Faux Vows, True Desires

"Grandpa, let me give you a hand," Owen said, rushing to lift Trenton from his wheelchair.

He then glanced expectantly at Cecilia, silently willing her to join him in escorting Trenton into the dining room.

After a brief pause, and with Trenton's warm gaze upon her, Cecilia finally stood and together with Owen, guided him toward the smell of roast and freshly baked bread that wafted from the dining room. Seizing a moment when Trenton was distracted, Cecilia playfully pinched Owen, who chuckled softly, not the least bit offended.

Trenton had done him a solid favor; after dinner, Owen had the perfect excuse to whisk Cecilia away to Tranquil Terrace Villa to see the house he had purchased with dreams of married life.

He had always envisioned living outside with his beloved, only returning on the weekends to spend quality time with his grandfather.

The villa he had initially bought wasn't at Tranquil Terrace Villa - that was intended for Ruby. But after he'd given up on her, he'd bought another, more grandiose place at Tranquil Terrace Villa, specifically for Cecilia. It was conveniently located far from the Martinez family estate to give Cecilia some healthy distance from Olina and closer to Serendipity Cafe and her own family, the Yates, making it easier for her to visit or commute to work.

Watching Owen and Cecilia support Trenton into the dining room, Shane also stood up and quietly reminded Olina, "Honey, try to lighten up a bit, will you? Haven't you noticed how Dad's taken to Cecilia?" "What don't you get it?" Olina hissed in a low voice, her frustration barely contained. "All I know is that Cecilia was handpicked for Owen by Dad, and who knows what tricks she used to enchant him." "Did you run into Ashley? What did she say to you?" Shane guessed, knowing Ashley had probably filled his wife's head with nonsense.

Olina, a bit guiltily, replied, "Nothing much. And dear, did you see how cozy Cecilia and Ashley were? Doesn't Cecilia know that we and your brothers have a long-standing rivalry? Harry's got his eye on Owen's position. Cecilia is not exactly what you'd call a beacon of good fortune," she muttered under her breath.

"Are you being naive or just plain dense? Ashley's cozying up to Cecilia right in front of you to get under your skin, to make you dislike Cecilia even more. Can't you see through such simple schemes?" Shane said, exasperated, trying to enlighten his wife. "Dad seems to really like Cecilia, and Owen is genuinely smitten. Ashley is probably worried that if Cecilia gets back in Dad's good graces, she might take over as the matriarch of our family and that's something she can't stand. She's trying to sabotage Owen through you."

Olina's eyes widened in shock as she looked at her husband.

"Isn't the matriarch supposed to be me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. As the eldest daughter-in-law, and well into her fifties, it was her right by age and status.

was akin to being the queen bee, a position of

"Do you really

walked off toward the dining room,

Dinner went smoothly.

Olina's demeanor or Trenton's past manipulations, she couldn't let negative vibes spoil the meal. After all, that was in the

much that he ate more than usual. Shane and Olina kept up smiling faces,

mother-in-law, wondering if Shane had said something to her,

urged Owen to show Cecilia the

another day when I have some free time," Cecilia said politely, making a show

beamed, "Of course, my dear. The doors to this house

I'll take Cecilia now," Owen said, receiving a nod from

shoulders and steered her out the door.

it was clear that the young couple's affections were imbalanced, with Owen investing more and

Owen and Cecilia left, Trenton's affectionate demeanor vanished as he turned his stern

weight of Trenton's severe look, Olina's

"Olina," Trenton began.

responded, eager

"Cut ties with Megan!"

was an order,

I have watched all these painfully. Now that Owen is moving on with Cecilia, if you