Faux Vows, True Desires

"Ms. Moore, what's your monthly income?"

Lucinda Moore was stirring her coffee when she heard this. She paused for a moment, then looked up at the man sitting across from her. This guy was her participant in a blind date for the day. The matchmaker had told her he was a great catch, a supervisor at a big company with a salary close to ten grand a month.

At only twenty-four, Lucinda was being pressured so much by her mother to get married that she was afraid to go home. Reluctantly, she had agreed to another blind date to meet this so-called 'great catch'. Unexpectedly, the first thing out of his mouth was a question about her income.

"I own this coffee shop," Lucinda answered, maintaining her composure. When he looked around and seemed satisfied, she added, "But it's not making a profit yet."

His face fell at this. "So you're operating at a loss?" The man asked.

Lucinda nodded.

He frowned, "Did you invest your own money or did you borrow? How much is the loan?"

"I invested with a friend and borrowed some. I owe tens of thousands," Lucinda answered honestly. His displeasure was clear, but she was not particularly fond of him either.

"Ms. Moore, this is your pre-marital debt. I won't be paying for it after we're married. I assume since you're in debt you don't own any property? I own two houses, and they're my pre-marital assets. You can live there after we're married. We can pay the mortgage together but I won't add you to the title.

"Ms. Moore, I'm not getting any younger. My parents are waiting for grandchildren. After we're married, I hope you can have kids soon. My parents had a hard time raising me and my siblings, they're not going to babysit. You need to take care of the kid.

"I can't cook and I'm busy with work, so you'll need to prepare all meals. I can't help with housework but I like a clean environment. I don't want to come home to a messy house. And also..."

cared. "Sorry, you got the wrong person. I can't meet your demands.

then gestured

he was a catch, had a high salary, and meeting Lucinda was doing her a favor. He thought Lucinda was young and

stood up abruptly, took out his wallet, and slammed a bill on the table. "I

put his wallet back in his pocket, pushed away his chair, and walked out. After a few steps, he turned around and said, "A woman like Ms. Moore who's unwilling to sacrifice for the family and

up her coffee cup and threw it at

square on, his white suit stained with coffee. Furious, he stomped his foot. The other customers were all looking over. He didn't

jerk, thinks he's

her time. She would rather stay single for life

were about to leave stopped

the men said something to

"Lucinda."

gentle call entered Lucinda's ears, and she instinctively looked at the

immediately stood up and smiled brightly, "Stefan, what are

smile, "I was meeting some friends here. You weren't around when I came in." That's why Lucinda, as the owner of Serendipity Cafe, didn't see

to clean the table, and said to Stefan, "Wait a moment, Stefan,

okay, just a cup of water is fine." He had already had a cup of coffee. If he had

a cup of water herself and asked the waiter to bring

Ike Moore. During Ike's college years, he would return to Pinehurst from Harborville for the holidays every year. Stefan, though not particularly close to Ike, would go back