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 that

can be stolen, it wasn't true

it'd be

Ruby had

charm had captivated Owen-haha, she had successfully attracted

and she felt

for words, Cecilia wrapped an arm around

"Don't worry. Now that I've accepted your proposal, once we're

mine, Cecilia's man. Unless I let you go, nobody

anyone dares to compete with me for my man, I'll

the floor." She playfully brandished her fist, bringing

Owen.

His persistence wasn't in vain. The

drove silently, pretending to be deaf to

nothings.

finally finding his happiness, and those in his service

good times.

love you!" Owen declared with passion, holding

you too,"

a kiss, but she dodged, glancing at the driver, signaling

car. He gave the driver a look,

Cecilia, and refrained

arriving at the hotel, the

buzzing with wedding

changed

into a chic

with Liam, greeting

attendees. Being pregnant, she

but

understood that the Anderson

family's daughter-in-law was

expecting.

s

took more drinks on behalf of his

couldn't escape the drinking duties. Not many

sister Belinda's icy demeanor

Mr. Martinez, was also spared as the couple

the heavy lifting fell on the

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

spirits, especially at his brother's wedding. Even

pleased the

too busy to relax, but Stefan

side, taking drinks for

the crowd, Keith's eyes lingered on Darlene. He had to admit, her

any

woman was the

resilience, now soft and sweet as if she were

a classic literary

"Darlene."

though she pretended not

his gaze several times, growing suspicious. Belinda