Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 172

"Here you go. This money covers the cost of you eating my slice of cake and drinking two glasses of water."

Owen: "This is too expensive! You're a sneaky merchant!"

He took the money, giving Cecilia a long and deep look. He noticed several red marks on her neck, left from when he had choked her too hard earlier. Even though he didn't exert much force, Cecilia's skin was fair, and the force of his fingers digging into her neck had left marks.

He opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, Owen left without saying a word.

Cecilia touched the place where Owen had choked her.

The construction workers were watching her.

"It's fine. That guy is just a nutcase, a paranoid. Don't mind him, I'm fine. Continue your work. What do you guys want for lunch? I can get you some fast food."

"Cecilia, come out!"

Owen's growl came from outside.

Cecilia frowned. Hadn't he left already?

"We'll go home for lunch."

The construction worker said, then turned to Cecilia. "That guy is calling for you. You should go check it out."

Cecilia often called him Mr. Martinez. He must be Mr. Martinez from the Ikella group.

The construction workers had pieced together some information and knew why the Serendipity Cafe had been destroyed.

So, seeing the elusive Mr. Martinez here wasn't surprising to them.

Cecilia went out.

"You didn't see me out."

Owen accused.

Cecilia was dumbstruck.

Her husband in name only had a gloomy look on his face, accusing her, "When Ike came earlier, you not only gave him two boxes of desserts but also personally saw him out of the shop. You were just short of sending him home. But you didn't see me out, and I am your guest. You should have seen me out."

Cecilia was speechless.

She couldn't keep up with Owen's thoughts.

Once she recovered, she said, "After what you did to me, you still expect me to see you out? The fact that I didn't chase you out with a broom is already very respectful."

Owen snorted, "Never mind, you've seen me out now. I won't nitpick this time. Cecilia, if you can guarantee that you won't need my help in the future, go ahead and be arrogant."

After saying that, he stormed off.

Cecilia was helpless, "Who's being arrogant? The most arrogant person is clearly him, right?"

Approaching noon, Owen lingered at the Serendipity Cafe for a while before leaving. Instead of going back to his company, he went to the Pinehurst Hotel, a property owned by the Martinez family. He usually stayed there when he didn't go home.

On the top floor was a revolving buffet restaurant. Although it was expensive, many people liked to dine there because it offered a panoramic view of the city.

The top floor of the Pinehurst Hotel was divided into two sections. One side was a revolving buffet restaurant open to the public, and the other side was a presidential suite exclusively for Owen's use.

He had his own elevator, so he wouldn't be disturbed by the buffet diners.

Inside Owen's suite was a miniature revolving buffet restaurant because Ruby loved buffets. In the past, he would often bring Ruby here to enjoy the buffet.

Of course, it was always when Ruby felt neglected by Stefan and was feeling down that he would bring her here for the buffet.

As long as Owen was coming, his bodyguards would notify the hotel's manager in advance. The manager would be responsible for arranging everything. By the time Owen arrived at the hotel, his buffet restaurant was already filled with a variety of delicious food for him to enjoy.

The bodyguards would have their meal at the buffet restaurant across from Owen's suite after escorting him to the hotel.

Owen sat alone at the dining table, facing the delicious food without moving a muscle.

He caught sight of the exquisite desserts placed on the side and thought of Cecilia's cake. Clearly, Cecilia's cooking skills were not on par with the pastry chefs at the Pinehurst Hotel.

Owen smacked his lips and mumbled to himself, "I have indeed tasted the cake Ruby made, but Cecilia, you got it right."

After Ruby learned how to bake cakes, she would personally make a birthday cake for Stefan every year and deliver it to the Anderson family.

But each time, Stefan would reject her.

At that time, the Scott family's business hadn't moved abroad yet. As the daughter of the Scott family, Ruby was always spoiled.

She couldn't stand Stefan's cold face and rejection, so she would leave the Anderson family with the cake and give it to Owen.

The young Owen didn't understand love yet. He only knew that when Ruby gave him a cake, he would eat it. NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

It wasn't until later that he understood that his tolerance and care for Ruby were all due to his love for her.

Almost all the gifts Ruby gave him were first offered to Stefan. Only after Stefan rejected them would she give them to Owen.

He didn't know this in the beginning. Every time he received a gift from Ruby, he was overjoyed.

It wasn't until one day that he saw Ruby give Stefan a tie and was rejected. She then gave the tie to him and he realized every gift he received from her was something Stefan didn't want, including Ruby herself.

Stefan didn't love Ruby, nor did he want her.

Only then could he have the chance to stay by Ruby's side, waiting for her to regret her decisions, to notice his merits, and to accept his love.

Thinking back on the past, Owen suddenly felt that he was truly humble in front of Ruby.

His grandfather once said that as long as Ruby had a little bit of sincerity for him, he wouldn't object to them being together.

Owen tugged at his hair in frustration.

Back in Echoville.

Mr. Blue sauntered over to the couch, carrying a glass of milk, which he handed to his lover, saying tenderly, "Baby, your milk is ready, made by me."

A ravishing woman took the milk, batting her eyelashes at him, cooing, "Thank you, darling."

They weren't married because Mr. Blue had a family back in Skywatch. Even though his wife was his match-made partner, they had been married for decades and always seemed head over heels in love with outsiders.

The ravishing woman knew full well this man wouldn't divorce his wife to marry her.

She didn't mind as long as he supplied her with cash and agreed to her bearing his child.

Even if the child was born out of wedlock, there was a chance to inherit this man's fortune.

Her motive to have a child was to grab a chunk of the wealth.

"Babe, I have to head back tonight. My secretary has already booked my flight, and it's taking off at five forty in the evening."

He had been using business trips as an excuse to visit his lover in Echoville for quite a while now. If he didn't head back soon, his wife might start to smell a rat.

Moreover, he got wind that Ethan had abruptly left on a business trip with his mother.

With Ethan away, he needed to go back to sweet-talk Nathan into giving him some benefits.

"You're leaving so soon?"

Mr. Blue just nodded when his cell phone started ringing.