Faux Vows, True Desires

But Owen's refusal to take advantage of others' vulnerability was something that Cecilia found quite admirable about him.

Once she stopped viewing Owen through a tinted lens, she began to notice his many merits.

While Cecilia was taking a long, relaxing bath, Owen made a call to his bodyguard Jay, instructing him, "Jay, hustle over to the Yates' residence, and whether you see my mother-in-law or Devon, you tell them the same thing ask them to send over a set of Cecilia's clothes. If they ask you any questions, just play dumb. Let them think what they will."

Cecilia had spent the previous night keeping him company at a social event, and Owen was pretty sure the Yates family was aware of it. They hadn't stopped her, or if they had tried, they hadn't succeeded. Regardless, now that Cecilia had flirted with him and spent the night with him, it was time for the Yates family to be clued in.

They were a straight-laced and traditional bunch, and once they got wind of what had happened, it would undoubtedly work in his favor in his pursuit of Cecilia. He might be able to marry her sooner rather than later.

Worst case scenario, if the Yates didn't push Cecilia towards marriage, he could shamelessly knock on their door and have a serious talk with her parents about taking responsibility.

For Owen, it would be a win-win situation.

He admitted to himself that he was being a bit cunning, but he wasn't exactly a saint to begin with, so he felt no guilt.

"Alright, I'm on my way," Jay replied, and once Owen hung up, the bodyguard quickly made his way to the Yates' residence.

Devon was out. Only Becca was in the yard, hanging up laundry.

When Jay rang the doorbell, Becca came over and recognized him. As she opened the door, she asked, "You're Mr. Martinez's bodyguard, aren't you? What's up? Where's Mr. Martinez?"

"Good day, ma'am. I'm Jay, Mr. Martinez's bodyguard. Mr. Martinez is still at Pinehurst Hotel. He overindulged last night at a business gathering."

Jay didn't step into the yard, preferring to converse from the doorway. He respectfully continued, "He sent me to get a set of clothes for Ms. Yates." Becca's smile froze immediately.

She was aware that her daughter had accompanied Owen the previous night.

was headstrong and their words

come home all night had

of virtue, assuming that even if she hadn't returned home, nothing untoward would have happened

door asking for

she asked, holding on to a sliver

know the details. Mr. Martinez just instructed me to get Ms. Yates' clothes. But I do know that he and Ms. Yates

get any more information, she quickly went upstairs to

returned with a bag and

I must rush to the

sprang into action, pulling her phone out to call Devon. As soon as he

go ahead," Devon responded, his attention still fixed on his chess game with an

laundry, and then hopped on her electric scooter, donned her helmet, and rode

coffee shop for her daughter and

blissfully unaware

simply had someone buy

bathroom just in time to hear Owen closing the front door. "Who was that?" she

bag. "You know, if you were a bit taller and

the Neon Nectar Nightclub, he was furious, and she ended up in his

woman. If you use the word 'bulky' and I actually was, I'd scare you

by your side, you nestling into my embrace, we're quite the pair. I like it. I'm very satisfied." Cecilia

way of saying the most

here's your clothes," Owen said, unfazed by her

"It's

her expression darkened as she pulled out the clothes, "These really are

seen you wear them