The Kiss that Sparked it All

Francis was fuming, but he waited until the coast was clear before he let it all out. He spat in the direction Nolan had walked off in.

“Seriously? What does he think he is, talking to me like that? If I were a step-dad, would I have raised her as well as I have? I’ve given Regina everything she’s ever wanted. Heck, the fact that she’s marrying you is all thanks to my relentless badgering for this match. And he dares to say I don’t care for her? What does he know about caring?”

Francis was pacing back and forth, his anger growing with each step. “What’s Nolan’s deal anyway? He should be calling me ‘Mr. Tanner’ and showing some respect. If he thinks he can do better, then why marry my daughter? And when she’s in trouble, shouldn’t I be worried sick? He acts as if he’s the only one who cares about Regina. Trying to play the knight in shining armor in front of me… Who does he think he is?”

In a huff, Francis decided to wash his hands off the matter and head back to the Tanner household. After all, Regina was married now. With a husband so worried, it seemed his role as a father was redundant.

But then he bumped into Madeline rushing back home.

“Where have you been? Your sister was supposed to come home for dinner today. Didn’t you know? Couldn’t you have been a bit more punctual? I’ve done my duty by you, bringing you into this home, and this is how you repay me? Regina’s still your sister!”

Francis, already boiling with rage, unloaded his frustrations on Madeline. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Madeline tried to greet him with a smile, only to be met with his icy rebuke.

“Dad, what are you talking about? How could I not care about my sister? I just got held up with some friends. We were supposed to come back early, but they insisted on checking out some new materials at the library. I didn’t realize how late it had gotten. But why are you here? Did something happen?”

Seeing the innocence in Madeline’s eyes, Francis knew it was pointless to vent his anger on her.

“Let’s just go back home. Your sister… she might be in trouble.”

Madeline was visibly shocked. “Dad, you’re joking, right? How could something have happened to her? She was supposed to come home for dinner.”

The smile slowly faded from her face as she noticed Francis’ grave expression.

“Dad, what happened to her? How could something happen right at our doorstep? Where is she now?”

Jumping out of her car, she saw the shattered glass and immediately thought of an accident. “Which hospital is she in? We should go there right away. If she’s had an accident, we can’t just leave her alone.”

Francis shook his head. “If it were just an accident, it would be easier to deal with. The problem is we have no idea where she is right now.”