Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 218

Owen unlocked the car, gesturing to Cecilia that it was okay to get out.

Cecilia carelessly stuffed his black card into her pocket. Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Owen couldn't help but remind her, "Cecilia, that's a black card; it's loaded. You're just going to casually stuff it in your pocket?"

"And what should I do then? Frame it in gold and hang it on the living room wall?"

Owen was left speechless.

"The more I baby it, the more it'll attract jealousy and theft. On the contrary, if I just toss it around in my pocket, people might think it's a fake. That's safer, actually. After all, with my financial status, there's no way I could own a black card."

"Just go home and get some rest. Remember to eat breakfast before you leave tomorrow. Don't come looking for me to freeload breakfast again. We only need to play lovebirds in front of your grandpa. Once we're out of his sight, we're nothing to each other."

Owen went green with anger. "You really can't stand me, can you?"

"Mr. Malicious, that's pretty clear from the way I address you. Bye! Don't dream about me tonight. I won't appear in your dreams. Even if I do, I'll only be there to ask you for money."

Owen couldn't help but laugh. "You sure do understand the impression you've left on me."

Watching Cecilia's retreating figure, Owen didn't immediately drive off. He got out of the car, quietly following Cecilia from a distance. It wasn't until he was sure Cecilia had safely entered her house that he got back in his car and left.

The next morning, Lucinda received a message from Keith saying he had safely returned to Skywatch.

It was only after confirming his safe return to Skywatch that she finally relaxed.

Stefan had wanted to take his two mothers-in-law out for a stroll, but they had declined.

The elderly pair from the Moore family were no different. They were old and didn't like moving around. Plus, both at the foot and the top of Ascend Estate, there were beautiful sceneries. The four elders were having a great time together and didn't want to leave at all.

In the end, Stefan had to return to work at the company under everyone's urging.

Even Lucinda was urged to return to the shop. Both mothers came along to help out in the shop.

Janice was still hugging her doll, but because Lucinda was by her side and she had common topics with Fiona, she was in a good mood. In the café, she could even help Lucinda by preparing coffee for customers and even assisting the chef in making pastries.

The business was good in the morning, so everyone was busy.

It wasn't until close to noon that they started to get some downtime.

"Lucy, try the pastries I made."

Fresh out of the oven, Janice couldn't wait to bring some over to her daughter.

"Cecilia, you try some too. I've taken classes on pastry-making before, so my skills are not any worse than your chefs'."

Janice's face was full of smiles. When she looked at Lucinda, her eyes were filled with love. If it wasn't for the doll she was holding, Lucinda would've thought she had recovered.

Both Lucinda and Cecilia held Janice in high regard. They both tried the pastries that Janice had personally made. Even Fiona, who didn't usually like pastries, praised them as delicious.

Janice laughed, saying, "My mom used to cook for my dad a lot. My dad was a man with a sweet tooth, so the thing my mom made the most was pastries. I’ve learned from her since I was little and even found a teacher to learn from when I grew up, so I'm also quite the chef."

Her eyes held a nostalgic look as she continued, "After I got married, I also liked to make pastries for my husband. He always praised my pastries as delicious. Every time he ate the pastries I made, our baby would also babble at him, showing that she wanted some too."

"Baby! Where's the baby?"

Janice suddenly became very agitated.

Lucinda quickly picked up the doll from the cashier's desk and handed it to her, repeatedly assuring her, "Mom, the baby's right here."

Janice carefully took the doll, kissing its face, and said with relief, "The baby's still here! The baby wasn't taken away."

Everyone stayed silent.

Lucinda put the half-eaten pastry in her mouth, and it tasted a bit bitter.

Cecilia gently patted Lucinda's hand, silently consoling her.

Lucinda blinked away the tears in her eyes and said to Cecilia, "I'm used to it."

Hearing this, Cecilia nearly cried.

If it were her dealing with a mentally unstable mother, she might've collapsed by now.

"Everything will get better!"

Lucinda bit her lip and replied firmly, "Yeah!"

Everything will get better!

Just then, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor came from outside.

Both women instinctively looked toward the door.

They were particularly sensitive to this kind of footstep noise now.

Seeing that it wasn't Ruby who had come, Cecilia let out a sigh of relief.

But Lucinda was somewhat surprised.

It was the niece of George Mitchell's boss and also George's wife.

She was wearing loose maternity clothes. Even though she wasn't very far along in her pregnancy, her belly was already showing a little.

Mrs. Mitchell looked pale, with dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't been wearing makeup during her pregnancy, which made her look even more haggard.

"She's here for you, isn't she?"

Cecilia gently nudged Lucinda and whispered, "George doesn't dare harass you anymore; what's she doing here looking for you?"

Lucinda wasn't sure of Mrs. Mitchell's intentions either.

But she was a customer after all. Lucinda got up to greet her.

"Mrs. Mitchell."

Mrs. Mitchell looked at the glowing Lucinda and forced a smile. She corrected Lucinda's address: "Lucinda, call me Lilith Darcy. I'm no longer Mrs. Mitchell. Yesterday, George and I divorced."

Lucinda was somewhat taken aback.

She was a bit taken aback, but she also thought this outcome was kind of predictable.

Love and marriage were not the same thing. Even if a couple's super loved up when they're dating, that didn't mean they'll still be happy after they got married.

Ever since George tied the knot with her, he's turned into a real bighead, even thinking about bankrolling Lucinda. Mrs. Mitchell's no fool; she wouldn't just let him do that, right?

"Have a seat."

Lucinda politely gestured for Lilith to sit at a table.

Cecilia poured them both a glass of water, then she trotted back to the two mothers.

Fiona asked Cecilia, "Is that woman George's wife?"

She hadn't met Lilith, but she remembered the pain George had caused Lucinda.

"Yeah, that's her." Content © copyrighted by NôvelDrama.Org.

With a touch of schadenfreude, Fiona said, "They're divorced? Good for them. Women who steal other people's men don't deserve happiness."

Thinking of her many rivals in love, Janice nodded in agreement, saying, "They're all bad news."

Cecilia nodded. "She got what was coming to her, but I'm still grateful. If it wasn't for her, Lucy might not have found her happiness today."

Fiona thought about it, and it made sense, so she said, "We should really thank Lilith for nabbing that rotten George."

Letting go of a love that's not meant to be wasn't the end; it's a new beginning. What came after was often the real deal in happiness.