Chapter 434


    Cecilia was stunned.


    Her eyes widened as she gazed at the handsome face inches from hers.


    Owen quickly withdrew his lips and whispered tenderly in her ear, "Cecilia, close your eyes."


    After a moment of staring into his eyes, she obediently followed his suggestion.


    ted and emboldened by herpliance, Owen covered her lips with his once more.


    Though he had stolen kisses from her before, when she was hardly conscious, not fully aware that


    he kissed her, perhaps believing it was all a dream.


    This time, she was fully awake, and she willingly let him kiss her.


    Owen began with fervor, almost aggressively in his kisses. But soon he tempered his passion with


    gentleness, fearing he mighte off too strong and leaving an impression akin to a starving ghost.


    Heaven knows, pushing thirty and still a virgin, Owen was knowledgeable about the matters of men


    and women, but sorelycking in hands-on experience.


    When the deep kiss ended, Cecilia immediately pushed him away.


    Though Owen yearned for another, she had already rebuffed him.


    "Cecilia."


    His voice was husky, tinged with unsated desire.


    "Still got that schmoozing to do? If so, better get going."


    After shooting him a yful re, Cecilia looked away nonchntly, "Let''s head out." She didn''t


    wait for his response and began to pull him towards the exit.


    Despite his disappointment at not getting a second round, Owen''s spirits lifted. They had made


    progress, after all. He could now kiss the girl he fancied like any normal couple.


    Lucy''s eyes darted over Cecilia as the two emerged hand in hand.


    Feeling guilty, Cecilia couldn''t help but speak to her friend, "Lucy, why are staring at me? It''s not like


    we did anything."


    Lucy, worldly as she was, let her gaze settle on her friend''s lips and replied with a sly smile, "I didn''t


    say you did anything. Unless you did? All this rushing to exin gives off a ''protesting too much''


    vibe."


    "Of course not, you’re overthinking it."


    Cecilia''s cheeks flushed.


    It was just a kiss, after all. Why should she blush?


    But her uncontroble blush was obvious to everyone aside. Even the unmarried waitress couldn''t


    help but smile with a hint of innuendo in her eyes.


    Cecilia was at a loss of words


    She was only digging herself deeper.


    "Lucy, I''m going to take Cecilia out. I''ll drop her back after I''m done with my obligations. Bye."


    Owen spoke in calm as if truly nothing had happened between he and Cecilia.


    But Lucy could tell from the slight upturn of his lips that he was on cloud nine, practically ready to


    dance with joy.


    "Mr. Martinez, just make sure Cecilia doesn’t drink too much. You know she can''t hold her liquor."


    Lucy couldn''t resist adding that.


    Owen''s eyes sparkled.


    Cecilia had mentioned her low tolerance for alcohol, and Lucy''s emphasis made him curious about


    how she might act drunk.


    Despite his curiosity, he reassured, "Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of her."


    After nodding to Lucy, he led Cecilia out, pausing before his mother to say, "Mom, tonight''s an


    exception. I''ve got an important client meeting. Dad will be here to pick you up soon."


    Once he finished, Cecilia also addressed Olina, "Olina, whether you like me or not, I need to make it


    clear—Owen and Ruby are history. I don’t care about his past, as long as he likes me now and in


    the future."


    "You don’t have to like me, but please respect Owen''s choice. He''s an adult with his own mind, and


    he knows what he wants."


    "Don''t impose what you think is best on him without asking if he even wants it. Of course, I still hope


    that one day you''ll ept me. I’ll prove through my actions that Owen''s choice to be with me is


    right."


    Olina remained silent, her face taut with emotions.


    Owen watched his mother for a moment. Then, without any more words, he pulled Cecilia away.


    Olina opened her mouth as if to call out to them, but no sound came. She could only watch


    helplessly as they left together.


    They did, admittedly, make a handsome couple.


    Objectively, Cecilia wasn''t so bad. Though the Yates family wasn''t as wealthy as the Martinez


    family, they were an honest bunch, all striving to live honorably, not the sort to social climb. And if


    social climbing was the goal, Lucy was there—a high enough branch for anyone. Why would she


    need totch onto the Martinez family?


    Their marriage, after all, was coerced by the old man in the first ce.


    Cecilia had married Owen to repay a debt of gratitude. Afterward, she had kept their secret as


    promised and never revealed her status as thedy of the Martinez family.


    Olina wasn''t privy to the details of her son''s rtionship with Cecilia, but she knew it was Owen who


    couldn''t resist revealing their marital status.


    It wasn''t until Owen''s car disappeared from sight that Olina finally retracted her gaze. After a


    moment''s silence, she moved back to a table in the café and sat down.


    The waitress looked to Lucy for guidance.


    Lucy turned and brought out an assortment of pastries, arranging them on a delicate te and


    presented them to Olina.


    "Mrs. Martinez, waiting for your husband? Why not try some of our pastries? You''ve been here twice


    and haven''t really had a chance to enjoy our treats and coffee."


    Olina eyed Lucy for a moment before saying, "Thank you."


    "No need for thanks. I do charge for these," Lucy quipped.


    Olina was speechless.


    She looked at the te of pastries and finally reached out to try one, putting it to her lips.


    After tasting one, she couldn''t resist another.


    The pastries were excellent, rivaling even the Martinez family’s own pastry chef.


    "How much of a stake does Cecilia hold in this shop?" Olina suddenly inquired.


    Lucy pondered for a moment before replying, "These days, I barely have the time to manage the


    shop. It''s mostly Cecilia who''s in charge. I wanted to hand over my shares to her and make it all


    hers. But she''s one hell of a loyal friend, not the greedy type. She insists that we built this ce


    together and she would not take my shares."


    "Even though I was more than willing to step back, she wouldn''t have it. After much persuasion, she


    agreed to take a sixty percent stake, leaving me with forty. Our little diner is thriving, and we''re


    gearing up to expand. There''s even talk of opening more branches down the line."


    "After Liam''s wedding, I''ll be back to Skywatch. I won''t be returning to Pinehurst anytime soon, so


    Serendipity Cafe will remain in Cecilia''s capable hands. I trust her to take it from strength to


    strength, to soaring new heights."


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Olina might not have been the sharpest tool in the shed, but she grasped what Lucy was getting at.


    Once Lucy returned to Skywatch, Serendity Cafe would essentially be of Cecilia''s ownership.