Faux Vows, True Desires

Cecilia scanned the room, considering what object to chuck at him.

Before she could find anything to launch, Owen was already out of sight.

"Lucky bugger. If he was a bit slower, I'd have definitely nailed him!" Cecilia picked up the Maneki-neko, a beckoning cat figurine, from the cash register, looking like she was about to clobber someone.

Lucinda quickly snatched it away from her, "This is our shop's mascot. You can't use it to bash people. If you really want to hit him, I can bring some fist-sized rocks from home tonight, specifically for whacking Owen."

Cecilia was still seething with anger.

"I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as him. He and Ruby really are a match made in heaven, both so bloody shameless.

We had an agreement that I'd help him keep his position and pretend to marry him. After the wedding, we wouldn't interfere with each other and keep a low profile. He even feared that I might fall in love with him and kept emphasizing not to."

Lucinda chuckled and said, "I've been fooled by him once, and you fell for it too. If all men were reliable, pigs might fly."

Cecilia glanced at her friend, "Lucy, why do I feel like you're gloating?"

Lucinda tried to suppress her laughter, "No, I'm absolutely not gloating."

"Sure, you are. Look at the pastries; you haven't even finished them yet. You and the cashier munch on treats while watching me get bullied by Owen, not even trying to help me snatch back the agreement." The cashier quickly slipped away.

Cecilia finished off all the pastries on the plate.

Her friend nudged her suddenly.

"Lucy, I'm not in the mood. Don't touch me."

"No, it's just that Owen hasn't left. Ruby's timing is impeccable, and she's intercepted your Owen."

pointed outside

up and looked; it was indeed

there to find Lucinda.

Owen, Ruby

he was expressionless, his gaze icy cold. She had only seen this look from Stefan. Owen

as if being cut by a knife. She regretted it a lot. She

created, Owen would always support her.

out, Owen could

"Owen."

saw that Owen made no move, so she took a few steps closer with tears in her eyes. But as she approached, Owen backed

in front of him, preventing Ruby

my explanation? Don't abandon me because of

Ruby cried miserably.

lied to everyone; she had undergone surgery. Just because of this one thing she did wrong to Owen,

the past ten or so years, was his

he really loved her that much, why couldn't he

just this one thing that disappointed me, but many things. You know

"In the past, I truly loved you, but now I have completely given up. Ruby, I hope you don't call me in the

the spectating Cecilia to his side. He put an arm around Cecilia's waist and said to Ruby, "In the

were swollen from crying, and she pointed at Cecilia as she said, "Owen, how is she worthy of you? You're the eldest son of the Martinez family. Who is she? She's not even fit to carry your shoes. Cecilia immediately took off her own

taking off your shoes? The floor is cold. Put your shoes back

that, he squatted down to help

help her put

though she was still angry, it didn't

me catching a cold without shoes, disregarding his dignified status as the eldest son of the Martinez

and the cashier both