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."

teeth and asked, "Did Lucinda tell

hurt him, he wanted to kill

were here he might say "I wasn't going to kill myself.

eyes lit up, "Owen wanted to commit

at her, then

couldn't help but swallow, cursing Cecilia in her heart. She was talking to her, but she was just focusing on her food. "Ms. Scott, why don't you tell me what you're here for instead of sitting

enjoying your meal,

If you came to find me every

stifled a laugh at

Owen, now she didn't realize how overbearing she was. If

face became angrier at those

a cheque that had been prepared in advance

glanced at it, it

back to Ruby, "Ms. Scott,

her push the cheque back, took out another cheque from her bag, put it together with the first one, and pushed them

"Right here."

amounts on the

looking rather sour and seemed not in

having some financial

Lucinda teased.

last time Lucinda had made her so

with Lucinda to

nearly out of capital, you're definitely having financial troubles." Lucinda didn't care that she wasn't responding,

to retort, but

hold back,

Lucinda a few times, and lost every

out another cheque from

"Ms. Scott, if you want to use money to win Owen over, I suggest you bring out all your money at