Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 170

Ike hoisted the bag in his hand and presented it to Owen for a closer look.

"This is dessert, made by Cecilia. She made me two boxes. Both Cecilia and Lucy make mouth-watering sweets, Owen. Would you like to try them?" Owen's face twisted in dissatisfaction, and he said, "I'm not much of a sweet tooth unless it's made by Ruby herself, then I might deign to try a bit."

Ike put the bag down and laughed a little but didn't respond.

Everyone in Pinehurst knew about Owen's feelings for Ruby and Ruby's feelings for Stefan.

"What are you doing here? Are you here to stir up trouble again at the Serendipity Cafe?"

Ike shifted the topic, inquiring about Owen's intentions.

He wasn't sure about the relationship between Owen and Cecilia, and assumed Owen was here for trouble.

In the past, anyone who dared to bad-mouth Ruby would face Owen's wrath. Now that Ruby was detained, Owen must be fuming and plotting revenge on Cecilia and Lucy.

Lucy had Stefan as her knight in shining armor, but Cecilia was left defenseless.

Thinking this, Ike warned, "Owen, it's Ruby's fault. Even if you want to protect and favor her, you have to be reasonable. Don't think you can bully Cecilia just because she has no one to protect her. If you dare to touch her! I won't let you off lightly!"

Though Ike wasn't exactly Owen's equal in many ways, it didn't stop him from standing up for Cecilia.

Owen frowned at Ike's words, then lifted his eyebrows and gave Ike an up-and-down look.

"What?" Ike asked, visibly annoyed.

He didn't appreciate Owen's scrutinizing gaze.

Seeing the two men in conversation, Cecilia feared a confrontation and stepped in.

Owen, seeing Cecilia approach, leaned in and whispered to Ike, "Do you have a thing for Cecilia? Is that why you're so hell-bent on protecting her?"

Before Ike could respond, Cecilia had already reached them.

"Mr. Malicious, what brings you here?" Cecilia asked.

Owen stood up, his face darkened at her choice of words. He reached out to pull Cecilia closer, intending to give her a piece of his mind, but Ike caught his hand. "Owen!" Ike warned, glaring at Owen.

A tense stand-off ensued between the two men.

Finally, Owen shook off Ike's hand, "Since you enjoy being a protector, for the sake of our years of acquaintance, I'll let you do it once today and won't teach her a lesson." With that, Owen strolled past Cecilia and Ike, heading straight for the cafe.

His bodyguards followed closely behind.

"Cecilia, come here. I want some coffee and sweets!" Owen called out as he walked.

Ike wanted to follow him into the cafe but was stopped by Cecilia.

"Ike, go about your business. Mr. Malicious might be a bit of a tough cookie, but he's not all bad. I can handle him."

"Owen will do anything for Ruby. I should come with you. If he tries anything, I'll be there to protect you."

How could Ike just let Cecilia face Owen alone?

"Ike, it's really fine. Owen's here to collect a favor. I asked him for help when Lucy got in trouble. He's here to discuss terms. He won't do anything to me, don't worry."

To Ike's surprise, Cecilia added, "You actually got him to help you?"

"That's what I've been saying, and he's not entirely a bad guy. He's just a bit too obsessed with Ruby."

People always wanted what they can't have.

For Owen, Ruby was his unattainable, and his obsession only deepened because he could never have her. He thought Ruby was the best, even though they had grown up together, first as friends before love came into play.

All in all, Ruby held a significant place in Owen's heart.

Cecilia had no intention nor dared to replace Ruby.

They could be a married couple in name, and after Trenton died, she would get a divorce, collect a settlement, and continue with her happy life.

After all, she had no one she loved, and she had no plans to remarry.

"Are you sure you can handle him? Are you sure he's not here to cause trouble?"

"Absolutely, don't worry."

Ike was not entirely convinced.

Finally, under Cecilia's persuasion, Ike left.

Watching Ike's car drive away, Cecilia turned around and walked back into the cafe.

Owen's bodyguards were stationed by the cafe entrance. They were all tall and intimidating, dressed in black, unsmiling. They looked like menacing statues, scaring off anyone who dared to walk past the Serendipity Cafe.

Seeing Cecilia return, the bodyguards pursed their lips, wanting to greet her, but remembering Mr. Martinez's orders, they refrained from calling out "Mrs. Martinez" and they just watched silently as Cecilia passed them and went into the cafe.

"My cafe is still under renovation. It's quite a mess, Mr. Martinez. It would be best if you went somewhere else. The cafe is closed right now." Cecilia immediately started saying as she entered.

Owen was sitting where Ike had just been. He saw the cup on the table and knew Ike had been sitting there.

His gaze was fixated on the cup.

Cecilia walked over, picked up the cup, a disposable paper one, and tossed it into the nearby trash bin.

Only then did Owen shift his gaze to her.

"If the cafe isn't open, why did you give Ike two boxes of sweets? Did you charge him?"

Cecilia: "I just made some sweets for the workers to snack on during their break. I made a bit too much, and Ike happened to come by. So I gave him two boxes. Why would I charge him? Even if Ike came every day, he wouldn't have to pay."

Owen said coldly, "No wonder your shop never made any money before. You're always giving out free desserts, and they even take some to go. It'd be weird if you did make any money."

Cecilia opened her mouth, took a moment, and then said, "Ike doesn't usually eat much. My shop isn't open right now, so I can afford to give him some."

"Why don't you give me some desserts?"

"You don't even like them. What are you going to do with them? It'll be a waste. These are the fruits of my morning's hard work."

"Ike doesn't like desserts either."

Cecilia: "But Ike has a girl he likes. I give him two boxes of desserts to give to her. It might make her happy. As for the woman you like, even if I were to give the desserts to beggars, I wouldn't give them to you to please her."

Upon hearing this, any dissatisfaction in Owen's heart disappeared.

So, Ike had a girl he liked.

He had thought Ike and Cecilia were having an affair.