Faux Vows, True Desires

Trenton's gaze was icy as he spoke with a chilling detachment, "The Scotts left this country long ago, and now they dare to come back and disrupt the harmony of my family? Do they really think I can't do anything about them?"

Shane knew right then that the Scotts' peaceful days abroad were numbered.

If his old man decided to take action, he'd be far more ruthless than Stefan, who had only targeted Ruby's career without taking his anger out on the entire Scott family.

Olina looked at Trenton with trepidation, and at her husband's cue, she didn't dare say another word. She quickly promised, "Trenton, I won't associate with her anymore. As for Owen and Cecilia. I won't interfere. After all, it's Owen who's getting married. If he likes Cecilia, then so be it."

A son's marriage isn't his mother's business after all.

And Cecilia was particularly favored by Trenton.

Olina feared that if she continued her stubborn ways, she might end up divorced and sent back to her parents' home in her old age. How would she cope with that?

Sure, Megan was a dear friend, but when it came down to it, her own twilight years took precedence.

"Shane, Olina, pay a visit to the Yates with a generous gift tomorrow. We are to be in-laws, after all. You have to meet them officially. Remember to be courteous, and don't give them the impression that you're doing them a favor," Trenton instructed.

Trenton was done with dilly-dallying and decided to play the heavy, scoring points for his grandson.

He hoped to hold a great-grandchild before his time came.

With the holidays just a few months away, he felt the years more keenly. He wanted to see Owen settled and happy, to ease his own passage.

Suddenly, Trenton found himself yearning for his first wife.

She was the one to whom he had given his truest affection, and she had left him all too soon.

He also secretly wished to outdo Mr. Anderson, who wouldn't be seeing great-grandchildren from Stefan and Lucinda anytime soon. With the Andersons and Paisleys now related by marriage, Liam and his pregnant bride, Tiffany, were set to wed in a matter of days.

he still couldn't outpace

of pride

Tiffany's wedding drawing near, the Andersons had invited the

Martinez family had received

on attending his arch-rival's grandson's wedding,

of Anderson gathered at his wedding would be the envy

the thought was enough to make Trenton's whiskers bristle

asked, "Dad, when Olina and I visit the Yates, is it

the night together. Shouldn't he take responsibility for her? Regardless of what happened, we're the man's family, so we need to show some initiative and propose formally," Trenton

the morning, Olina and I will bring the gifts and pay

Trenton acknowledged, clearly pleased with his

need to walk it off. If Cecilia keeps coming over, I swear I'll end up looking

chuckle, Derek assisted Trenton on

Trenton, her former father-in-law had already given Owen the nod and arranged for

getting late, and my mom

only eight in the evening; we've got time," Owen assured her. "Trust

he simply wanted to spend more time with her and genuinely wished for her to see the gifts

I didn't take advantage. If you're not

a look, so you can stop fixating on

had told her

eyes sparkled with mischief, thinking that even if she couldn't remember last night's events, they could always do it again, so she'd have fresh memories. After all, they were a couple now, and couples could certainly indulge in a

continued driving, and Cecilia kept a sense of decorum, not tempting

mansion, he turned to her with a

you considerate?" Cecilia asked with

what she might be up to, but quickly replied, "Considerate? I'm very considerate. Especially towards you." "Then let me give you a chance