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.

had tried to dissuade her, but Cecilia was headstrong and

fact that Cecilia hadn't come home all night had left Becca restless, her mind racing with

of virtue, assuming that even if she hadn't

standing at her door asking for

holding on to a sliver

to get Ms. Yates' clothes. But I do know that he and Ms. Yates are still together." Becca's face went

information, she quickly went upstairs to get her daughter's

returned with a bag and handed

the hotel," Jay

to call Devon. As soon as he answered, she said, "Devon, I'm going to check on

ahead," Devon responded, his attention still fixed on his

up, quickly finished hanging the laundry, and then hopped on

was determined to wait at the coffee shop for her

blissfully unaware of Owen's

assumed Owen simply had someone buy her a

soaking in the bathtub until the water turned cold, she finally got out, dressed in Owen's clothes, and stepped out of the bathroom just in time to hear Owen closing the front door. "Who was that?" she asked as Owen entered

replied, eyeing her rather than immediately handing over the bag. "You

time she was caught at the Neon Nectar Nightclub, he was furious, and

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

I misspoke. You're not short, you're just right for me. Standing by your side, you nestling into my embrace, we're quite the pair. I like it. I'm very satisfied." Cecilia aimed

of saying the

said, unfazed by her

to himself, "It's a

she pulled out the clothes, "These really are

you wear them countless times. They're definitely not