Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 9

Emma just found out that the young master of her household has been secretly in love with a girl for a whole decade!

"Emma, I'm leaving."

Stefan pedaled off on his bike.

Lucinda was an ordinary girl. Now that he had a chance to enter her world, he naturally wanted to get close to her as an ordinary guy first, then slowly win her heart.

Emma stood dazed as she watched the young master disappear into the distance.

By the time she snapped back to reality and wanted to chase after him for answers, he was already gone.

"Why would the young master act so rashly?" Emma spun around anxiously on the spot.

He didn't leave any clues behind, which made her extremely anxious, but she couldn't find any answers.

"I need to tell the old lady. She's always been concerned about the young master's marital matters."

Emma mumbled to herself, preparing to tell the old lady, but she hung up the phone as soon as it connected.

"This is the young master's private matter... I better not stick my nose in his business. Keeping my job is the most important thing!"

Emma was afraid that if she spilled the beans, she would be fired by the young master.

Where else could she find such an easy job with good pay?

......

A plane flying back from Novarica slowly landed at Pinehurst International Airport.

As the cabin door opened, the passengers began to disembark one by one, dispersing in different directions.

Ruby, wearing a long light-colored dress, her wavy hair flowing, and sunglasses on, looked around and smiled after getting off the plane.

"Pinehurst, I'm back! Stefan, I'm back!"

Ruby took out her phone from her bag, walking forward while dialing Owen Martinez.

Owen, Stefan, and Ruby, all knew each other since childhood and were once close.

But as they grew older, Owen and Stefan gradually became enemies.

However, Ruby didn't choose sides due to their conflict. Instead, she wanted to reconcile their differences.

"Owen."

Ruby said with a smile, "I'm back. I just got off the plane. Can you pick me up?"

Owen was busy, but his face lit up with a smile when he heard Ruby was back, "You're back? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could've waited for you at the airport. No problem, I'll come get you now."

"I just wanted to surprise you guys."

Owen didn't pay attention to the word "you guys".

"I'll grab something to eat at the airport. Drive safely."

Ruby didn't eat on the plane and was now hungry.

"Alright, have a bite to eat, but don't get too full. I'll take you to my hotel for dinner later."

Owen said as he got up from his desk.

The piles of documents were nothing compared to Ruby.

Ruby hesitated a bit, then tentatively asked Owen, "Owen, if you're coming to pick me up, can we go to the Anderson Hotel? I could invite Stefan."

Owen's face changed slightly, but he didn't stop.

"Stefan won't come. Even if we go to the Anderson Hotel, you won't run into him."

Stefan didn't actually love Ruby. It was always Ruby's one-sided feelings. The rumors about their relationship were just misunderstandings within the industry.

Not all boys and girls who grow up together end up as lovers or spouses.

"Alright, let's go to your hotel then."

Ruby sensed Owen's dissatisfaction, so she didn't insist.

She hadn't been home for a long time, and the conflict between the two men seemed to be deepening.

Only if she stayed with them for a long time could she possibly resolve their differences.

"Ruby, how long are you planning to stay this time?" Owen's mood improved, and he asked her with a smile.

"I plan to work here from now on, unless I have to travel for work, I'll stay in Pinehurst." Ruby answered.

Ruby had actually been living abroad for ten years.

The Anderson family has a rule. Any descendants who emigrate abroad cannot share in the Anderson family's inheritance.

How could she emigrate abroad if she wanted to be the next mistress of the Anderson family?

"Really?" Owen was really happy, "Welcome back. There's no place like home."

Ruby smiled.

After ten years abroad, she indeed had a few relationships, but none of those men could compare to Stefan or Owen.

After comparing them with others, she realized that the one she got along with the longest was the best.

That's why Ruby transferred her work back home. She wanted to pursue Stefan again, and as long as she could marry into the Anderson family, she didn't care what means she had to use.

......

As the sun set and the evening glow was as fiery as a flame.

Stefan rode his bike back to the Serendipity Cafe.

At this time, there were no other customers in the shop.

Lucinda was sitting at the cashier's desk. When she saw Stefan walk in with his luggage, she casually asked, "Stefan, did you move all your stuff?"

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, Lucinda immediately closed the file on her computer.

She was writing a novel.

Because the cafe wasn't doing well, she, a bookworm, started trying writing novels to make a living. Unexpectedly, she was able to get a contract. Since she was a newbie without any previous success, her contract was at a flat rate, only earning 3 dollars per thousand words. The publisher's editor praised her novel's opening as being excellent, so they made an exception and gave her 10 dollars for every thousand words.

Lucinda valued this part-time job a lot.

She got up at three in the morning every day to write, and would also write during the day whenever she had time, until late at night because she had to update sixteen thousand words daily.

After a month, her earnings from writing were enough to pay the cafe's rent, with an extra two hundred dollars left for living expenses.

Her economic condition was very tight. Her boyfriend of four years dumped her for a new girlfriend because Lucinda couldn't help him in his career or support him in life.

"Cecilia, you stay here and watch the shop tonight. I'm gonna take Stefan to my place." Lucinda said.

Cecilia smiled at Stefan and replied, "Go ahead, there aren't many customers right now. I got this."

Lucinda tucked the cheap laptop she bought online into her bag, swinging it over her shoulder as she walked out of the checkout area.

"Stefan, let's go."

Stefan turned to Cecilia with a gentle smile, "Ms. Yates, sorry for leaving you alone working." This is from NôvelDrama.Org.

Cecilia chuckled, "Lucinda and I are partners in this joint. I've got a stake in it, too. It's no biggie to help out."

But internally, she was thinking, “what a stud! His smile is drop-dead gorgeous! He's way hotter than most movie stars.”

Lucinda sure hit the jackpot, having such a hot guy as her fake husband!

The couple strolled out of the store.

Lucinda scanned the surroundings, but Stefan's second-hand car was nowhere in sight.

"Let's roll."

Stefan hopped on his bike, patting the back seat, "My office is just around the corner. I left the car there and switched to cycling, so no more worries about traffic."

Lucinda didn't question him, hopping on the back of his bike, patting his backpack, "Is this all you're carrying?"

"If you're gonna be my sugar mama, what else do I have to worry about?"

Lucinda was speechless by his words.