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.

Owen stride in, a thunderstorm brewing on his face. His authority, long established,

done for. Completely

"Cecilia."

over, seemingly oblivious to Ms. West. He urgently grabbed Cecilia, eager to clarify, "Cecilia, please don't listen to any gossip.

claiming they're carrying my child,

teased him, "You sure you haven't gotten tipsy during a night out

careful. The drunkest I've ever been was that night I slept on your doorstep, and you woke

I respect women too much to do that. If you don't consent, I'd never

Cecilia,

Cecilia had come

wouldn't let anyone

strings

I want to ask her myself, who sent her to pin

nodded toward Ms.

how could you miss

was pale as a ghost, scared out of her wits. Seeing Owen's gaze, she suddenly collapsed on her knees, tears streaming, begging for mercy, "Mr. Martinez, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you.

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

had been parked curbside had vanished without

the car must have realized the plan was a flop as Cecilia didn't fall for it and had

too brutish and might affect how Cecilia saw him. So instead, he shouted for Jay and Rex

dirty his own

forward, ignoring Ms. West's cries and pleas, and dragged her

are like roses with thorns; nice to look at but painful to touch," Owen said with

roses, that's new. Mr. Coleman's always been called the untouchable flower-a symbol

"Cecilia."

her tightly, "Thank goodness you didn't believe her lies and didn't get into that

didn't add up. When I probed, her story was full of holes, and she kept trying to get me to go with her. It reminded me of Lucy getting into a car after

had bodyguards tailing me. I suspect this was all