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.

time it was more forceful, she could even

face

long as I'm there. I won't

from his kiss, and his eyes

really think you could take

lips as he said some bossy things that she found kind of

She was captivated.

genteel Stefan can be really cool when he's

must have many

do have

"I was thinking of taking down Owen first, so his

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

off a dangerous vibe. He asked her darkly, "Owen is handsome? More than me? His eyes are seductive. You don't like my eyes? You think

Besides, she wasn't stupid.

do when her husband

threw her

husband when she was alive, so she chose to make it up to

lot of tricks up

her novel

"Darling."

Lucinda called softly.

naturally pleasant; she intentionally softened it and dragged out

chill run down her

wanted to

man, she even started to

one can compare! Your eyes are 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 with thin lips are fickle,

went on and on with

her novel's heroine always

heroine would praise

this would work on

hear what I said earlier?" Stefan asked

hear it, I remembered it and thought about it all