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."

as possible, not wanting Ruby and

"Can you help

"Yes, Mr. Coleman."

at Lucinda, finding that Lucinda had

breathed a sigh of

Stefan and sarcastically laughed, "When did our Mr. Coleman start riding an e-bike? Where's Mr. Coleman's fancy car? Did Ascend Global hit a rough

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, which is understandable. But there's no way Ascend Global is having financial issues. If

large number of job opportunities for residents in Pinehurst and

was in trouble, other small companies'

issues. If these companies collapsed, her coffee shop would be hit, as many of her customers were Ascend

workers rarely

that Stefan worked at Ascend Global, and she didn't want him to be

on

a helmet and passed one to Lucinda. Once Lucinda put on the helmet, he rode the e-bike, carrying Lucinda past Ruby. He didn't say a word to Ruby's mockery. "Stefan."

a drink. Come

were directed

had previously invited Ruby to

now, Lucinda and

for her. She was the one who invited Ruby to dinner, but Stefan obviously

felt like she might have done

his childhood playmate Ruby didn't seem to be as

"Hold me tight!"

ordered in a

reaching her hands under Stefan's arms

Stefan's tense face relaxed

intimate gesture she made towards

with 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

them in the rearview mirror, his face hardened. He said in a deep voice: "Hold on