Faux Vows, True Desires

Lucinda's phone buzzed. Tugging it out, she saw her mom was calling. With a wry smile, she said to Stefan, "Mom's about to give me another lecture. Must be that weirdo ratting me out."

Ever since her mom started setting her up on blind dates, almost every one ended with the guy complaining about her.

It wasn't like she was too picky, she just wasn't willing to lower her standards. Marriage is a lifetime deal. If she ended up with a weirdo and had to bring home the bacon and be a full-time housemaid, she'd rather stay single.

Stefan chuckled, "You can try explaining it to her."

Lucinda complained, "My mom doesn't give a darn about my explanations."

Still, she picked up the call.

As soon as she answered, her mom started lecturing, "Lucinda, haven't I told you countless times, you're already 24! If you don't act quickly, all the good guys will be snatched up by younger girls. Being so pick like this, you'll end up regretting it.

"Fabian is a good catch, why were you so rude to him? What happened to your manners? You've really embarrassed me. I never taught you to throw cups at people. Fabian said he'd forgive you if you apologize.

"Olivia is two years younger than you and she's already married into a wealthy family. I'm not asking you to marry a rich guy, just find a suitable man and settle down so I can stop worrying."

Lucinda waited till her mom finished before responding helplessly, "Mom, I'm only 24, still in the prime of my youth. My brother is already 29, but why aren't you nagging him?" Her mom snapped back, "He's a tough nut to crack."

Lucinda sighed, "So, I'm your punching bag? The scapegoat? It's so unfair, mom. You have no idea how weird Fabian is, it's a long story. I'll tell you when I have time. And you want me to apologize to him? I'd rather stay single than be his wife.

"And about Olivia, she didn't marry, and she's just someone's mistress. You think I'm clueless? That guy is old enough to be her dad and he's not even that rich, he just owns a couple of rental properties. The richest family is..."

Stopping, she covered the phone to ask Stefan in a whisper, "Who's the richest family in Pinehurst?"

Keeping his voice low, Stefan answered, "The Andersons are the richest family in Pinehurst. They own Ascend Global, with businesses all over the country."

Lucinda immediately told her mom, "If Olivia really has the ability, she'd marry into the Anderson family. You see her being someone's mistress and you're jealous? Do you want me to be a mistress too?" "Absolutely not! If you can't get married, I'll support you for life. I won't allow you to be anyone's mistress." After angrily retorting, her mom quickly added, "Tomorrow's Saturday, close your shop and come home. There's a new guy I want you to meet. I've seen his photo. He seems nice."

Lucinda groaned, "Mom, you're not giving me a break, are you?"

"If you don't want me to nag, find a boyfriend yourself. I had someone do a fortune telling for you. The fortune teller said if you don't get married this year, you'll never find true love, and you'll be alone forever." Lucinda was shocked that her mom's actually buying into fortune telling now.

"Lucinda, are you listening? Don't make me waste my breath."

"Mom, I'm listening. How could I not take your calls seriously? But, most fortune tellers can only predict past events, the future's hard to pin down. If he's really that magical, ask him for tomorrow's lottery numbers. I'd bet all my money on it."

Stefan was chuckling at their conversation. When Lucinda glanced at him, he quickly feigned a cough. After hanging up, Lucinda slumped onto the table, looking utterly dejected. "Stefan, how much longer do I have to endure this? Now every time the phone rings, it gives me the heebie-jeebies."

She sat back up, ready to vent about her mom to Stefan. Seeing Stefan's amused eyes, she blinked and gave him a once-over. Stefan was incredibly handsome, with a refined air and gentle personality. All things considered, Lucinda would give him a high evaluation. After a thought, Lucinda blurted out, "Stefan, are you the same age as my brother? Are you married?"

Stefan responded gently, "I'm the same age as your brother, 29, single, no girlfriend."

Lucinda asked, "Don't your parents nag you about getting married? You're already 29, how come you don't have a girlfriend?"

"I told my parents I'd consider getting married when I'm 30. As for not having a girlfriend..." He looked at Lucinda, and said softly, "Maybe I haven't met the one I want to marry yet."

Lucinda asked again, she studied Stefan for a while, hesitated a few minutes, then finally decided to test the waters, "Stefan, can... can I ask you to pretend to be my boyfriend?"

Seeing Stefan's surprised face, Lucinda quickly added, "Don't worry, I'll pay you a sufficient compensation. I won't interfere with your personal life, we can sign a contract. When you turn 30, we'll call it quits, no strings attached."

Stefan was silent for two minutes, his eyes locked onto Lucinda as he asked gravely, "Are you sure you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"

Lucinda nodded, compared to the guys her mom introduced, Stefan was undoubtedly a better choice. He'd definitely shut her mom up.

"And if your mom approves of me, and pushes us to get married?"

Lucinda laughed, "As soon as I have a boyfriend, my mom won't nag me about getting married for a while."

Even though her mom was always nagging about her marriage, once she actually has a boyfriend, her mom would definitely take some time to observe, to avoid her running into another bad guy. Stefan picked up his glass of warm water, took a couple of sips, and set it down. His slender fingers tapped the table as he contemplated for a while and said, "Maybe we should just get married directly." Lucinda blinked, she was confused for a second.

She asked in confusion, "You mean, Stefan, like a fake marriage? But without a marriage certificate, my mom won't buy it."

Stefan was straightforward, "I can go with you to the vital records office to get a marriage certificate."

"If we get a marriage certificate, it's not a fake marriage."

Lucinda wasn't a fool. Once they go to the vital records office and do the paperwork, they'd be legally married. This whole thing will become real.

Stefan chuckled, "Didn't you say you're willing to pay me? We can sign a contract."