Faux Vows, True Desires

Darlene chuckled, openly typing a message-not to her sister, but to her right- hand man.

The reply came swiftly.

Keith had pulled the plug on his deal with Cipher Detectives and reclaimed his deposit.

Darlene: Keith's there already? Lucy hasn't even picked him up from the airport.

Keith: I always fly private. Who needs a pick-up?

Darlene: ...She's been had by Lucy!

With Keith having canceled his order and taken back his deposit, he would continue to keep tabs on her if she didn't provide an address for him to deliver the money.

After giving it some thought, Darlene decided she'd meet Keith where it all began -the very place she had saved him from an assassination attempt.

What starts in one place, ends there, she thought.

But it had to wait until nightfall to confront Keith.

Keith always stayed at Ascend Estate when he was in Pinehurst. Was she really going to sneak into Ascend Estate tonight?

The Andersons were different from the Blues. Sure, the Blues had a decent security team and a high-tech system, but their ranks were riddled with disunity, making them vulnerable.

The Andersons, on the other hand, were tight-knit, with a state-of-the-art security system. Each Anderson man was skilled, well, except for the youngest he was the black sheep in terms of brawn.

Breaking into Ascend Estate was going to be a mountain of pressure.

"Ring, ring, ring..."

Lucinda's phone chirped to life.

"It's my brother," she said to Darlene. "He must've arrived."

Darlene gave a knowing smile, signaling for her to take the call, while silently praying Keith wouldn't stay at Ascend Estate-it would make her mission that much easier.

She couldn't eavesdrop on Keith's call, so she kept an eye on Lucinda's expressions, listening to her end of the conversation.

"He's heading to Wye County now? Alright, he's going to see Mom. She'll be thrilled."

Darlene's eyes sparkled with opportunity.

Keith had chosen to visit the Moore family first. The Moores lived in the countryside, a place not as tightly guarded as the Anderson stronghold. Perfect for her nocturnal visit.

The only downside was the distance. This back-and-forth travel meant another sleepless night.

She'd have to turn down Lucy's invitation in the afternoon, catch up on some sleep, and then set out for her night-time escapade-oh, not as a burglar, of course, but to collect her dues.

my brother's here, but he's gone to see our mom. Looks like he'll stay there tonight and come

"Mrs. Bright deserves a visit from Keith first. It's

Lucinda hummed in agreement.

Darlene a chance for a secretive

he'd finally see through

...

rest, Owen was prodded

fresh clothes, hanging them on the door handle, knocked, and reminded him, "Your clothes are on the handle. Don't forget to

made her fetch

Owen acknowledged her.

wasn't up to mischief

the couch, waiting for him

appeared, bare-chested, with only trousers on, his beard neatly shaved. The hot shower and clean shave had done

"Cecilia."

He approached her.

up, and took the shirt from his hands, ready to help him dress while teasing, "I'm

The air-con's fairly low in here,

gaze intense, his voice deep and intoxicating,

Cecilia: "..."

all those kisses in the café, was he not yet

Owen enveloped her

simply not enough for

she was lost in the sensation, to the

herself unable

This emboldened Owen.

senses, she was already

"Cecilia."

earnestly, "Is this

respectful of her. Even

to cool

Cecilia wrapped her

head down, and

her unspoken

Owen was ecstatic.

rolled off the bed and dashed into the bathroom, slamming the door

Cecilia sat up, puzzled.

instincts and hadn't resisted him,

What happened?

and tidied her hair

gently,

against the door, his