Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 182

Ascend Hotel.

During mealtime, Lucinda naturally took a seat next to her mother.

Then Keith and Ike swooped in and sat on either side of them, successfully isolating Stefan from Lucinda.

Stefan paused for a moment, then took a seat across from Lucinda.

It didn't take Lucinda's two brothers long to team up.

Cecilia didn't think much of it. She just pulled out a chair and sat.

Since Keith and his mom were present, Stefan didn't order in advance, and he passed the task of ordering to Lucinda's brothers.

Keith grabbed the menu without hesitation. His gaze passed over his mother and landed on Lucinda. His usually cold face now wore a gentle expression. "Lucy, what do you fancy?"

Before Lucinda could answer, Stefan had already listed a few of her favorite dishes.

Lucinda's brothers both turned to look at Stefan.

Ike picked up the glass of water in front of him, taking leisurely sips while shooting Stefan sidelong glances.

Stefan chuckled, "I know all about Lucy's likes and dislikes, her hobbies, everything. If you guys have any questions, just ask me."

The water Ike was sipping sprayed out. He started coughing.

Lucinda anxiously patted Ike's back, "Ike, are you okay?"

Turned out, Ike had choked on his drink.

After coughing a few times, he was fine.

He said to Stefan, "Stefan, you're playing favorites. I'm also Lucinda's brother, but I've never heard you call me 'brother.' As soon as the test results came out, you started calling Keith 'bro'." Keith was five years younger than Stefan.

"We're classmates. I can't call you 'brother.""

Stefan said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

What he didn't say was that Ike posed no threat, but Keith was a serious threat. If he didn't get on Keith's good side, Lucinda might be snatched back by the Blue family.

Mentioning their classmate relationship, Ike felt like slamming the table.

Considering Janice was present, Ike held back. He wiped the table himself, not needing any help from the waitstaff. He harshly said, "You have the gall to say we're classmates. You call this being a classmate?"

In school, their relationship was just so-so. At most, they would take the train home together during the four years.

After graduation, they kept in touch, but it was just a friendship among classmates.

But Stefan had his sights set on his sister long ago.

Since he had his eyes on his sister, he didn't try to please him in school.

When he heard from Gabriel Turner that Stefan was married, Ike called Stefan with the intention of booking a spot as best man, just for the drama.

The result was that this man who stole his sister was too cunning and devious.

Ike had asked Stefan about it later. Stefan said he always heard Ike praising his sister, which sparked his curiosity. So he took the train home with Ike, met Lucinda, and couldn't forget about her ever since. Turned out, he unintentionally introduced Lucinda to her admirer.

Ike felt very regretful!

He loved to praise his sister. On one hand, he truly loved his sister, perhaps too much. On the other hand, his friends didn't have sisters. Only he did, so he liked to show off. Stefan gazed at Lucinda intently.

Even though they were already married, when he looked at Lucinda deeply in front of everyone, her face still turned unnaturally red.

"Lucy."

Janice suddenly leaned in close to Lucinda's ear, whispering, "Your husband really loves you. You can tell from the way he looks at you. He is a good man. You have to cherish him."

Lucinda looked at her mother. Janice winked at her.

Lucinda couldn't help but laugh.

When she laughed, Janice also laughed, saying, "Lucy, I really like you. You're like my daughter."

"Can I be your daughter?"

Lucinda hadn't called her 'mom' yet.

She was considering her adoptive parents' feelings.

Keith said they would go to the Moore family tomorrow.

"But we're the same age."

"Mom, you and Lucy aren't the same age. You're 24 years older than Lucy."

Janice asked in surprise, "Am I that old? Lucy said she's 24, so I'm 48?"

"Lucy, do you have a mirror? I want to use it."

Janice couldn't believe she was that old, and she wanted to look in the mirror.

Lucinda didn't have a mirror, so she gave her phone to her mother to use the selfie function.

Even though Janice had been insane for over 20 years, she took care of herself well. She looked like Lucinda's sister.

"I do look a bit older, but I don't look 48. I can't possibly be 48, and I just had a baby not long ago."

Janice kept mumbling to herself.

Lucinda and Keith didn't say anything, letting her come to terms with it herself.

Keith ordered the food. The food came quickly.

Janice must have been hungry. Once the food was served, she stopped fussing over her age.

Even though Stefan was blocked by Lucinda's brothers, he still took care of Lucinda attentively.

Seeing him constantly reaching over to pass dishes to Lucinda and peel shrimp for her, Janice was the first to put down her utensils.

"Stefan."

Janice called him fondly, standing up and saying, "Come, swap seats with me. You sit next to Lucy."

It seemed Lucinda's mother was the most considerate!

No wonder she was her biological mother!

Of course, Lucinda's other mother was also very good to her.

Stefan figured that even though Lucinda's two bros were tough cookies to deal with, her two moms were real sweethearts. What's there to sweat about?

"Thanks, mom."

Stefan happily swapped seats with Janice, all smiled.

Ike and Keith gave him the evil eye. He acted like he didn't see.

As Janice switched seats with Stefan, she chuckled, "Lucy, since Stefan's already calling me mom, you should too, considering you guys are hitched. I might be a spring chicken, but having you two as my daughter and son-in-law makes me feel like I hit the jackpot."

Cecilia was chuckling on the side.

Aside from the age issue and still not being able to recognize Keith, always clutching the doll like it was her own kid, Janice was starting to look more and more like a regular person.

"Alright, thanks, mom," Lucinda replied cheerfully, thrilled to sit next to her hubby.

Being taken care of felt like a sweet deal.

Janice suddenly turned to Ike.

"Ike, look at Stefan and Lucy. Their lovey-dovey vibe is so strong, don't you feel a pang of envy? You should get a move on and replace a girlfriend to end your bachelor days. I haven't been out in a while, so I am not sure if my good friends are all hitched or not. If any of them are still single, I can play matchmaker for you."