Faux Vows, True Desires

"Thanks, Jean."

Owen expressed his thanks to the housekeeper and then, without pausing, headed straight for the main house.

Jean followed, saying as she walked, "Ms. Scott is in the study upstairs; you can go straight up. I'll get you an ice pack." Owen just nodded.

The grand hall on the first floor was empty.

The Scott family was all abroad; only Ruby was back for Stefan.

This reality hit Owen right in the feels.

"Mr. Owen, would you like something to eat?"

Jean asked.

"No need."

Owen declined Jean's offer and went upstairs on his own.

He was a regular at the Scott family's mansion and knew the place like the back of his hand.

When he reached Ruby's study, Owen stood silently for two minutes before knocking on the door.

"Jean, I'm busy."

Ruby assumed it was Jean.

"Ruby, it's me."

Owen responded in a low voice.

The room fell silent, and then the study door was opened, revealing Ruby in her nightgown.

She had just taken a bath and removed her makeup. Her face was bare.

Owen wasn't sure if it was an illusion or due to the lighting, but he thought Ruby looked a bit old.

Ruby was just a year younger than him, and Stefan was already twenty-eight.

"Owen, what brings you here? What happened to your face?"

Ruby asked Owen with concern, lightly touching his swollen face, "Does it hurt? Did Stefan do this?"

There weren't many people who could manhandle Owen.

Ruby's first guess was Stefan.

After getting slapped by Lucinda, Ruby bumped into Owen on purpose to let him know she had been bullied by Lucinda.

Owen cared for her deeply and would definitely take it up with Lucinda.

But with Stefan protecting Lucinda, there was a high chance of them clashing.

Ruby hadn't expected Owen to get beaten up so badly; his face was all swollen and red.

"Stefan did it. Because Lucinda hit you, I went to settle the score with her. Stefan was there, and we ended up fighting. You know Stefan's good with his fists; I was no match for him and ended up like this." Even though she had guessed Stefan would protect Lucinda, hearing Owen say it like this still made Ruby's heart ache.

Stefan was a skilled fighter, but he didn't throw punches easily.

Ruby had grown up with him and had never seen him fight for anyone.

Now he fought for Lucinda. Did he really like Lucinda that much?

Ruby despised Lucinda; her eyes were filled with resentment.

Anyone who dared to take Ruby's man would regret it.

"Owen, you knew Stefan was tough. You shouldn't have lost your cool when he was around."

Ruby looked at Owen's pained face, touched it lightly again, and gave a helpless smile. "Stefan really crossed the line. He shouldn't have hit your face. It breaks my heart just looking at it. Let's go downstairs. I'll get you an ice pack to soothe it."

She led Owen downstairs as she spoke.

Owen tried to hold her hand.

But she immediately pulled away.

This stung Owen.

He had given so much for her and waited so long, hoping she would let go of Stefan and accept his feelings. Yet she pulled away just as he tried to hold her hand.

But for Stefan, she had willingly kissed him.

Stefan had once said that everything Owen did for Ruby was in vain.

Ruby didn't understand Owen's feelings. She just continued to lead him downstairs.

Jean, ready to go upstairs with an ice pack, stopped when she saw them coming down. "Ms. Scott, Owen."

"Jean, give me the ice pack."

Ruby approached and took the ice pack from Jean. "Jean, you can go rest too."

Jean understood her meaning and left.

"Owen, come here and sit. I'll apply the ice pack."

Hearing Ruby's words, Owen's disappointment vanished. He obediently sat down on the couch and let Ruby apply the ice pack.

"Owen, what did Stefan say when you confronted Lucinda? Did he blame me?"

She was worried Stefan would misunderstand and think she had spilled the beans about Lucinda to Owen, causing Owen to confront Lucinda.

Even if she had done that, Stefan mustn't know.

"He said Lucinda is his wife, and anyone who dares to hurt Lucinda is his enemy. He also said that he was upset because Lucinda's hand hurt from slapping you. Ruby, Stefan does have feelings, just not for you."

"Ten years ago, he was indifferent towards you. Now, he has a wife, and it's even less likely he would accept your feelings."

"Ruby, let it go. Don't cling to Stefan anymore. It only causes you pain, and your pain hurts me too."

Owen held Ruby's hand, his eyes full of determination as he looked at her. "Ruby, there are more good guys in the world than just Stefan. Be my girlfriend, with marriage as our goal. Will you?" Ruby looked at him, then slowly pulled her hand back and said, "Owen, I've always seen you as a good friend."

"I don't want to be your friend; I want to be your boyfriend!"

Owen suddenly hugged her, pulling her into his arms forcefully. One hand held hers while the other tightly supported her head as he fiercely kissed her.

Ruby had once promised him a kiss to get him to investigate Stefan and Lucinda's affair, but he had given up on that opportunity.

But now he wanted to reclaim that chance.

"Owen."

Ruby struggled but couldn't break free from Owen's hold. She bit down hard on Owen's lips, and when he loosened his grip, she pushed him away with all her might.

Without hesitation, she slapped Owen.

The sound echoed throughout the room.

Owen's already swollen face instantly sported her handprint, turning even redder and more swollen.

"Owen, I've told you straight up, you're my best bud; you can't be feeling some type of way about me. I'm back for Stefan; he's the only one in my heart. Even after ten years, I can't shake him off." "Owen, what I want is to become Mrs. Stefan Anderson! If you're down to help, I'd be super grateful. If not, I'd appreciate it if you didn't throw a wrench in my plans."

Owen just stared at her in silence.

After a good while, he turned around and walked off.

"Owen, Owen."

"Owen, let's just pretend what happened earlier didn't happen, okay? We're still pals don't be mad, okay?"

Her family was all abroad; the Scott family didn't hold much clout in Pinehurst anymore.

Her ambitions, her plans-she still needed Owen's help to pull them off.