Faux Vows, True Desires

Owen rocked up looking all confident, but then he skedaddled in a hurry.

Lucinda gave a sarcastic applause, saying, "He's just wasting his time trying to stick up for Ruby."

The man beside her kept quiet.

Lucinda turned her gaze to Stefan, whose handsome face was stormy. The next thing she knew, he was pulling her into his arms, holding her tight, and whisking her away.

What the heck just happened?

Lucinda was completely bamboozled.

Stefan took Lucinda back to his place at Diamond Ridge Estates.

"Master, mistress!"

Seeing them enter, Emma greeted cheerfully.

Lucinda was taken aback. "Auntie, aren't you Stefan's mom's friend?"

Last time, she called Stefan her nephew, but now she was calling him master.

How many times had he and his people hoodwinked her?

Seeing the master's sour face, Emma explained with a smile, "Mistress, I'm the housekeeper here. You can just call me Emma from now on."

Lucinda wanted to say something, but Stefan pulled her into the house.

"Stefan, what's up with you? You look upset; did I do something wrong?"

He'd been all quiet and holding her hand tight all the way, like he was afraid she'd bolt if he let go.

Stefan still kept mum, leading Lucinda upstairs. Once in his room, he nudged her into the bathroom, making her stand in front of the sink. He squeezed some soap into her hand, then had her wash her hands. Lucinda turned to look at him; he was washing her hands with a serious look.

He kept washing her hands over and over, like her hands were poisoned or something.

Maybe because she kept staring at him, she found herself pinned between his chest and the sink. He couldn't resist any longer and planted a kiss on her lips.

his usual tender kisses; this time it was more

his face finally started to

now on, don't lift a finger as long

from his

her lips, whispering, "Don't ever do what you did earlier again. Owen was just messing with you. Do you really think you could take him down with

lips as he said some bossy

She was captivated.

the genteel Stefan can be really cool when he's

must have many different

do have a bit of

"I was thinking of taking down Owen first, so his guys wouldn't

eyes are really seductive, and his lips are quite sexy, but it's not because of his

are seductive. You don't like my eyes?

Besides, she wasn't stupid.

her husband was angry

quickly threw her arms

she chose to make it up to him after her resurrection, but her past actions led

a lot of tricks up her sleeve to appease

applied the tricks from her novel to real life, dealing with the

"Darling."

Lucinda called softly.

pleasant; she intentionally softened it and dragged out

a chill run down her spine; she was getting goosebumps

really wanted to

pacify this suddenly jealous man, she even started to

like blazing fire; every time I look into them, my heart races, and I'm often at a loss, totally smitten." "Your lips might not be thin, but I heard that men

on and on with these

her novel's heroine always praised the hero

would praise him, and then he

this would

hear what I

I hear it, I remembered it and thought about it all