Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 148

"Have a seat."

Owen ushered Stefan towards the couch.

After taking a good look around Owen's office, Stefan finally took a seat on the couch.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"No need to fuss. I'm just here for a quick chat and to drop something off."

As Owen poured a glass of water for Stefan, he said, "You're my guest. If I didn't even offer you a drink, I can't imagine what kind of things you'll say about me out there."

"When did I ever badmouth you?"

Owen was left speechless.

They had no deep-seated grudges, just fierce competition in the business world.

Stefan was more of a gentleman than he was. He might say a few bad things about Stefan, but Stefan never spoke ill of him.

"What did you want to tell me?"

Owen got back to the matter at hand.

He's curious, wondering what Stefan wanted to tell him.

Seeing his intrigued look, Stefan can't help but chuckle. "Don't get your hopes up. Relax, I'm not here to confess my love for you." Owen was thankful he wasn't drinking water, or he might have choked.

"Stefan, can you be serious? You're freaking me out."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Again, Owen was left speechless.

Stefan picked up the glass of water with his slender hand, brought it to his lips with grace, and took a couple of leisurely sips.

Then he just held the glass, looking at Owen with his deep eyes.

Owen felt uneasy under his gaze.

But he just stared and didn't say anything. Owen can't help but blurt out, "Stefan, if you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to call your wife and tell her you're into me."

"Owen, you're actually quite handsome, not inferior to me. What do you say? Have you ever thought about being gay?"

As soon as he finished, Owen leaped up and took cover behind the couch.

"Stefan, have you lost your mind? What are you talking about? You're married, and you're into me? You're bisexual! Ruby has loved you for so many years, and you've never reciprocated. Is it because of me? Oh my God!"

"Am I Ruby's biggest rival? Would Ruby want to kill me if she found out? If she wanted me dead, should I die or not?"

Stefan burst into laughter.

Owen was lost for words.

Laughing, Stefan said, "If Ruby asks you to die, I guess you're toast. Better die early; with you out of the way, I'll have no competition. I can live happily ever after with my wife. Don't worry, every year on your anniversary, I'll take my wife and kids to mourn for you. Thanks for dying early."

Owen looked left and right, trying to replace something to hit Stefan with.

Unfortunately, he found nothing suitable.

Should he take off a shoe and throw it at him?

Stefan put down the glass and stood up. He walked over, grabbed Owen by the collar, and dragged him out from behind the couch. He even straightened Owen's clothes, saying, "The outfit you're wearing today is hideous. Looks like a suit. Are you celebrating something?"

Owen immediately shrugged him off.

Then he quickly took off his top. He didn't know why he wore this suit-like top.

Indeed, there was a happy event today. Owen had been single for twenty-nine years and finally had a companion. For the sake of social status and wealth, he gave up his wife's position to Cecilia. Thinking about this, Owen felt very down.

Seeing his rival's interested eyes, Owen immediately crossed his arms and yelled at Stefan, "What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a handsome guy before? What I have, you have too." "You undress in front of me and then blame me. Even though you said what you have, I have too; there are still differences."

"Darn it!"

"Stefan, I've only just seen your true colors today!"

Owen was infuriated by Stefan. "Wait here, I'm going to change."

With that, he went into the resting room.

Before the door was even closed, he heard Stefan's loud laughter.

How infuriating!

He's being mocked by his rival!

Owen cursed Stefan in the resting room, but he moved quickly and soon changed into a suit. When he came out again, he's in a neat suit, looking suave. When he walked over, Stefan took out an envelope and handed it to Owen.

"What's this?"

Raising an eyebrow, Owen asked, "A love letter? Stefan, let me tell you, I don't write love letters. Even if you write me a love letter every day, I won't respond." "You're reading too much into it."

Stefan stuffed the envelope into his hand. "I'm only interested in Lucy. I have no feelings for anyone else."

"Don't show off in front of me. The woman I love most loves you, but you're in love with someone else. And you even get to marry the woman you love. Stefan, you've been superior since we were kids. We're no match for you. You're even luckier in love than we are."

He loved Ruby, but his grandfather forced him to marry Cecilia.

What a pity.

Stefan was always a bit stronger and luckier than him.

"Thanks for your help yesterday."

Finally, Stefan stopped joking and sincerely thanked Owen.

"Did you come here just to thank me?"

Raising an eyebrow, Stefan said, "Yes. Did you think I was dying to see you? If it wasn't for you saving my wife, I wouldn't even bother."

Owen smirked.

Indeed.

They were not exactly friends.

Stefan knew he owed Owen a favor, so he came to thank him in person.

He took the envelope.

Then he heard Stefan say, "Split the money in the envelope. Keep half for yourself and give the other half to your bodyguards. It's my way of saying thanks."

Inside the envelope was a check.

In front of Stefan, Owen took out the check, took a look, and said, "I'm not short on cash. Just give it all to them. Actually, it was Cecilia who asked for my help. Otherwise, I wouldn't care if your wife lived or died."

He continued, "Your wife has found a true friend. In this money-oriented society, a kind friend like Cecilia is very rare.'

Stefan guessed that it was Cecilia who asked Owen for help.

This surprised him.

Everyone in Pinehurst knew about Owen's crush on Ruby. Stefan thought that Ruby was the only girl who could get Owen to lift a finger. Now, he realized, he had put Ruby on too high a pedestal in Owen's heart.