Faux Vows, True Desires

Ms. West's actions, a mere slip of paper, nearly led her to misunderstand Owen.

Cecilia considered herself kind-hearted, but she was no saint - she couldn't turn the other cheek indefinitely.

She would certainly not advocate for Ms. West.

Owen could do whatever he wanted; she would just watch and keep her mouth shut.

"Ms. Yates, I—I'll just be honest. I'm not actually pregnant. Kris put me up to tricking you. I don't know what beef you have with Kris, but he paid me a grand to lure you into that car, promising another two grand after the deed was done."

"I'm strapped for cash lately, really need that three grand, so I went along with it. I—I had no clue about any hidden truths."

Ms. West did spill the beans.

"Guess I was too greedy. Didn't do my homework before agreeing to help Kris with this."

Ms. West laughed at herself, a self-deprecating chuckle. If she'd known that Owen was the target, she wouldn't have helped Kris for all the money in the world.

Cecilia didn't respond. She fiddled with her phone, seemingly engrossed in a game. In reality, she was recording the whole confession to hand over to Owen for investigation.

"Ms. Yates, please let me go. Just tell those two guys outside not to stop me, and I'll leave right away."

The best plan was to make a swift exit.

Ms. West just wanted to bolt.

Forget the money, she no longer dared to take it.

All she wanted was to leave the café and head back to the countryside, swearing off city life for good.

"Look who's here," Cecilia suddenly said.

door and saw Owen stride in, a thunderstorm brewing on his face. His authority, long established, radiated out

was done for.

"Cecilia."

seemingly oblivious to Ms. West. He urgently grabbed Cecilia, eager to clarify, "Cecilia, please don't listen to any gossip. I haven't cheated-not before, not now, never

comes knocking, claiming they're carrying my

sure you haven't gotten tipsy during a night out and made a

Absolutely not. I'm always careful. The drunkest I've ever been was that night I slept on your doorstep, and you woke me up

do that. If you don't consent, I'd never force you. Even with Ruby, it was

in front of Cecilia, but to clear his name, he had no

Cecilia had come so

wouldn't let anyone ruin it

he found out who was pulling the strings behind

to ask her myself,

nodded toward Ms.

how could you

gaze, she suddenly collapsed on her knees, tears streaming, begging for mercy, "Mr. Martinez, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you. I was blinded by greed. I'm

me this once, I'll never dare again. I swear I'll leave Pinehurst immediately. I'm not carrying your child. It was Kris who sent

parked curbside had vanished without a

was a flop as Cecilia didn't fall for it

too brutish and might affect how Cecilia saw him. So instead, he shouted for Jay and Rex to come in and ordered his bodyguards, "Take this wretch

dirty his

West's cries and pleas, and

thorns; nice to look

always been called the untouchable

"Cecilia."

close, wrapping his arms around her tightly, "Thank goodness you didn't believe her lies and didn't get into that car. If you

I probed, her story was full of holes, and

Madeleine come to you before? And you had bodyguards tailing me.