Faux Vows, True Desires

"Spit it out, what's so important that you, Mr. Martinez, made the trek yourself," the voice rang out with a touch of casual bravado.

Owen rose, sauntering into the kitchenette to brew himself a pot of coffee, bringing along two mugs.

He poured half a mug for Stefan. "I'm the guest here, and yet I'm serving you."

"Before I came to see you, do you know who I met with?"

"Madeleine, right?"

Owen paused, "You knew?"

Stefan chuckled, "Madeleine showed up bright and early at my place, looking for my mother-in-law. It was Lucy who greeted her. Lucy managed to tick her off so bad, she stormed out of there."

"I reckon she won't let it go that easily. She's bound to look for an ally. And who else in Pinehurst would dare to cross me openly but you? It's only logical she'd come to you," Stefan prodded with a hint of

sarcasm.

Owen bristled, "I'm no one's pawn!"

He hadn't agreed to anything with Madeleine.

"Oh, so you didn't strike a deal? That's not the impression you're giving off," Stefan teased.

"Stefan."

Owen extended the mug of coffee towards Stefan, "Look, we're at odds, to put it mildly. Truth be told, I'm jealous of you. You ought to be envied; just look at you, handsome, successful, the whole package. Every manly virtue seems to have been lavished upon you. Who wouldn't be green with envy?"

"I'm only human, and it's natural for me to feel jealous. But let's be clear, we've got no deep-seated feud. You can't let this harm me, man."

"Aren't you the one plotting with Madeleine against me? And now you're

about to play that part. Even if Porter Group could offer a deal with my Ikella Group, what's the real gain? And could their influence even reach

Who knows if partnering with them would drag me into something illegal? I'm

eyed him with

serious; I didn't team up with Madeleine. I'm here to warn you. She won't rest easy. Even if I'm

"I appreciate

and I owe you

have Lucy put in a good word for

weren't for her, you and Cecilia wouldn't have made any progress. Cecilia wouldn't even be bringing you those homemade soups and

was taken aback, skeptical, "Lucy would do that for

had always thought Stefan and his wife enjoyed watching him flounder, even kicking him while he was down. The idea of Lucy advocating for

"Lucy wants her

who could bring Cecilia happiness was me. She didn't let our rivalry stop her from convincing Cecilia to give me a chance. Stefan, you've got a sharp one

praise for his wife, accepting the compliments on her behalf

thought to himself,

an inch, and they'll take a

still hasn't accepted me," Owen

my injury, calling her a

and helpless, "If she wasn't my own mother, I swear I'd silence her

got it good with your parents. They're open-minded

that precious. As long as we bring home a wife, the folks are thrilled. They don't nitpick. Besides, they trust our judgment. The women who

Owen was silent.

had more than one grandchild, but he couldn't

your parents. If they don't come around to Cecilia, with her pride, she won't settle. You'll just

grave; he knew the issues between him and Cecilia were rooted in reality and parental

"I'm aware."

Harry accompany him to visit my grandpa yesterday. The two of