Faux Vows, True Desires

"Honk honk--"

The car across gave a couple of honks.

Ruby decided to give up chasing Stefan and retreated.

She reversed all the way to the end of the alley before she had enough space to turn the car around. Parking on the side, she grabbed her bag from the passenger seat, pulled out her mobile and dialed Owen. Owen picked up so quickly that Ruby wondered if he had been waiting for her call.

"Ruby, what's up? Wanna grab dinner? I can pick you up," Owen's proposal took Ruby by surprise.

Even though Ruby hadn't given up on Stefan, Owen was over the moon that she reached out to him.

He believed that one day, Ruby would choose him.

He was the perfect match for her.

He could give her the happiness she desired.

He thought Stefan was nuts for still not having any romantic feelings at almost 30. Ruby wanted to develop a relationship with Stefan, but he seemed unresponsive and distant. Owen thought to himself that if Ruby wanted to be with him, he would not reject her but would be extremely happy.

"I..." Ruby was a bit confused.

Was she taking advantage of Owen by asking for his help?

"Ruby, do you need my help with something?" Owen guessed what Ruby was thinking.

Ruby was always like this, reaching out when she needed him, but cold when she didn't.

Owen felt a bit bitter, but the fact that she thought of him first when she was in trouble meant he still had a place in her heart.

"Owen, let's have dinner. You treated me last time, now it's my turn," Ruby said.

"Sounds good, where are you? I'll come pick you up," Owen replied joyfully.

"No need, I'll drive myself to your family's hotel. Meet you there," Ruby replied.

She intended to discuss the matter with him during dinner.

She also hoped to bump into Stefan and that woman at the hotel.

She knew it was wishful thinking as they were going to Pinehurst Hotel, a Martinez family property, which Stefan was unlikely to visit.

Ascend Global owned a few five-star hotels. Stefan had no need to go to Pinehurst Hotel.

"Alright, drive safe," Owen reminded her.

After hanging up, Ruby took several deep breaths, trying to suppress her rage, and then took out a compact mirror to touch up her makeup.

After fixing her makeup, she took out a small exquisite brocade box from her bag, inside was a necklace Owen gave her when he treated her to dinner the day she returned.

She needed to cheer him up since she was going to meet Owen and ask for his favor.

Ruby removed her own necklace and put on the one Owen gave her.

The tie and watch she had intended to gift Stefan, which he rejected, could now be given to Owen.

Unlike Stefan's cold demeanor, Owen would treasure anything she gave him, regardless of its value.

Once when she visited Owen's house, she accidentally walked into his room and found several folders in his bedside drawer, filled not with photos, but her previous artwork, all failed pieces.

Her exquisite works were all given to Stefan and the Anderson family. When Stefan was young and they were just innocent friends, he would accept her artwork.

But as they grew older and realized the feelings between a man and a woman, Stefan stopped accepting her gifts.

Not only that, but she couldn't find any of her gifts at Stefan's place. When she asked him about it, he said he threw them away, which infuriated her.

In contrast, Owen cherished her gifts. Even a blade of grass would be preserved as a specimen.

For a moment, Ruby thought about giving up on Stefan and choosing Owen.

But when she thought about Stefan's higher status than Owen, and in Pinehurst, the Anderson family's status also being above Owen's, she had to choose the best if she were to get married. The title of the Anderson family's mistress was something she craved!

The slight guilt she felt towards Owen was once again suppressed by Ruby.

...

Lucinda and Stefan went to a fast-food restaurant. They parked the car right in front of the restaurant, and Lucinda said while leading him in, "Stefan, the food here is pretty good. I come here a lot."

She joked, "Stefan, isn't it a bit out of character for a big shot like you to come to a place like this?"

Stefan gently tapped her forehead and said, "Don't make me out to be some big wig. I'm just an ordinary worker."

He was the head of Ascend Global, but Ascend Global was not solely his, but the Anderson family's. He just had a larger share as the leader.

Ignoring his leadership position at Ascend Global, Stefan was also the CEO of several companies he founded himself, unrelated to Ascend Global, his personal ventures.

It was also something he had wanted to prove, even without Ascend Global, that he could create a world on his own. As it turned out, he succeeded in creating his own world.

"Stefan, what's your position at Ascend Global? Everyone calls you Mr. Coleman respectfully," Lucinda casually asked.

Being a frequent diner, Lucinda was familiar with the couple who owned the restaurant. When she saw the lady owner, she greeted with a smile and said, "The usual, but make it a big one. I'm treating today." "Sure thing, I'll make sure it's enough!"

The moment the shop owner laid eyes on Stefan, she was floored. Even though she was middle-aged and a mother of two, she was struck by his good looks.

She joked to Lucinda, "Lucinda, is this your boyfriend? He's such a handsome young man."

He was neatly dressed in formal clothes and looked like a successful professional. Did Lucinda set up a blind date? Or was she just on a blind date now? Lucinda mentioned something about treating him to a meal...

"He's my boyfriend."

Stefan didn't expect Lucinda to admit it without hesitation.

The shop owner laughed, "You've a good eye."

She leaned in towards Lucinda's ear and whispered, "Lucinda, this guy looks very nice. You must cherish him and don't miss him. . And keep an eye on him, he's too handsome for his own good." Just as a pretty woman could stir up trouble, a too-good-looking guy could do the same.