Faux Vows, True Desires

"Grandpa, let me give you a hand," Owen said, rushing to lift Trenton from his wheelchair.

He then glanced expectantly at Cecilia, silently willing her to join him in escorting Trenton into the dining room.

After a brief pause, and with Trenton's warm gaze upon her, Cecilia finally stood and together with Owen, guided him toward the smell of roast and freshly baked bread that wafted from the dining room. Seizing a moment when Trenton was distracted, Cecilia playfully pinched Owen, who chuckled softly, not the least bit offended.

Trenton had done him a solid favor; after dinner, Owen had the perfect excuse to whisk Cecilia away to Tranquil Terrace Villa to see the house he had purchased with dreams of married life.

He had always envisioned living outside with his beloved, only returning on the weekends to spend quality time with his grandfather.

The villa he had initially bought wasn't at Tranquil Terrace Villa - that was intended for Ruby. But after he'd given up on her, he'd bought another, more grandiose place at Tranquil Terrace Villa, specifically for Cecilia. It was conveniently located far from the Martinez family estate to give Cecilia some healthy distance from Olina and closer to Serendipity Cafe and her own family, the Yates, making it easier for her to visit or commute to work.

Watching Owen and Cecilia support Trenton into the dining room, Shane also stood up and quietly reminded Olina, "Honey, try to lighten up a bit, will you? Haven't you noticed how Dad's taken to Cecilia?" "What don't you get it?" Olina hissed in a low voice, her frustration barely contained. "All I know is that Cecilia was handpicked for Owen by Dad, and who knows what tricks she used to enchant him." "Did you run into Ashley? What did she say to you?" Shane guessed, knowing Ashley had probably filled his wife's head with nonsense.

Olina, a bit guiltily, replied, "Nothing much. And dear, did you see how cozy Cecilia and Ashley were? Doesn't Cecilia know that we and your brothers have a long-standing rivalry? Harry's got his eye on Owen's position. Cecilia is not exactly what you'd call a beacon of good fortune," she muttered under her breath.

"Are you being naive or just plain dense? Ashley's cozying up to Cecilia right in front of you to get under your skin, to make you dislike Cecilia even more. Can't you see through such simple schemes?" Shane said, exasperated, trying to enlighten his wife. "Dad seems to really like Cecilia, and Owen is genuinely smitten. Ashley is probably worried that if Cecilia gets back in Dad's good graces, she might take over as the matriarch of our family and that's something she can't stand. She's trying to sabotage Owen through you."

Olina's eyes widened in shock as she looked at her husband.

"Isn't the matriarch supposed to be me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. As the eldest daughter-in-law, and well into her fifties, it was her right by age and status.

In families like the Martinez's, being the matriarch was akin to being the queen bee, a position of high regard and influence since time immemorial.

After a moment of silence, Shane asked cruelly, "Do you really think you're up to the task?"

Without waiting for her response, he walked off toward the dining room, leaving Olina speechless.

Dinner went smoothly.

Cecilia knew that since she had agreed to dine with Owen's family, regardless of Olina's demeanor or Trenton's past manipulations, she couldn't let negative vibes spoil the meal. After all, that was in the past. She needed to focus on the future.

So, she played her part well, engaging with Owen and charming Trenton so much that he ate more than usual. Shane and Olina kept up smiling faces, with Olina looking particularly shell-shocked.

Cecilia couldn't help but sneak peeks at Olina. her former mother-in-law, wondering if Shane had said something to her, given Olina's stunned appearance.

As dusk settled in, Trenton urged Owen to show Cecilia the "gift."

"Trenton, I'll come to visit you another day when I have some free time," Cecilia said politely, making a show of formality.

Trenton beamed, "Of course, my dear. The doors to this house are always open for you."

"Grandpa, I'll take Cecilia now," Owen said, receiving a nod from Trenton.

After a quick round of goodbyes to his parents, Owen eagerly wrapped an arm around Cecilia's shoulders and steered her out the door. Cecilia tried to slip away from his grasp a few times, but he held on resolutely.

Even with Olina's wits, it was clear that the young couple's affections were imbalanced, with Owen investing more and Cecilia remaining somewhat passive.

Once Owen and Cecilia left, Trenton's affectionate demeanor vanished as he turned his stern gaze on Olina.

Feeling the weight of Trenton's severe look, Olina's heart tightened, and she barely dared to breathe.

"Olina," Trenton began.

"Yes," she quickly responded, eager to address his concerns.

"Cut ties with Megan!"

It was an order, not a suggestion.

"Owen was held back by Ruby for years, and you, his mother, were blind to it, uncaring. As his grandfather, I have watched all these painfully. Now that Owen is moving on with Cecilia, if you cause them to break apart again."

He paused, then continued with chilling coldness, "Don't blame me if I push for Shane to divorce you. If he doesn't, I'll cast both of you out and sever all ties. Owen doesn't need a mother who holds him back." Olina's face turned ashen as she processed Trenton's words.

"I'll deal with Megan as well," Trenton added, his heart clear as a mirror.

Trenton laid down the law, his voice echoing through the room like the final word of a seasoned judge. "Let me be clear: anyone who dares to mess with my grandson's happiness will be cut off. Not a single dime of the Martinez family fortune, which runs into the billions, will they see."

Trenton was a man of his word, mainly because he still sat as the chairman of the Ikella Group, firmly holding the reins of the sprawling Martinez estate.

Cross him, and he'd have no qualms about tossing that person out of the family, leaving her high and dry without a penny to her name.

Anyway, the fortune was still in his iron grip, to dole out to whomever he deemed worthy.

If everybody just minded their manners, even though he had a soft spot for Owen, doling out a slightly larger slice of the pie, the others wouldn't be left out in the cold.

After all, Owen was his flesh and blood, his grandson, raised under his watchful eye. Trenton's dearest wish was for Owen to find true happiness.

Of course, that happiness hinged on the girl being up to his standards.

Someone like Ruby? She wouldn't pass muster with Trenton.

Shane, meanwhile, nearly jumped out of his skin at his father's sudden outburst.

Recalling the urgent tone in Owen's voice on the phone call, pressing him to take care of Olina, he nudged Olina and quickly spoke up for her, "Dad, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on Olina. I'll make sure she stays away from the likes of Megan."