Faux Vows, True Desires

"Owen, why are you always making excuses for Cecilia?" Ruby's voice was laced with a hint of displeasure.

She couldn't stand Owen defending another woman.

Owen opened his mouth, but was at a loss for words.

Because he was only speaking the truth.

Seeing Ruby's unhappy expression, he didn't know how to explain, so he chose silence.

"Cecilia's tricks are more cunning than Lucinda's. At least Lucinda is upfront about it. Cecilia always resorts to shady tactics. You guys have been fooled by her."

Owen bit his lip lightly, then asked Ruby, "Ruby, were you crying on the phone because you heard I was marrying Cecilia and you're heartbroken?"

"No, I was angry because of Lucinda."

Owen's hopes were instantly dashed.

Her crying, breaking stuff, staying up all night, it wasn't out of jealousy for Cecilia, but because Lucinda had pissed her off.

His mood hit rock bottom. He had been reading too much into it.

"What did Lucinda do to make you so angry?"

Owen's expression returned to normal as he asked Ruby with concern.

"I wanted to talk to Stefan, so I called him. But Lucinda answered the phone instead. We had a huge fight over the phone, and I lost. It infuriated me."

"Plus, hearing that you and Cecilia are already married, I felt like even you had abandoned me. I was even more upset, so..."

Ruby looked at Owen under the lamplight, his handsome face close to hers. His eyes were full of concern and heartache, and her reflection filled his eyes.

Stefan's eyes held none of her.

But she was all that Owen saw.

Thinking this, Ruby felt a lot better. At least she still had Owen.

Even if Owen was already married, as long as she was alive, she believed that Owen wouldn't forget her. His heart only had room for her, and Cecilia would just live like a widow for the rest of her life.

"Owen."

arms around his waist,

been you

coquettishly, "We're best friends. You're my

he could only ever be her male

a pang

him, he wouldn't stop him from

much. You need to take care of your foot injury so you can

back to her bed and lay her

go of her. Instead, he

her arms around his neck, kiss him, maybe even

thought was

she wanted to keep her

she also wanted to keep Owen as

touched her

closed her eyes, and her

forcibly

His gentle voice came from

stood up straight and turned to

"Owen."

to grab Owen. When Owen turned to look at her, she pleaded, "Can you stay tonight? I can't sleep, can you keep me company

I feel about you. If you ask me to stay, I won't be able to just chat with you. To avoid regrets for both

to hold

"Goodnight."

goodnight, then left without looking

on the

Owen

"You're wasting family resources. You can be angry, but why destroy your own things? When Owen was here, why didn't you ask him to stay? He would definitely stay if you

"Mom, I'm not ready yet. Give me some more

thinking about Stefan. Can't you hear anything I say? Are you willing to let Cecilia steal Owen

capable

twenty years. He's loved me for over a decade. How long

me. No one can take him away. As

dealing with one person or two. I

looked at

could, Ruby just wouldn't listen. All she

next day,

was awakened by