Faux Vows, True Desires

"Lucinda."

Stefan pedaled his bicycle out from inside.

On seeing Lucinda and Ruby chitchatting, Stefan felt uneasy, so he pedaled faster.

Ruby was flabbergasted when she saw him riding a bicycle out.

Where was Stefan's fancy car?

She remembered Stefan loved luxury cars, and the garage was packed enough for a car show.

"Stefan, you're out."

Lucinda greeted him with a smile and whispered to Stefan, "Stefan, when did Ruby come back? She seems upset. Did you guys have a fight? I invited you to dinner and invited her too, but she said you wouldn't eat with me."

She subtly nudged Stefan's arm, lowering her voice even more, "Don't mind her. She just returned from abroad. All her family is overseas. You're the only one she can rely on here."

Upon hearing that Lucinda invited Ruby for dinner, Stefan felt heavy-hearted.

However, he could not confess to Lucinda, for fear that he would scare her if she knew his real identity. Now Lucinda always thought that he was just a staff member working at Ascend Global, and did not know that he was the head of Ascend Global.

"Lucinda, get in, let's go. We'll talk during dinner."

Stefan gestured for Lucinda to get on his bike, sending Ruby a glare.

Lucinda looked at Ruby, then at Stefan. Something felt off between the two, but as an outsider, she had no idea about their history, so she remained silent.

"Oh."

Just as Lucinda was about to sit on Stefan's bike, she remembered she came here on a bike. So she told Stefan, "Stefan, leave your bike in the company and ride my e-bike. It's faster. It's too hot to cycle." She mumbled to herself, "After dinner, I'll get a sunshade for the e-bike, so we can avoid the sun when going out."

possible, not

guard, "Can you help me

"Yes, Mr. Coleman."

at Lucinda, finding that

breathed a

our Mr. Coleman start riding an e-bike? Where's Mr. Coleman's fancy car?

Stefan could reply, she poked her head out from behind Stefan and said to Ruby, "Ms. Scott, you just returned from abroad. You may not know the situation in Pinehurst,

opportunities for residents in Pinehurst

trouble, other small companies' survival would also

her coffee shop would be hit, as many of her customers were Ascend Global employees.

workers rarely patronized

more important reason was that Stefan worked at Ascend Global, and she didn't want him to

put on your

the helmet, he rode the e-bike, carrying Lucinda past Ruby. He didn't say a word to Ruby's mockery. "Stefan." Ruby reached out to stop the e-bike, but Stefan immediately sped

promised me a drink.

words were

invited Ruby to

now, Lucinda

increasingly distant Ruby, feeling a bit sorry for her. She was the one who invited Ruby to dinner, but Stefan obviously didn't

she might have done

childhood playmate Ruby didn't seem to

"Hold me tight!"

ordered in

hands under

Stefan's tense

liked the intimate gesture she made

you and Ms. Scott? Didn't Mr. Turner say you've been sweet on each other since childhood? Now that she's back from abroad, aren't you planning to rekindle the old flame? Is it because we signed a contract and it feels inconvenient? The contract says that it can

initially wanted to stop, but seeing Ruby chasing them in the rearview mirror, his face hardened. He said in