Faux Vows, True Desires

"Is that all you're eating?" Ruby couldn't help but comment as she watched Cecilia open a takeout box containing nothing more than a bit of meat and some vegetables. It looked plain and not very appetizing. For the wife of the Martinez family, she was eating quite simply!

Cecilia continued to eat as she responded, "What's wrong with this?"

She glanced up at Ruby, "I can't compare to you, Ms. Scott, you always eat richly."

Ruby made a face, "Hasn't Owen given you any living expenses? Your shop seems to be doing well, can't you afford nicer food? The wife of the Martinez family eating so simply. This would tarnish the Martinez family's reputation if it got out. Cecilia, you and Owen aren't a good match."

Cecilia replied, "You'd be a good match with Mr. Malicious, but you can't marry him. You could only watch as I became the wife of the Martinez family."

Ruby choked at her words.

Cecilia, like Lucinda, always leaves her speechless.

They were both Ruby's pain points.

One stole Stefan whom she liked, and the other stole Owen who liked her.

"Mr. Malicious?" Ruby noticed Cecilia's nickname for Owen.

Frowning, Ruby said, "How can you just give Owen a nickname like that? As his wife, you should protect his reputation and status."

"People's reputation and status is for them to uphold. If they don't do well, no one can protect their reputation; if they do well, no one can tarnish it. People aren't blind."

Cecilia paused, "What reputation does Mr. Malicious have to speak of? His reputation as a rich fool is already known because of you. Only a girl with a kind heart like me, who can't bear to see him alone for life, would be willing to marry him."

"Otherwise, who would want to marry him with that sort of reputation?"

Ruby snapped back, "I would marry him."

"Hah, as foolish as he is, he doesn't want to be betrayed. No one, man or woman, likes being betrayed."

her teeth and

told me. The night you hurt him, he wanted to kill

"I wasn't going to kill myself. I

lit up, "Owen wanted to commit

then

hunger or temptation, Ruby couldn't help but swallow, cursing Cecilia in her heart. She was talking to her, but she was

to be enjoying your meal, not bothered at

just one portion of meal, but with you here today, I'm only eating one. If you came to find me every day, I might even start filming weight loss commercials. Have everyone

stifled a laugh at

Owen, now she didn't realize how overbearing she was. If they really argued, even she wouldn't be

angrier at those

took out a cheque that had been prepared in advance from her bag and placed it in front of

it was

the cheque back to Ruby, "Ms. Scott, I don't

was giving her money, Ruby saw her push the cheque back, took out another cheque from her bag, put it together with the first one, and pushed them back towards Cecilia.

"Right here."

looked at the amounts on the two cheques, one for fifty thousand,

who was looking rather sour and

are you having

Lucinda teased.

knowing she couldn't win against Lucinda. The last

she'd avoided arguing with

to your home country, but there's been no improvement. You're nearly out of capital, you're definitely having financial troubles." Lucinda didn't care that

but she couldn't bring

back, she couldn't

few times,

out another cheque from her

Scott, if you want to use money to win Owen over, I suggest you