Faux Vows, True Desires

"Why bother with all that, hon? Being the reigning lady of the house is no easy gig. We've got it good now, don't we? No worries in the world, and everything we need is taken care of." Ashley was upset.

How did she end up marrying a man with no ambition?

"I can't even with you right now. I'm going to go chat with Olina."

Ashley stood up and left the room.

After a few steps, she paused, then turned on her heel and headed into the kitchen.

Soon after, she went out with a maid, who was carrying a tray with three dishes of freshly cooked food.

She couldn't outright stop Owen and Cecilia from being together, but she could definitely plant the seeds of doubt in Olina's mind.

Olina always thought very highly of herself, especially since she considered her son Owen the rightful heir, putting her on a pedestal. She never liked Cecilia much, so a few choice words in Olina's ear, and she would surely act as she always did, putting obstacles in the path of Owen and Cecilia's relationship.

From what Ashley had observed about the Yates family, they weren't the type to social climb or sell their daughter off to the highest bidder.

If Olina showed enough displeasure towards Cecilia, and the Yates were unwilling to see their daughter mistreated, and with Cecilia's spirit, she might just decide never to step foot in the Martinez household fo the rest of her life.

Little did Cecilia know that the seemingly kind Ashley she met for the first time was scheming such plans.

As Lucinda put it, the Martinez and Anderson families were not cut from the same cloth. Being with Owen meant facing a lot.

Even ordinary families squabble over small benefits, turning against each other.

to mention the vast interests involved in prominent families like the Andersons, which were one in a

the courtyard of the main house, Ashley spotted

stewing in her

a smile as

in her sulk, Olina turned at the call, her brows furrowing at the sight of Ashley, but she stopped and asked indifferently, "Ashley, what brings

time, I noticed she really enjoyed these dishes. Luckily, my cook had prepared them this evening, so I thought I'd bring them over for you to treat Cecilia." Ashley, deliberately mentioning Cecilia in

in the maid's hands, Olina's expression turned even sourer. "Ashley, watch your language. Cecilia is not my daughter-in-law. She's here for dinner, not 'coming back' for dinner. And we have plenty to

now, but with Owen courting her again, she's bound to be my niece- in-law eventually. A niece-in-law coming over for dinner, and me bringing a few extra dishes is just an aunt showing care. I'm

gesture, Ashley had the maid carry

"Olina, Owen's been heartbroken over Ruby. Now he's found solace in Cecilia, who seems quite lovely. It was Trenton who chose her for Owen, how bad could she

enjoy your days as a doting grandma sooner. It doesn't matter that Cecilia comes from a humble background. We can support her family. Trenton sees something special in

to be encouraging Olina to accept Cecilia, she was slyly reminding her that Cecilia was chosen by Trenton, implying that marrying Cecilia would mean supporting the Yates. Owen was raised under the stern eye of Trenton, and Olina harbored resentment towards him,

a wife was out of her hands. If Trenton had chosen a well-matched heiress for Owen, Olina might

looking into Cecilia's business shares, Olina had considered turning

firestorm inside her. She couldn't let Owen marry Cecilia. It would

in-laws would have a field

as more noble than her sisters-in-law, her son

again and couldn't afford to lose on the matter

what if Trenton

old. How much longer

was gone, as Owen's mother, she