Faux Vows, True Desires

Old Mr. Martinez sighed with a tinge of envy, "I've thought about it, but Mr. Anderson wouldn't dream of trading his grandson for mine." Owen was left speechless.

"Mr. Anderson won't swap Stefan for you. But it wouldn't hurt to have someone else in the exchange, right?"

Grandpa was just green with envy over the Andersons' golden boy.

"Maybe it's just fate. No matter how hard we try, we can't seem to outdo the Andersons. I'm no match for Mr. Anderson, and you, my boy, are no Stefan."

Old Mr. Martinez heaved sighs for a while before turning to his grandson, "Owen, you need to hurry up and win back Cecilia. Once you two are remarried, get busy with having kids. If you have a son and Stefan has a daughter, we'll unite the families through marriage. We may not be able to beat the Andersons, but if we marry into their family or they into ours, and get one of ours as the next Mrs. Anderson, ha! That's not too shabby!"

Owen just stared at his grandfather, speechless.

Becoming part of the Andersons seemed to be Grandpa's lifelong wish if he couldn't beat them.

"Cecilia's best friend is Lucinda Moore, right? It's not out of the realm of possibility for you to become in-laws."

Old Mr. Martinez grew more and more enamored with the idea.

The thought of his great-granddaughter marrying into the Andersons and becoming the next matriarch was just too delightful. And knowing the Anderson family's reputation, their men doted on their wives. Wouldn't his great-granddaughter call the shots then?

"What if we both end up with sons?" Owen asked. "Or what if we both have daughters who fall for the same guy or gal? That'd make us rivals instead."

He glared at his grandson and snapped, "Can't you think positively for once?"

"One must always prepare for the worst."

"What's with your arm? Was it really a robber, or did you stage the whole thing?"

Old Mr. Martinez changed the subject, fearing another round of this conversation might send him to an early grave.

no small feat for him to

really

pause, Trenton

"Just a scratch."

"Pity."

you saying you wish my arm was

more serious and you were hospitalized, Cecilia would naturally be by your side every day. That's the best chance to rekindle a romance. As

didn't know how to

for breakfast. Harry knows to keep

Owen retorted before heading upstairs with Avery's investigative

cafe

and asked, "Lucy, aren't you supposed to be with your folks today?" "They headed

a car to

mother had left to

off, but they'd insisted she stay put, so she relented to

parents didn't want her home. But then she remembered she had work the next day, and figured they just didn't want her

"Yep."

father stayed behind, not wanting to taint her

well of him to her mother, but

you take a break from the cafe today and visit Owen?" Lucinda suggested, a mischievous

was taken aback. "You heard about

Word travels fast.

dropping you off, and Owen got a bit hurt. No matter how minor, he did it for you. You owe him a visit."

because of

friend. "Surprise him with a visit. He's

your guy's arch-rival.