Faux Vows, True Desires

Lucinda walked up to Cecilia and said, "Cecilia, let's go, my treat. Let's hit up the Ascend Hotel."

Cecilia didn't play coy; she walked back to the cashier counter to pick up her phone and replied with a smile, "Well, I won't say no to that. I'd love to grab a bite with you." "What are you on about? We're beyond formalities."

As Cecilia walked out of the shop, she got a call from Owen.

"Lucy, I gotta take this call."

"Bet it's Mr. Malicious."

Cecilia had a nickname for Owen, which Lucinda had picked up too.

"Yeah, it's him; I wonder what he's up to. I didn't think I had done anything to annoy Ruby recently; we didn't even do anything to her when she came over."

Cecilia was muttering to herself, "Even if he's trying to get back at me for Ruby, it's a bit too late, isn't it? Not like before when he was quick on his feet."

When Ruby had just returned from abroad and was dealing with some issues, Owen would rush over to comfort her and stand up for her faster than a bunny on a sugar rush.

Still muttering, Cecilia picked up Owen's call.

"Mr. Malicious, what's up?"

Hearing Cecilia call him that, Owen felt like smashing his phone.

Biting his tongue, he replied grumpily, "I've made a transfer to you, didn't you see? I can't even be bothered to check your account when there's money in it."

Cecilia responded, "Oh, you transferred me money? I was busy just now and didn't check my phone. What's the money for? You're not expecting me to order takeout for you, are you? I'm not doing takeout today. If you want some, order it yourself."

Owen gritted his teeth. "Cecilia, do you get a kick out of annoying me?"

Cecilia earnestly replied, "Well, yeah. Annoying you does give me a sense of satisfaction, haha."

"It's the fee for you holding onto my black card for two days, totaling four hundred dollars." "Alright, I'll accept the transfer right away. Money is coming in; I should thank you!"

bit more. Are you free to come out now? I can take

me. As for the car, that's not part of our agreement, so no thanks. I'm just repaying

won't make it that far. It's more convenient to have a car; it's faster. Getting you a new car is just for you to play along with my act, not a gift out of

worry, I'm not in love with you. I won't purposely

"Even if you were to purposely give me gifts,

was at a loss for

you

He changed the topic.

looked at the pleasant Blue

enjoy your meal. Eat more, put on

much I eat, I

kept up with her

planned to invite her for a meal

care about him treating her to a meal, and even when he offered her a new car,

supposed to

even turned down

Such a dunce!

stomped out, all the while grumbling in his

was somewhat surprised by Owen's silence; it wasn't

past, he would definitely

better that he didn't; she had a feast to attend and didn't have time for

the four hundred

back in her pocket and

wanted to treat you to a

overheard their

eat together, he's so picky and dumps all the meat into my bowl, saying he can't eat that much. I suspect he just doesn't like it, and that's

"Have you ever considered that he

love of his life is Ruby. As long as Ruby calls him, he'll forget his own name. Besides, he's never formally asked me out for a meal; it's always been me treating him to takeout. Today he suddenly wants to treat me to a meal; I suspect he wants