Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 188

Serendipity Cafe.

After the Lucinda and Stefan left, Cecilia hung around for a bit, watching as the foot traffic dwindled on the street before she decided to head out.

Just as she was about to lock up, she felt a presence by her side and turned to find herself looking into Owen's deep-set eyes.

She held his gaze for a moment, then turned to survey the street. No sign of Owen's bodyguard car or his girlfriend Ruby. Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

As she continued to lock up, she asked Owen, "Why are you alone? Isn't your girlfriend out of the slammer today? Shouldn't you be with her all night?"

Owen took a couple of steps forward, offering to help close up.

"I don't remember asking for your help, don't expect a reward for your unsolicited kind gesture."

Owen gave her a sidelong glance, "The allowance I give you every month, most people would take two to three years to earn. You're already ahead, no need to be so stingy. You're usually a generous person, why are you being so tight with me?"

"Because you're richer than me, I just want to put your money in my pocket, not the other way around."

Owen shifted the subject, "do you always lock up at night?"

Even though Cecilia and Lucinda were friends, if Lucinda was taking advantage of Cecilia, he couldn't let it slide. He needed to talk to Lucinda.

It's not because Cecilia was his wife in name that he's helping her. He's just a righteous guy, he couldn't stand to see Lucinda bullying Cecilia using Stefan's power.

"Is the door heavy?"

"No, Lucinda usually locks up because she lives nearby. I have to ride my bike home, so she always rushes me to leave early. Since the cafe reopened, the business got really good, that's why I'm still here. Mr. Coleman came to pick Lucinda up, so I let her go first."

Owen said, "Lucinda said she's stronger, it's easier for her to lock up than you."

Cecilia gave him a look, "I used to work out, I'm not weak. Probably stronger than the average girl."

"Heh." Owen let out a sarcastic chuckle, "The stuff you learned, they're not really useful. You might have an advantage over weaker women, but you're no match for men. There's a natural gap in strength between men and women."

Cecilia used to take Taekwondo classes.

In Owen's eyes, Cecilia really couldn't take a punch.

"Anyway, as long as you can fend off thugs."

Owen wanted to say that she couldn't fend off a powerful thug.

Like him, but he's no thug.

As Cecilia was about to take off on her e-bike, Owen grabbed the handlebars.

"What's up? Anything else? Tell me, I'll give you a couple of minutes."

Owen chuckled, "Your time is precious? You talk like you're very busy."

"Yes, my time is very precious."

"Is it safe for you to ride home like this so late?"

Cecilia retorted, "If I don't ride home like this, how should I do it? Should I fly home?"

She spread her arms and mimicked flying, laughing at herself, "I don't have wings, I can't fly home. I don't want to walk, and rolling home is out of the question. So, riding my e-bike is just right, I can enjoy the night view. The night view in Pinehurst is pretty good."

Owen paused before saying, "What I mean is, you're a girl, a young, beautiful one with a nice figure. Riding home this late might be dangerous, what if you run into bad guys? There's hardly anyone on the street this late, even if you scream, no one would hear."

"Just say you want to drive me home, I'd be more than happy to give you the opportunity, it saves time and it's safer."

Owen didn't like her smug look, he wanted to deny it, but swallowed the words.

"Unlock the shop, put the e-bike inside, then I'll take you home."

"How am I supposed to get to work tomorrow then? Are you picking me up?"

"Don't dream on, you won't even give me gas money, who would do this thankless job?"

Cecilia pouted, "Since you won't pick me up, I'll leave my electric car at the shop and it won't be convenient to come to work tomorrow."

"You can take the bus, or call a cab if you think the bus is too crowded."

"But that would cost money."

Owen was speechless.

He took the keys from the e-bike, the shop keys were on the same keychain.

He didn't want to argue with her anymore, so he just took action.

He unlocked the shop, pushed her e-bike inside, then locked up again.

"Mr. Malicious."

Owen looked pissed, he warned her, "Cecilia, call me 'Mr. Malicious' one more time, watch me cut your tongue off."

"I'm used to it, it's second nature."

Cecilia stuck her tongue out at him from the passenger seat.

"Speaking of which, Owen, if your girlfriend finds out that you're driving me home, won't she slap me again?"

"Didn't you say you had self-defense training?"

"Oh, I get it. You mean if your girlfriend slaps me, I can slap her back. She looks so delicate, like a gust of wind could knock her down. If I slap her a couple of times, her face would swell up like a pig, then she'd cry in front of you 'Owen, my face hurts so much, please help me'."

"I'm giving you the opportunity, it's up to you to seize it, no need to thank me."

Owen had already started the car, but he killed the engine when he heard her words. He leaned towards her.

Cecilia tried to dodge, but she was buckled up and the doors were locked. She had nowhere to hide.

Seeing his dark expression, Cecilia quickly realized why he was upset.

"Cecilia!"

Owen warned her seriously, "Don't hurt Ruby, she's a fragile woman. She doesn't have Lucinda's strength, nor your trained body. If you hurt her, I won't sit idly by."

Cecilia pushed him away, keeping her distance.

"It was you who reminded me, I've had training. You're telling me that if Ruby decides to come at me just cause you drove me home, I can fight back? Even without your reminder, if she messes with me, I'll put up a fight. No one's gonna let her hit me for no reason, I don't owe her anything."

"Technically speaking, I should be the one picking a fight with her. I mean, I'm your legal wife. What's her place in your heart?"

Owen replied, "Cecilia, we're just husband and wife in name, the one I've always wanted to marry is Ruby. If it weren't for my grandfather's pressure, I wouldn't have married you. Remember our deal!"