Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 17

Stefan had just got off the car when he was suddenly punched by Ike out of nowhere, but he didn’t lose his cool. He grabbed the hand Ike used to yank his collar and said in a low voice, “Ike, can you let go?”

Lucinda rushed over, pulling Ike away, “Ike, is this how you treat guests? It's Stefan's first time at our place, he's been on the road for so long, hasn't even stepped foot in the door and you've already punched him. Do you hate him that much?”

Ike said, “...Lucinda, you're defending him so much. What has Stefan done to you that you'd even marry him? Do you really know him? Do you know his past?”

His own sister was marrying his college buddy.

Ike felt very uncomfortable. “We've known each other for eleven years, how could I not know him? Plus, he was your classmate, right? What secrets could he have?”

Ike said, “...You've grown up, you're all grown up. Why have you become so stubborn?”

Lucinda went silent.

Her brother's reaction was a bit over the top.

In the past, Ike and Stefan were on good terms. Every time school was out, they'd go home together.

“Ike!”

Lucinda's mom, Fiona, also came out.

With her booming voice, Ike involuntarily cringed, but still managed to shoot Stefan a nasty look before turning around to go inside.

Following Fiona was Vincent, Lucinda's dad.

Fiona turned to Stefan.

She hadn’t seen Stefan since he graduated from university.

After a few years, meeting again, the once shy and polite boy had suddenly become her son-in-law.

Fiona took a good look at Stefan.

Then, she put on a polite smile and said to Stefan, “Stefan, long time no see, you must be tired from the long ride. Come inside and rest.”

She nudged her husband subtly, signaling him to lead Stefan inside.

“Mom, Dad, sorry to bother you so late.”

As soon as Stefan spoke, he directly addressed Lucinda's parents as mom and dad, catching everyone off guard.

Vincent furrowed his eyebrows, not saying a word.

Fiona was taken aback for a second and then laughed, “I'm the one who called you guys back, no need to apologize.”

Seeing Stefan unload many gifts from the car, Fiona said, “Why did you bring so much stuff, it's not necessary, we're not short of anything.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Lucinda chimed in, “Mom, you always say we're not short of anything except a son-in-law or daughter-in-law. Now I've brought you a son-in-law, we're just short of a daughter-in-law.”

Fiona gave her a stern look.

Lucinda cheekily stuck out her tongue.

Vincent stepped forward to help Stefan with the stuff.

They went inside first.

Lucinda was held back by her mother.

“Mom, what's up?”

Lucinda pretended to be clueless.

“You dare to ask, did you really register to marry Stefan?”

“Didn't Ike already tell you guys? Would I trick you?”

Fiona was stunned.

Although she kept pushing her daughter to get married, she didn't expect her to get married at such a fast pace.

"Mom, look, Stefan is far better than those so-called high-quality men you arranged for me. He's the real deal." Lucinda bragged about her good taste.

"You and Stefan were classmates in college, and you've known him for a long time. But you guys didn't interact privately, do you know him?"

Lucinda said, "Stefan works at Ascend Global and lived in Diamond Ridge Estates before we got married. The rent there is crazy high. He must have a good salary to afford it. Ascend Global is the biggest corporation in Pinehurst, involved in all sorts of industries, a huge and profitable company."

"I bet his position is not low, his family is very open-minded, not like my mom always nagging me about getting married. I'm really envious of him." And with that, Fiona gave her a light smack on the head.

Fiona said unhappily, "Women age fast. I just want you to find a better man while you're still young and beautiful. What's wrong with that?"

"Stefan works at Ascend Global and can afford to live in Diamond Ridge Estates. Looks like he's quite eligible. By the way, where does his family live? How many are there in his family?"

Lucinda was taken aback by the question.

She only thought about how Stefan would answer her mom's questions and forgot her mom would also ask her.

"They also live in Pinehurst. He’s living with his parents and grandparents."

Lucinda's dismissive answer left Fiona unsatisfied.

"Mom, let's go inside. We can't keep Stefan waiting for too long. It's not polite."

Worried that Fiona would keep asking, Lucinda quickly grabbed her hand and led her inside.

Inside, Stefan was sitting on a single sofa, facing four people sitting on the couch.

All eyes were on Stefan.

The coffee table was empty, not even a glass of water.

"Ike, why didn't you get Stefan a glass of water?"

Lucinda started complaining about her brother as soon as she entered.

She naturally sat next to Stefan. Stefan immediately made room for her.

To make the act more convincing, Lucinda sat next to Stefan. The couple squeezed onto the single- seater sofa.

The Moore family was infuriated by the scene.

Their sweet daughter, so easily won over by someone like Stefan.

"Ike, go make some tea for Stefan and bring some fruit."

Despite the questions in her mind, Fiona knew how to be a gracious host.

After all, this was their son-in-law.

Even if they weren't happy about it, there was nothing they could do. They were already married. What else could they do?

Fiona was at her wit's end, constantly nagging her daughter to get hitched, but her daughter kept striking out in the dating game.

She thought Lucinda would never get over George, but lo and behold, Lucinda got hitched at lightning speed out of the blue.

Fiona was pretty sure Lucinda got married in a flash. Aside from George, Lucinda didn't have any other male friends. Fiona was pretty bummed out thinking her beautiful, top-notch daughter didn't have any guys chasing after her.

What on earth are these guys looking at!

"Alright then."

Fiona gave the orders and Ike didn't dare to disobey.

He grudgingly went to brew some tea and cut up some fruit.

"Lucinda, you lend a hand as well."

Fiona wanted to split them up so she could get the lowdown on this guy named Stefan, oh, her "son-in-law".

Lucinda subtly nudged Stefan's thigh, and Stefan subtly nudged her back.

They both understood what the other meant.

Lucinda stood up and left.

"Stefan."

Fiona cut to the chase and asked straight up, "Did Lucinda rope you in to play the role of her husband, just to get me off her back about getting married?"

Earlier, when she asked her daughter where Stefan's family lived, how many people were in his family, her daughter couldn't answer.

Fiona began to suspect that their marriage was just a show for her.