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."

but I know it's tough," Lucinda sighed, having been

me for my background,

save me pain later on. At worst, I'll just call you up for a drink when I'm feeling down." Cecilia

she had feelings, they weren't

still easily cut

end up married to him. As 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

to him? Lucy, I'm envious of you.

with the 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 never dreamed of being

from female patrons, he made himself scarce, claiming he

patted her friend's shoulder, "Trust

smiled, "With a best friend like you, I

holding a bouquet. "Look, your happiness is walking through the

look, handing Cecilia the flowers carefully, as if afraid she might smack

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, and I like

"There's no

she wasn't mad, Owen quickly offered, "I'll go buy one, right now. Just wait

And off he went.

her voice was too

fast!" she muttered, admiring