Faux Vows, True Desires

"You're Ruby's childhood friend. Even though I can't stand her drama, I have to admit you're totally smitten with her. No way in hell would I be dumb enough to marry a guy who's already got another woman in his heart."

Owen rolled his eyes, "Alright, I can live with that."

He'd been burned pretty badly by Ruby; he even thought about throwing in the towel a couple times. But every time Ruby played cute, trying to sweet-talk him, he just couldn't let go.

Now that Stefan had Lucinda, Ruby should get the message and move on. He still might stand a chance.

"I'll go make you a cup of coffee." Cecilia headed straight inside, and Owen acknowledged her with a nod.

Waiting was a real bore, so he got up and took a stroll around the shop. Even though Ruby had done a number on the place, after tidying up, you could still see its original charm. The interior was tastefully decorated and cozy. It was a nice place to grab a coffee, have some dessert, and shoot the breeze with friends.

"Cecilia, who did the interior design for your shop?"

"Lucy and I. We were on top of the workers every day, making sure everything was just as we designed it. Pretty good, right?"

"Who did the design?"

"Lucy. She studied design. She's just a free spirit who didn't want to be tied down in a corporate job. I wanted to open a shop, so I asked her to join me. We opened this coffee shop together." Business wasn't great at first, but now it was picking up.

Owen acknowledged her with a nod.

He'd seen Lucinda's profile. The woman had indeed studied design but chose not to pursue it due to her love for freedom. Had the design world lost a talent?

Now that she was part of the Anderson family and Stefan doted on her day and night, she was even less likely to go back to a corporate job.

"Do you want sugar in your coffee?"

Owen thought for a moment, "Just a bit."

Cecilia added a little sugar for him.

coffee and handed it to him,

particularly bright. She was beautiful, but

always serve your customers

to return the coffee to where he

both sat down, and Cecilia watched Owen drink

at me like this, I'll think you've fallen for me. Handsome guys like me tend to make quite an

you at first sight, I won't be

shifted her gaze, "You enjoy your coffee. I'll go back to my

that's got you so

be interested. But stories of your love affairs always seem to be a hit. No matter what's trending online, the bigwigs' stories always draw a crowd." "Guess a lot of people are dreaming of being

men who have achieved the

I need to make a living writing novels? I'm more likely to

you into her novel as

to write me into her novel. She's Stefan's wife, and who knows if she'll make me out

laughed, "Have you ever read

younger, I read a few to impress a girl

for Ms. Scott."

he didn't feel like arguing with Cecilia at the moment. He pretended not to notice and continued sipping his coffee that Cecilia had made for him, "If I love her, I love her deeply. If

Ruby,

respond, unsure of what to

up arguing every time they meet, and neither of them was

them to have a

didn't want to upset him, especially since he'd done her a huge

Martinez

the yard. After a while, the butler came out of the house and brought him a glass of water. "Sit with me

replied, "What would you like

someone and got caught, and then they got mad. I tried to explain, but they're still mad. What should I

really enjoy chatting with them and discussing

were his peers, they had a