Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 171

"I'll take two boxes of desserts to bring back to my office. Whenever I'm feeling hungry, I can have a taste of your handiwork. If they're good, I'll be here every day buying from you. That means one more regula customer for you. That's a win-win, right?"

With that, Cecilia turned around to leave.

In no time, she came back with a beautifully arranged plate of mini cakes.

She set the plate in front of Owen and told him: "Finish these little cakes, and I'll pack up two boxes of desserts for you. Otherwise, forget it."

Owen looked up at her, his eyes deep, and said: "You're just scared I'll waste your desserts, right?"

He quickly pulled a wad of cash from his wallet and laid it on the table. "Here's your money. If I can't finish them and have to throw them away, it's my money I'm wasting, not yours. No need to get all sentimental."

Cecilia took his money but insisted: "Eat first."

Seeing her take his money, Owen put away his wallet, commenting: "You gave Ike two boxes of dessert without charging him a cent, yet you take my money so quickly? And I haven't even seen my desserts yet."

Their relationship was so distant, even though they were husband and wife.

It was only fair she charged Ike, too.

Feeling a sense of injustice, Owen even contemplated asking Ike for the money for the two boxes of desserts.

"Do you think you're on the same level as Ike and me?"

Cecilia retorted unabashedly.

"I'm besties with Lucy. I see Ike as my own brother, and he sees me as his sister. What are you in comparison?"

Owen was left speechless and wanted to tell her he was her husband.

But he held back. He had asked her to keep their marriage a secret.

"How did you come here?"

Cecilia asked nonchalantly, not noticing his reaction.

"Just passed by."

Owen replied truthfully.

Originally, he had no plans of coming but changed his mind when he saw Ike enter.

"Okay."

Seeing him not touching the little cakes, she asked: "Why aren't you trying one?"

"Is it sweet?"

Cecilia's look clearly said, "Isn't that obvious?"

After a moment of hesitation, Owen carefully took a bite of a cake. It was sweet but not overly so. He could handle it.

He slowly finished the cake and asked: "Cecilia, get me a glass of water. No, make it two."

Seeing him looking as if he had just ingested poison, Cecilia muttered under her breath but went to get him a glass of water. He gulped it down in one go and asked for another.

The sweetness in his mouth was finally washed away after two glasses of water, and Owen seemed to regain his spirits.

"Has Ruby ever baked a cake for you?"

Cecilia suddenly asked.

He loved her, so anything she cooked was delicious.

He loved Ruby so much that if she baked a cake for him, he would eat every last crumb.

Owen looked a bit crestfallen.

"Has she never made one for you? Or did she only bake for Mr. Coleman?"

"No, I've had desserts made by Ruby. She knows I don't have a sweet tooth, so her desserts were only slightly sweet, not as sweet as yours."

Cecilia laughed softly. "So she really made desserts for you? Or did she make them for Mr. Coleman, who didn't want them and gave them to you, and you ate them all up like they were precious gems?"

He slammed his hand down on the table.

The loud sound attracted the attention of the renovation workers in the shop and the bodyguards outside the door.

Owen ignored them.

He stared coldly at Cecilia.

In the past, his cold demeanor could scare Cecilia, but now she was not afraid of him.

He was still a man of principle.

He wouldn't hit a woman.

"So I hit the nail on the head, and that's why you're angry?"

"Cecilia, stop mentioning Ruby. I'm not angry. It's you who keeps bringing up Ruby to provoke me. Are you jealous of Ruby?"

Owen stood up, his tall frame looming over Cecilia. He held her chin with one hand, saying coldly: "Remember, don't fall in love with me. I won't love you back. Just stick to your role, and you'll be rewarded. If you want something you shouldn't, be careful, or you might end up with nothing."

Cecilia pushed his hand away.

"You sure love to brag, don't you? Don't worry, I remember every word you've said. I won't make any mistakes. When I mention Ruby, I'm mocking you. Didn't you get that?"

Owen straightened up and said coldly: "From now on, don't mention Ruby in front of me. You're not worthy of mentioning her!"

Cecilia laughed lightly. "You're acting like I'm dying to mention her. Am I not worthy of mentioning her? I feel like mentioning her is a stain on my lips."

If she mentioned Ruby in front of him again, she'll change her last name to her grandfather's!

Owen wanted to give her a piece of his mind, but he just couldn't bring himself to. In the end, he pushed his chair back and stormed off.

"Safe travels, Mr. Martinez."

Owen suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around, and walked back. He grabbed Cecilia by her arm and pushed her against the wall. Only when her back hit the wall did he stop. "Safe travels? You wish I were dead, don't you? If I died, you would,"

Owen leaned close to her ear and whispered coldly: "You'd be a widow."

After he finished speaking, he let go of Cecilia's neck and patted her face.

"If I don't show my anger, you'll think you can walk all over me. Cecilia, stop testing my patience. I'm afraid I might lose control next time and actually strangle you."

After patting Cecilia's face, Owen was about to leave but stopped and reached into Cecilia's pocket.

"Mr. Malicious, what are you doing!"

Cecilia was extremely ticklish.

Owen was trying to get something from her pocket, accidentally brushing against her thigh, and she got ticklish, reacting dramatically.

Owen was taken aback.

He didn't mean to do anything. He was just trying to retrieve the wad of cash he'd just given her from her pocket.

Why did she react so dramatically, as if he were molesting her?

Even when he had choked her neck earlier, she hadn't reacted this much.

"Give me back my money."

With a stern face, Owen said, "I'm not buying your dessert anymore. Give me back my money."

Cecilia: "You just needed to say so, don't touch me."

She pulled a large note from the wad of cash and returned the rest to him.