Chapter 425


    "Don''t even think about it."


    Cecilia revved up the engine.


    "The first time I got hitched, there was no proposal, no wedding, just a piece of paper we signed,


    and that was under duress—no fond memories whatsoever. If I''m getting remarried, it''s for keeps,


    and I''m taking it seriously. If you slip up on anything, I won''t be walking down the aisle with you."


    Cecilia’s firm words made Owen at a loss for words.


    If he truly loved her, he couldn''t let her down.


    But they had already confirmed their rtionship. They''d date for now, let the feelings deepen, and


    then tie the knot. There were still months before Christmas. Bringing her home before the holidays


    didn’t seem like a bad idea.


    "Cecilia."


    "Just spit it out."


    Cecilia''s eyes stayed glued to the road ahead, not even ncing in his direction.


    Owen admired her profile, struck by her beauty—a ssic case of profile perfection.


    He was so preupied with looking at her that he found himself swallowing hard. He ached to kiss


    her, and maybe even more—to sweep her up in his arms and make her his in every way possible.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    "What is it you want to say?"


    Cecilia turned to give him a brief look before focusing back on the road.


    Owen snapped back to reality, blurting out, "Cecilia, you''re stunning! You match my dashing good


    looks. We''re like a match made in heaven, a picture-perfect couple. With our genes, our kids are


    gonna be cute as buttons.


    "Cecilia, I''m a bit greedy, I admit that. How about we go for a whole ser team''s worth of kids?"


    Little did he know on a future day in the delivery room, he’d be so traumatized that he’d swear off


    having a second child.


    "Owen, I get it, you''re thick-skinned and love to toot your own horn. But let''s not get ahead of


    ourselves. We''ve just started dating, and you''re already thinking about having kids? What if, in the


    end, you end up marrying someone else?"


    Ruby had turned herself in, and her sentence wouldn’t likely be long. Once she was released, she


    would certainly stir up trouble again.


    And Megan had coaxed Olina back into her good graces. Although Olina couldn''t dictate Owen''s


    marital choices, she was his mother. With her meddling, who could guarantee there wouldn’t be a


    rekindling between Owen and Ruby?


    Of course, Cecilia could also remarry into the Martinez family before Ruby''s release.


    "Unless you marry someone else, my wife will definitely be you. Cecilia, I''ve got a business dinner


    tonight, would you apany me?"


    "I’m no expert in your business dealings, so I won''t be much help there."


    Owenughed, "I don''t need your help. Just being there is enough for me."


    "Since Lucinda''sing over to mind the store, and you''re free, why don’t youe with me to the


    dinner? Lucinda always apanies Stefan. You’ve never apanied me before."


    Cecilia couldn''t help but smile, "Don''t alwayspare yourself to Mr. Coleman."


    It seemed like Owenpared everything to Stefan.


    Owen pursed his lips, saying, "I can''t help it. Ever since I met him, I''ve always beenparing


    myself to him subconsiously. It''s been over two decades, and I can''t break the habit. Otherwise,


    how would do you think we have be such arch enemies?"


    Cecilia wanted to point out that they were not “arch enemies” now.


    But she swallowed her words.


    The two men might not be best friends because of her and Lucy, but the tension between


    them was easing for sure.


    If Ruby knew the enmity between Owen and Stefan was fading, she''d probably go green with envy.


    She had tried so hard to ease their rivalry, to no avail.


    Cecilia and Lucinda, however, seemed to do it effortlessly.


    "We''ll see. If I''m free tonight, I''ll join you. But just so you know, I can''t drink much. I’m a lightweight;


    I’ll get embarrassingly silly when I''m drunk."


    When drunk, Cecilia tended to find Owen irresistibly attractive. She''d get handsy, and maybe even


    do something she''d regret when sober.


    Owen, hear she might do something embarrassing when drunk, quickly assured her, "Don''t worry, I


    won''t let anyone ply you with drinks. no one will get you drunk once they know you''re with me."


    If only he knew what Cecilia was like when she was drunk, he''d regret offering such assurances


    now.


    "Cecilia, your shop''s booming, and you''re expanding. You, the waitress, and Basil can''t handle it all.


    Hire more staff and promote the waitress to manager. She''s been with you and Lucinda the longest


    and has a knack for management. She won''t let you down.


    "That way, both you and Lucinda can rx a bit, just wait for the money to roll in. You''ll also have


    more time to spend with me. You''re going to be thedy of the Martinez family and will need to


    attend many high society gatherings. It''s a good chance to get your bearings."


    Since Owen had fallen for Cecilia, he didn''t care about her background; he was paving the way for


    her.


    But climbing the socialdder required learning the ropes. To prevent Cecilia from feeling out of


    ce or facing ridicule, he wanted to use these business engagements as a learning opportunity for


    her to eventually fit in.


    Lucinda had an easier time. Though raised in the Moore family, being the heiress to the Blue family


    of Skywatch and the futuredy of the Anderson family, people wouldn''t dare belittle her.


    For Cecilia, it was going to be an uphill battle.


    After mulling it over, Cecilia replied, "I''ll talk it over with Lucyter."


    The pressure felt immense, and she was close to bailing.


    But she had resolved to be strong, to be a match for Owen. She couldn''t back down now.


    There’s nothing to fear about socializing. She''d learn.


    As they chatted, they arrived at the Pinehurst Hotel.


    Seeing the grand hotel, Cecilia couldn''t help but recall their blind date there, chuckling, "Mr.


    Malicious, remember our blind date here?"


    Owen had long since run out of energy to protest the nickname "Mr. Malicious" that she seemed so


    fond of using.


    It was her special name for him, after all.


    With that thought, for the first time, Owen peacefully embraced the moniker "Mr. Malicious."


    "I remember," he said, "you looked a fright that night, with makeup caked on so thick it was a horror


    show. And you''d eaten so much garlic, your breath could''ve knocked a person out cold. It''s a good


    thing I''ve got the patience of a saint; anyone else would''ve been sick right on the spot."


    "Oh, please," she shot back, "as if you were any prize yourself. You were rough around the edges,


    had smeared shoe polish all over your skin, and those roses you brought were drooping so sadly.


    Heaven knows how many times you manhandled them."


    They exchanged a knowing smile.


    Stepping out of the car, Owen took Cecilia''s hand in his.


    Standing at the entrance of his family''s grand hotel, he turned to Cecilia and said, "It must be fate


    that we''ve ended up here. With such a disastrous blind date, yet here we are, unable to forget it."


    Cecilia wanted to hurl back, but she held her tongue, allowing him to lead her hand-in-hand into the


    hotel.