Faux Vows, True Desires

When I walked into his house, I overheard his mom label me a "jinx," saying I was bad luck for men and that her son, Owen, would only face misfortune because of me, especially since he had recently gotten hurt.

Cecilia confided in her friend, "Lucy, do you think I'm really bad news for Owen? I never wanted him to get hurt."

Lucinda gently tapped Cecilia's forehead and reassured her, "Don't let that woman get to you. She just doesn't like you and will say anything to hurt you. Everyone has their share of bad luck."

"Cecilia, I haven't seen Owen become unlucky since meeting you. On the contrary, he's changed for the better. He was so broody when I first met him, but now he's like sunshine, happy in a way that can't be hidden. You've brought joy into his life, like sunlight clearing away the clouds. You've given him warmth and happiness that money can't buy."

Cecilia chuckled, "Am I really that great? All I remember is how often we bicker, making him so frustrated he could throttle me."

"If you don't believe me, just ask Owen when he gets here. He'll tell you that despite getting riled up, being with you makes him happy. You two are like a match made in heaven, always at each other's throats in the most endearing way."

Cecilia burst into laughter at her friend's words.

"You make him sound so pathetic, like he's begging for a scolding."

"It's a classic case of 'he loves the chase, and you love the challenge.""

Cecilia shook off her discontent.

"It's okay, I'm not upset anymore. Worst case, we part ways, and I'm not exactly doomed to be single."

fall in love but hard to forget someone. You talk a big game, but I know it's tough," Lucinda sighed, having been through her own struggle to move on

me for my background, which I can't change. If I can't change what she

and him are still fresh. A little heartache now will save me pain later on. At worst, I'll

feelings,

still easily

for your mother-in-law, you can always live apart. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, after all. You're going to be living with him,

Lucy, I'm envious of

guests. He was the heir to the city's most prominent family and was running the family business. But for Lucinda, he'd shed all pretenses, serving coffee to guests who'd

Keith, after receiving too many stares from female patrons, he made himself scarce, claiming he didn't want to be the

"Trust yourself. You'll

friend like

your happiness is walking through the door. I'll leave you two to talk. Don't

eager look, handing Cecilia the flowers carefully, as if

him, finding nervousness and remorse. Her heart softened at his vulnerability, so different from the prideful man she first met. Accepting the flowers, she said, "Why give me flowers out of the blue? But they are beautiful,

no vase to put these

mad, Owen quickly offered, "I'll go buy

And off he went.

after him, but her voice was too faint, and he

she