Faux Vows, True Desires

Lucinda heaved a sigh of relief. Now she wouldn't have to pay for his rent.

Stefan's phone started ringing out of the blue. He was driving, so he couldn't pick up, but the caller was relentless, the phone kept ringing non-stop. He had no choice but to take out his phone from his pocket with one hand and handed it to Lucinda, who looked puzzled.

"I'm driving, can't answer the phone, can you check who it is?"

Lucinda felt awkward about it, but she couldn't say no. When she saw the caller ID was "Ike", she felt nervous.

Ike had no idea that his sister Lucinda was the one holding Stefan's phone, neither did he know that Stefan was driving when he called again. Stefan looked at Lucinda quizzically, "Who is it, Lucinda? Why didn't you pick up for me?"

"Stefan, I can't take the call."

Although Lucinda had prepared herself for how to face her family when she decided to rent Stefan, she still felt a bit flustered when her brother Ike called.

Well, she needed some time to compose herself.

"It's my brother." Lucinda added.

Stefan was a bit surprised. He and Ike were college buddies, but they weren't close. They just kept in touch sporadically over the years since graduation, and occasionally met up for a few drinks. That was it. "I'll take it." Stefan slowed down and pulled over, luckily, parking was allowed here.

He took the phone from Lucinda and answered Ike's call.

Stefan's deep and sultry voice was music to

him speak, Lucinda felt that

you got married. It's such big news. As your friend, I've got

When are you introducing her to us? And remember, save

aloof. Many girls had crushes on him, but he never paid them any attention, and there were no rumors about him. Upon hearing the news from Gabriel, Ike couldn't resist his

He had forgotten that Gabriel was not only his

it? Indulge me in my

at his newlywed

immediately got his drift. She took a couple of deep breaths, then took the phone from Stefan

"Ike, it's me."

his ear and checked the screen,

is Stefan's

had collected herself. She responded to her brother seriously, "Ike, Stefan and I are

everything her brother said

he dropped his phone. He must

his phone, and asked loudly, "Lucinda, say that again? Who did you marry to? Stefan? Do you know what he's like? You actually dared to marry him, you have guts!" The thought of his sister marrying Stefan made Ike extremely upset. Even he,

he seemed, he was a scheming person. When he was smiling his brightest, he could be

was straightforward and naive, how could

we have time. Mom wants me to come home tomorrow, so I'll bring Stefan home to meet

wouldn't set up any more blind dates for her. Otherwise, even if she told her mother she had a boyfriend over the phone, her mother wouldn't believe her. Wasn't the purpose of renting Stefan to shut her mom