Faux Vows, True Desires

Stefan's hand gently covered her face, right on the side that Ruby had slapped.

"Lucy, does it still hurt?" Stefan asked quietly, his eyes burning with rage.

Ruby had the guts to hurt Lucy!

Did she think Stefan wouldn't hit a woman?

Indeed, Stefan didn't like to hit women, but if anyone messed with his Lucy, he wouldn't mind breaking his own rule for her.

Lucinda pulled his hand away, touched her cheek, and asked him, "Is it still swollen?"

After Ruby left, Cecilia brought some ice to soothe her face, and she didn't feel swollen anymore.

"Even though the swelling has gone down, the fact that Ruby hit you can't be changed." Stefan's voice turned dark in the second half of his sentence, which confused Lucinda a bit. Soon, she got it.

The Stefan she knew was always gentle and courteous, but after knowing Stefan's true identity, she realized he couldn't be a truly nice person.

As the CEO of Ascend Global, he led the company to its peak, which required extraordinary abilities. How could he be a nice guy?

Lucinda had heard of Ascend Global but didn't know much about it.

After renting Stefan as her boyfriend, she specifically searched for the history of Ascend Global and found out that Ascend Global was like a brilliant pearl in Pinehurst.

"Stefan, I hit her too," Lucinda casually mentioned as she grabbed a pack of snacks, tore open the package, and started munching away.

She asked Stefan, "Stefan, how did Ruby find out about us? How did she find my shop?"

"Owen Martinez."

"Oh, right, Mr. Martinez and you are rivals; he's never been a fan of you."

Lucinda recalled Owen's smirking face, glanced at her boyfriend, and asked, "Stefan, how did you and Owen become rivals?"

always had a bone to pick with me. We were on good terms at first, but then, because of Ruby, he started picking on me, and our relationship has been sour

has

he's head over

you; Owen is into Ruby; it's

a storyteller, which left

pulled her into his arms the moment he sat down, and kissed

Lucinda's eyes widened.

half-eaten snacks in

but suddenly felt

He bit her.

lips he'd just bitten. His eyes were passionate, his voice deep and intoxicating; "Lucy, I've never had any feelings for Ruby. I don't love her at all.

in Diamond

Stefan gave a chuckle.

that her question

would he need to

because she didn't know

brother's college buddy, she realized she didn't know him well enough, which surprised and

I have to go; the shop is busy today." Lucinda stood up to leave

You're the boss; no one would blame you if you slacked off once in a while. Stay a bit longer; keep me company." Lucinda glanced at the documents on his table and said, "Stefan, your time is precious. If I took up

everything done before leaving work in the afternoon, and I can spend the

"I didn't ask you to accompany me. You go on with your work;

free from his grip and turned

"Lucy."

grabbed her from behind, his arms tightly wrapped around her, forcing her to lean on

let me hold you

in and gave her cheek a

really wished he could hold

while, then broke free from his grip and scurried away, fearing that he'd keep her

her retreating figure