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."

She had him with that selling

be stolen, it wasn't

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

But Ruby had no

captivated Owen-haha, she had

and she felt a sense of

for words, Cecilia wrapped an arm around him

Now that I've accepted your proposal, once

I let you

dares to compete with me for my man,

off the floor." She playfully

Owen.

His persistence wasn't in vain. The driver,

pretending to be deaf to Sir and

nothings.

finding his happiness, and those in his service would

good times.

you!" Owen declared with passion, holding

love you too,"

leaned in for a kiss, but she dodged, glancing

car. He gave the driver

refrained from

the hotel,

buzzing with

had changed from

a chic cocktail

Liam, greeting

attendees. Being pregnant, she

dink, but the

understood that the Anderson

family's daughter-in-law was

expecting.

s

of his bride, and

duties.

especially with her sister Belinda's icy

also spared as the couple had

heavy lifting fell on

head honcho, couldn't

to drink in good spirits, especially at his brother's wedding.

sip pleased

too busy to relax, but

side, taking drinks for

lingered on Darlene. He

any actress

think this demure, gentle woman was the

of resilience, now soft and sweet as if she were

a classic

"Darlene."

though she pretended not to notice, her

suspicious. Belinda and