Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 6

"Lucinda."

As Lucinda entered the coffee shop, her business partner and friend, Cecilia Yates, came up to greet her, pointing to the man sitting at the corner table and whispering, "Your ex-boyfriend is here, and he's been waiting for a while."

Ex-boyfriend?

Lucinda looked over, and sure enough, it was her ex-boyfriend George Mitchell, with whom she had been together for four years before he left her for a rich girl.

"What's he doing here?" Lucinda murmured.

They had broken up half a year ago, and she was slowly emerging from the shadow of that split, but that didn't mean she wanted to see George.

Cecilia frowned, "I dunno why he's here. He asked for a glass of water when he came in and has been sitting there like a statue."

Cecilia and Lucinda were friends, and she had witnessed the entire relationship between Lucinda and George. She had no respect for men like George, who dumped their girlfriends for their careers.

When they broke up, Lucinda was devastated, barely speaking, which worried Cecilia and made her resent George.

"He's a customer, so you should treat him well. But remember, we're charging him for that water."

Half a year later, Lucinda was able to remain calm upon seeing George.

As Cecilia had once comforted her, "If someone else can take him away, he's not for you from the beginning. It's better to see his true colors before marriage than being betrayed after tying the knot."

Cecilia chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to charge him."

Lucinda took a stride, heading into the store.

"Lucy."

George noticed Lucinda and immediately stood up, calling her affectionately as he used to.

Stefan, who had followed Lucinda into the shop, just heard George's affectionate call for his wife, "Lucy".

His eyes suddenly turned icy cold.

George's eyes were only on Lucinda, and seeing her ignoring him, he quickly got up and headed towards Lucinda.

"Lucy, can we talk?"

George tried to grab Lucinda's hand, but she dodged him.

"Lucy," George said, his face full of plea, "It's been a long time. We should catch up."

Lucinda had matured and become more charming over the half year since they last met.

George, deep down, was reluctant to break up with Lucinda. After all, they had been together for four years and had a solid emotional foundation.

However, both he and Lucinda came from average families. After suffering in the workplace for a few years, he resolved to be successful no matter what.

As it happened, his boss's niece fell for him and insisted on marrying him.

The niece's parents were both deceased, but her aunt and uncle treated her like their own daughter, even giving her shares in the company.

How could George resist such a woman? As soon as he secured a relationship with her, he left Lucinda.

Now, his position in the company was rising, and those who once oppressed him now had to respect him, all thanks to his new girlfriend.

"I have nothing to say to you, Mr. Mitchell."

"Lucinda, are you still angry with me? I know I treated you poorly. I want to apologize."

George apologized with a smile, but Lucinda could not sense his sincerity. Even if he was genuinely sorry, she had no intention of accepting his apology.

"Mr. Mitchell, I barely know you. Please stop calling me Lucy," Lucinda said, preparing to leave.

George quickly reached out and grabbed her arm.

This time, Lucinda did not dodge his hand in time and was caught by him.

Then, a large hand came over, grabbed George's hand that was holding Lucinda. Perhaps the grip was strong, Lucinda noticed George's face change, and then he let go of her.

Stefan stood beside Lucinda, he was tall and towered over George. Although his handsome face showed no sign of anger, his deep gaze on George sent a chill down George's spine.

"Who are you? Mind your own business!" George tried to pull his hand free but couldn't. He tugged hard but still couldn't succeed, his face turning red from the effort.

Stefan looked at him with disgust. When George tried to pull his hand free again, Stefan let go.

George lost balance from the sudden release, stumbled backwards, hit a table and hurt his waist, causing him to gasp in pain.

George quickly steadied himself by holding on to the table, then stood up straight, adjusted his expensive suit, straightened his tie, and glared at Stefan, "Who the hell are you? I'm talking to my girlfriend, why are you butting in?"

Stefan glanced at Lucinda, then back at George, a smirk playing on his lips, "Your girlfriend? Sorry to break it to you, but she's my wife."

George was dumbstruck.

Lucinda thought to herself: Stefan is quite the actor.

George looked at Lucinda in disbelief, pointing at Stefan, questioning Lucinda, "Lucinda, is what he's saying true? I thought all your blind dates failed because you're still in love with me!”

George swung by today because he heard Lucinda had been on a bunch of blind dates with zero luck. He figured Lucinda was still hung up on him. Now that he's loaded and has some social status, and he thought he could make Lucinda his side chick to make up for the fact his current girlfriend is not as pretty as Lucinda.

Stefan took two steps forward and grabbed George's tie, yanking him closer. His words were filled with a warning, "Mr. Mitchell, let me say it one more time, Lucinda isn't someone you can just have when you like. She's my wife, and the only guy who gets to call her Lucy is me!"

Lucinda felt like applauding. Stefan was killing it! Hiring him to play her husband was a brilliant idea. Not only did it shut her mum up, but it also humiliated George.

But, hearing Stefan call her "wife"... it made her feel a bit uneasy.

They only just got married and she was still adjusting to it.

"Do you know why my Lucy didn't hit it off with any of her blind dates?"

Stefan turned to Lucinda, flashing her a gentle smile. Lucinda's heart skipped a beat, Stefan's smile was becoming more and more irresistible.

When he faced George again, Stefan still wore that smile, his voice as calm as ever, as if the guy who just threatened George wasn't him. He said, "Because Lucy was waiting for me, that's why none of her blind dates worked out."

George was left speechless.

Lucinda wondered to herself, was that a love confession? Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Cecilia, on the other hand, was excited to watch the show.

George took a moment to find his voice, then snapped at Stefan, "Besides your pretty face, what else can you offer Lucinda?"