Faux Vows, True Desires

Owen scowled darkly, "Mom, Ruby doesn't love me, no matter how good I am to her, it's pointless. You think I care about her deceit? My heart's been shattered, completely chilled to the core. Don't compare Ruby to Cecilia; they're in different leagues. Cecilia's irreplaceable in my heart, and Ruby doesn't even come close."

After the mother and son fell silent, Trenton glanced at Olina and dropped a bombshell, "The biggest mistake I ever made was agreeing to Shane marrying you."

Olina was stunned.

"Owen, I've said it before, I intervened in your marriage once, and I won't do it again. From now on, you call the shots in your love life. If anyone tries to stop you, stand up to them and fight for your happiness." Trenton made himself clear, mainly because Owen had fallen for Cecilia.

Had Owen still been smitten with Ruby, Trenton's tune would've been far from so enlightened.

"Thanks, Grandpa."

"And no more talk of becoming a hermit, but if you truly see through the world's illusions and decide to renounce everything, even then, I'd support you."

That last comment was directed at his daughter-in-law.

He knew her well - her obsession with status and prestige.

If Owen truly renounced the world to become a hermit, it would be a blow straight to her heart.

By then, whether Owen married Cecilia or a beggar off the streets, Olina would be begging for it to happen.

"Anyway, Owen, I've got more than one grandchild. The Martinez family won't be lacking heirs. Harry, come with me for a bit."

With that, Trenton and Harry left the room.

was a

to like Cecilia, I won't force you. But please, show her some basic respect. Don't pin every fault on her. I'm hurting because I chose to. As long as she's fine, even if

history-in fact, we never even had a history because she never truly belonged to me. Her heart has always belonged to Stefan! Your favorite daughter-in-law never loved your son,

the hell are you spouting!" Shane cursed at his son for dragging him

and her mother. He'd kept silent for the sake of

at her son's

a moment of silence, Owen didn't say another word. He turned and carried the nourishing soup and tonic

driving me mad!" Olina clutched at her husband's sleeve, "Aren't

I do? He's your son, and if you can't handle him, what makes you think I can? He's closer to Dad than either of us. You should just stay out of our son's marriage matters. A grown child's

great

asked the same about you back in

at a

ganging up on me now, huh? Is Cecilia comparable to me. At least,

match or not, as long as our son's happy. If you keep holding him back and he really becomes a hermit, you'll have nowhere to cry. Didn't you see Dad taking Harry

herself speechless

They'll

if they divorce,

already a

struck

at

Lucinda slid into the cashier's booth next to her friend and asked

down with worries. Cecilia was usually too restless to sit at the cashier's desk, preferring to stay on the move, and only occasionally pausing to tap out