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’ve grown up now. I can fight back. I can protect myself.

But you please don’t try to defend me in front of them ever again. There will be times when I’m not around, and if they take it out on you, I won’t be here to speak up for you.”