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.

face. His authority, long established, radiated out as he approached. Ms.

for. Completely done

"Cecilia."

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 in the future. My eyes my heart, they're only

claiming they're carrying my child, you send them

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

I've ever been was that night I slept on your doorstep, and you woke me up with a

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

hated bringing up Ruby in front of Cecilia, but to

had come so

anyone ruin

strings behind this, they'd regret crossing him, that was

ask her myself, who sent

nodded toward Ms.

right there, how could you miss

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. I was blinded by greed. I'm not

forgive 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 me to

had been parked curbside had

realized the plan was a flop as Cecilia didn't

wanted to kick her, but that would be 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 out and teach her a

his own

stepped forward, ignoring Ms. West's cries and pleas, and

knows that Stefan and I are like roses with thorns; nice to

Mr. Coleman's always been called the

"Cecilia."

her tightly, "Thank goodness you didn't believe her lies and didn't get into that car. If you had, who knows what

and she kept trying to get me to go with her. It reminded me of Lucy getting into

you had bodyguards tailing me. I suspect this