Faux Vows, True Desires

Owen wrapped his arm around her shoulder, gently pulling her into his embrace.

Their romance was no longer a secret, and with a successful proposal, they were

now engaged in the eyes of others, allowing Owen to hug her without any

reservations. Ah, bliss!

"Sometimes, when parents bring up their kids' love lives, they're not really pushing

for marriage. They're just trying to find a way to connect with their children."

"As kids, we cling to our parents. But as we grow up, we pull away, thinking we

have nothing in common. As parents age, they crave their children's company all

the more."

"They look for any excuse to chat, especially folks like the Blue family. Mr. Blue

and his son Keith don't see eye to eye, and I bet Mr. Blue doesn't know how to

bridge the gap, so he uses marriage as a conversation starter. With Keith single,

it's the perfect topic."

Owen continued, "But I think Mr. Blue chose poorly. It's a topic that's dead on

arrival and just makes things more awkward."

He knew the pain of being forced into something; his grandfather had tried to split

him from Ruby and pushed him to marry Cecilia. It was no pleasant feeling.

"With Keith not even dating, Nathan bringing up marriage would only pressure him,

worsening their strained relationship.

Cecilia looked up at him. Owen chuckled as she gazed at him with unfamiliar

eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that, as if we haven't met?"

Holding the bouquet in one hand and reaching up to touch his face with the other,

Cecilia admired him, "Owen, the more I'm with you, the more impressed I am. I've

truly struck gold."

Leaning in, foreheads touching, Owen flirted, "Since you think I'm a treasure, you

better keep me safe, so no one else snatches me away."

"I firmly believe that it takes two to tango. If you're not interested in others and

devoted to me, who can take you away? Even if I sold you, you'd count the money

and sneak right back to me, ready to be 'sold' over and over."

speechless. She had him with

love can be stolen, it wasn't true love. Unless I

by someone else, it'd be on me, and I wouldn't

had no love for Owen. Regrets came

she

she felt a sense

at a loss for words, Cecilia wrapped an

I've accepted your proposal,

I let you go, nobody

to compete with me for my man, I'll make

the floor." She playfully brandished

Owen.

she cared. His persistence wasn't

pretending to be deaf to Sir

nothings.

and those in his service

good times.

you!" Owen declared

you too," Cecilia whispered

but she dodged, glancing at the driver, signaling not

the car. He gave the driver a look,

Cecilia, and refrained from the

at the hotel, the

with wedding

had changed from

a chic

with Liam,

attendees. Being pregnant, she

but

understood that the Anderson

family's daughter-in-law was

expecting.

s

behalf of his bride, and the

couldn't escape the drinking duties. Not many dared to

drink, especially with her sister Belinda's

Mr. Martinez, was also spared as the couple had

Thus, the heavy lifting fell on the groomsmen and

head honcho, couldn't avoid his duties. Everyone expected

drink in good spirits, especially at

pleased

family matriarch, was too

side, taking drinks

on Darlene. He had to admit, her

any actress in

woman was the same skilled

of resilience, now soft and sweet as if

classic

"Darlene."

watched her, and though she pretended not to notice,

several times, growing suspicious. Belinda and