Faux Vows, True Desires

But when Ruby found out that he was already married, she blew a gasket, which showed that she still cared for him. While Owen was bummed, he couldn't help but feel a little smug.

He went up to Ruby's room, knocked gently on the door and called out, "Ruby, it's me. Open up, I need to explain."

Ruby threw a fit, chucking everything around her room.

She was mad and green with envy.

Deep down, she knew that Stefan would end up with someone else, she knew that Stefan didn't love her.

Even though they had known each other since they were kids and grew up together, Stefan had started to distance himself from her since they were twelve, and the gap only widened over the years.

Now, he claimed to have forgotten her number even though he knew it by heart.

She texted him but he never replied.

Ten years ago, she swallowed her pride and offered herself as his birthday gift, but he didn't accept.

Back then, she was 18, in the prime of her youth. She gave him her all, but he didn't bat an eye. Now, she was 28. No matter how well she took care of herself, she knew she couldn't compete with her 18-year- old self.

Stefan was never going to fall for her.

She just couldn't accept it. She just wanted to be Stefan's wife.

But when Owen married someone else, Ruby just couldn't handle it.

Owen had always been good to her, always put her first.

Whenever she was down, he would cheer her up. Whenever she had a problem, he would help her solve it. He was always the first to wish her happy birthday and give her a carefully chosen gift.

but she also couldn't stand the thought of

the fact that Owen had

women were out

the

pissed her off to

open up." Owen was still knocking on the

walking barefoot to open the door. She deliberately stepped on shards of glass, which easily cut the soles

the pain,

as she opened the door, she turned around and

hadn't walked far when Owen scooped her up, just as she

he said, "Why did

the couch, then

household medicines at home. Owen had been to her house and her

other stuff, then squatted down in front of her to clean

cared about

She won over

this in mind, Ruby felt a lot

as he used to, loved

was no match

"It hurts!" Ruby whimpered.

sat down next to her, pulled her into his arms and

alright, it's my fault. I shouldn't have married Cecilia just to keep my status. Ruby, if I had known you would react this way, I would rather give up my status, be penniless,

voice hoarse, "Don't be silly. If you give up your status and leave the Martinez family, who would be the happiest?

Owen had nothing, how could he be her rock? How

cared about were Owen's

dared to openly oppose Stefan was