Faux Vows, True Desires

"Lucinda."

As Lucinda entered the coffee shop, her business partner and friend, Cecilia Yates, came up to greet her, pointing to the man sitting at the corner table and whispering, "Your ex-boyfriend is here, and he's been waiting for a while."

Ex-boyfriend?

Lucinda looked over, and sure enough, it was her ex-boyfriend George Mitchell, with whom she had been together for four years before he left her for a rich girl.

"What's he doing here?" Lucinda murmured.

They had broken up half a year ago, and she was slowly emerging from the shadow of that split, but that didn't mean she wanted to see George.

Cecilia frowned, "I dunno why he's here. He asked for a glass of water when he came in and has been sitting there like a statue."

Cecilia and Lucinda were friends, and she had witnessed the entire relationship between Lucinda and George. She had no respect for men like George, who dumped their girlfriends for their careers. When they broke up, Lucinda was devastated, barely speaking, which worried Cecilia and made her resent George.

"He's a customer, so you should treat him well. But remember, we're charging him for that water."

Half a year later, Lucinda was able to remain calm upon seeing George.

As Cecilia had once comforted her, "If someone else can take him away, he's not for you from the beginning. It's better to see his true colors before marriage than being betrayed after tying the knot." Cecilia chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to charge him."

Lucinda took a stride, heading into the store.

"Lucy."

and immediately stood up, calling her affectionately as he used

just heard George's

eyes suddenly turned

were only on Lucinda, and seeing her ignoring him, he quickly got up and headed towards Lucinda. "Lucy, can we

tried to grab Lucinda's hand, but

his face full of plea, "It's

over the half

four years and had a solid emotional foundation. However, both he and Lucinda came from average families. After suffering in the workplace for a few years, he resolved to be successful no

but her aunt and uncle treated her like their own daughter,

such a woman? As soon as he secured a relationship with

position in the company was rising, and those who once oppressed him now had to

to say

know I treated you poorly. I

Lucinda could not sense his sincerity. Even if he was genuinely sorry, she had no

stop calling

reached out

did not dodge his hand

change, and then he let go of her. Stefan

pull his hand free but couldn't. He tugged hard but still couldn't succeed, his face turning

disgust. When George tried to

lost balance from the sudden release, stumbled backwards, hit a

himself by holding on to the table, then stood up straight, adjusted his expensive suit, straightened his tie, and glared at Stefan, "Who the hell are you? I'm talking to my girlfriend, why

Lucinda, then back at George, a smirk playing on his lips,