Faux Vows, True Desires

The whole time, Ike was basically a mute. Anything his little sis could handle, he didn't need to butt in.

Even though their family doted on her, they never spoiled her rotten. They were always there for her, trying to help her grow into a strong, independent woman. But just as she was starting to blossom, she got all starry-eyed for Stefan.

"I'm gonna change."

Ike gently tousled her hair and said softly, "Go ahead."

Lucinda wasn't bothered by Mrs. Mitchell's comment about her looking nothing like her brother.

When Lucinda went into the apartment complex, Ike fell into deep thought. The whole family knew Lucinda wasn't their biological daughter. His real sister got sick when she was just a few months old and didn't make it. Everyone was heartbroken, especially their mom, who cried every day.

Dad's attempts to comfort her were useless. Then one day, Dad brought home Lucinda, a child he said he found.

She was dressed in nice clothes and wore a gold necklace. His real sister's name was Lucinda, so they gave the orphan that name.

Lucinda wore that gold necklace for years. After she started school, she stopped wearing it and it was now kept safely by their mom.

Lucinda had been part of the Moore family for nearly 24 years and was as much a part of the family as anyone else. As for the fact that Lucinda didn't resemble them, their mother told a white lie, saying she took after her grandmother, not them. Their grandmother had passed away a long time ago; Ike didn't even have any memory of her. So, Lucinda didn't pay much attention to comments about her not looking like them.

Lucinda quickly finished changing.

Ike watched as his sister slowly approached him. Even in a plain long dress, she was a natural beauty. The thought of his sweet sister being with Stefan made him feel blue.

"Ike."

smile on her beautiful face. Her dark eyes were as bright as stars in the

makeup, probably for Stefan. In

no time at

"Let's leave. I'm starving."

her forehead and said, "That's what you get for sleeping in his lounge till now. It's late and you must be famished. I thought Stefan and I were having such a great chat he forgot to eat, but he was actually waiting for

and

I fell asleep so easily. I'm sorry for making you starve. Once I get

you're trying to sabotage me. Eating heavy at night can make people fat. Are you trying to make

not it. You are handsome and charming. You can get anyone you want whenever you want. But you're not getting any younger. You're

his thirties was still young. He was not an old

laughed all the way to

the

as Ike parked the car, Stefan came over. He

walk just fine. I don't

but he ended

blushed instantly because the stranger was grinning at her. Ike looked puzzled as Stefan

called

looked at Ike, grinned, and casually put Lucinda down. Then he whispered, "I wouldn't mind carrying

scolded him. His

and pulled his

man also approached, joking, "Ike, are you afraid my brother will steal your

did Lucinda realize this man was Stefan's brother. He had many brothers, which one was this? She eyed the stranger. He looked a bit like Stefan, probably a