Faux Vows, True Desires

"Lucinda." Ike pushed open the door and walked in to find Lucinda sitting at the cashier's desk, furiously typing away at her computer. Clearly, she was working on her novel again. "Ike, aren't you pulling an all-nighter tonight?"

Ike's arrival made Lucinda pause her latest piece.

She got up and walked over to Ike.

"I'm off to a party soon." Ike looked around, "Where's Cecilia?"

"I'm covering her shift tonight. She's already gone home. Do you need her for something?"

"I was hoping she could do me a favor, but if she's not here. Never mind."

Lucinda playfully put her hand on Ike's shoulder and asked, "Ike, something's eating you. Tell me."

Ike blushed.

"Ike, are you planning to have Cecilia as your arm candy for the party, to make my future sister-in-law jealous?"

Ike tapped her forehead lightly, "Lucinda, sometimes I wish you weren't so sharp."

"Don't play that old trick. It could backfire if not played right. If my future sister-in-law gets the wrong idea, you won't be able to talk your way out of it. Plus, if you get Cecilia involved, Owen won't be pleased." "Just so you know, Owen's fuming now. He's looking for someone to vent on, so don't poke the bear."

Ike was speechless.

"Are you trying to see if my future sister-in-law actually cares about you? There are other ways to test that without dragging someone else into it."

"Really?"

Lucinda looked at Ike. She shook her head and sighed, "You guys are all the same."

He was smart but emotionally clueless.

if she cares or worries about you? If she does, that means she has feelings for you. Isn't that a better way to test than having a stand-in date? Plus, you don't

said, "But, I noticed she treats all men the same, like friends. Plus, a lot of women

"What? Is

she always dresses in a gender-neutral manner, and with her being a strong career woman who's serious

few days. Maybe we'll bump into her, and I can say hi and get in

said, "No, I just want to build a good relationship with my future sister-in-law in

"Hmph!"

came to the

now. Since I don't need Cecilia

in

curious, complaining about his irresponsibility. She was hung in the middle of

who always dressed in a gender-neutral manner and was popular with both men and women. Stefan would definitely know who she was. Lucinda decided to have a good chat with him about this

finally found

stormed over to the Yates family's mansion

got to the

there for a moment before turning around and

bodyguards silently followed, not daring to ask any

out of was a large supermarket. Owen

necessities. As long as

bodyguards pushed a cart, following Owen around. Each cart was filled

all went to check

the evening, the supermarket

lines at the

were tall and imposing, well-dressed, and very handsome. They had attracted a lot of attention

going to buy out

also pushed a cart himself, filled with all kinds of dolls that

guess, those dolls were all for