Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 463

The incessant trilling of her phone cut through the silence, and Cecilia hastily pushed Owen away to fish the device out of her pocket. Glancing at the caller ID, she informed him with a half-smile, "It's my mom."

Owen's interest piqued at the mention of his potential mother-in-law, signaling for Cecilia to answer while his ears practically perked up in anticipation, curious about the impending conversation. "Hey, Mom."

"Cecilia, Owen's parents have just dropped by with an armful of gifts. They're being super sweet, talking about wanting to officially ask for your hand on Owen's behalf. Imagine that!"

Cecilia's eyes darted toward Owen, annoyance mixed with surprise. He had kept this monumental development completely under wraps.

Owen, with his heightened senses, overheard the booming voice on the other end of the line. This was news to him too. He hadn't expected his parents to show up on the Yates' doorstep bearing gifts or proposing marriage on his behalf. What had gotten into them?

"I had no clue," Owen whispered, leaning close to Cecilia.

Cecilia's eyes twinkled as she calmly asked her mother, "Did you agree?"

"How could I possibly say yes without talking to you first? Your dad and brother are on their way home, and even Grandpa is here. Do you want to come over?"

With a playful pinch to Owen's arm, Cecilia heard his hushed plea, "Honestly, Cecilia, I was in the dark about this."

Owen was starting to piece things together. His grandparents must have said something after he and Cecilia left last night, spurring his parents into action.

"Mom, are you actually considering Owen as your son-in-law?"

Owen leaned in even closer, eager to gauge his mother-in-law's current opinion of him.

After a moment of silence, Becca confessed from the other end, "Honestly, Cecilia, I think Owen's a decent guy. He may come from a wealthy family, but he's shown he'd throw his pride out the window for you, and that means he's serious. Sure, he had a thing for Ms. Scott, but that's history. Everyone has a past. As long as he's committed to you from here on out, I trust you with him."

"The real issue is the gap between our families. Marriage isn't just about the couple; it's about blending two families. If we can't get along, you two will be stuck in an awkward spot."

"We know where we stand financially. We're not poor, but we're nowhere near the Martinez league. If we become in-laws, mingling with their crowd, it's not going to be easy for us. Even if you hit the jackpot tomorrow, we'd still be new money without their kind of heritage. And let's not forget Owen's mother, who looked down on us, trying to break you and Owen up. You've finally broken free, and now you might be diving back into the lion's den. Be prepared."

"Mother-in-law troubles are as old as time. If you decide to marry Owen, you'll have to try and bridge that gap. Not suck up to Owen's mother, but treat her with genuine kindness. People respond to heartfelt gestures. If she still doesn't come around, and you want a life with Owen, you'll have to keep your distance."

Becca unloaded a torrent of advice before concluding, "The bottom line, Cecilia, is you have to be strong. Elevate yourself, and maybe Owen's mother'll truly accept you. A woman's gotta be her own hero." "Mom, I get it. So, you and Dad aren't keen on saying yes right now?"

"Your brother thinks there's a catch. That this proposal is sugar-coated. We're not inclined to agree."

Cecilia had expected as much; she wasn't eager to agree either. Who knew what Owen's mother was plotting?

"Then I won't come over. I'll remember what you said, Mom."

Owen was dying to snatch the phone and speak to Becca himself. Unfortunately, Cecilia ended the call with a firm decision to stay put.

"Cecilia," Owen called softly, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "Don't you want to marry me?"

Stowing her phone away, Cecilia shot him a challenging look. "Your parents show up unannounced, and you claim ignorance. It reeks of compulsion, not sincerity. Besides, I'm not in a rush." She'd have been open to a heartfelt proposal, but this wasn't it.

"And you still have a lot to prove."

"Like what?"

With a pat on his shoulder and a teasing smile, she said, "You figure it out. Now scoot, don't you have work?"

"By now, the meeting's probably over," Owen glanced at the clock, "and it's almost time to wrap up for the day anyway. I guess I'll head off early. I need to catch up with Stefan." "Mr. Coleman? What for?"

"To join forces."

"It's hard to tell if you two are archenemies or best buds."

Cecilia laughed, "I've never seen rivals like you two."

Owen's gaze intensified as he replied meaningfully, "For someone special, I'm willing to turn an enemy into an ally."

He still harbored hopes of uniting

their families, either by marrying into the Andersons or welcoming one of them into his own. Yet, the question remained-could Stefan even have a daughter, given his family's history of male dominance?

Stefan would retort that it was up to his wife, not him, to which Owen could only silently agree.

Cecilia laughed and wrapped him in

a warm hug before nudging him towards the door. "Better hurry and catch MColeman before he clocks out. If Lucy's there and you barge in, you'll be the third wheel. Watch out, or Mr. Coleman might just give you a piece of his mind."

"Cecilia, you don't love me at all," Owen complained as he allowed himself to be ushered out.

"I rush over here, all hot and bothered, not thinking straight, and the minute things wrap up, you're shooing me away."

Cecilia couldn't help but grin at his dramatics. "You're the one who said you needed to see Mr. Coleman. Get it over with and come back for dinner. I'll whip up some of your favorite comfort food."

That seemed to lift Owen's spirits a bit.

"Cecilia, how about a kiss for luck?" he implored.

She playfully aimed a kick in his direction instead.

Owen dodged with a laugh.

Cecilia said, "Keep dawdling and I'll cancel dinner. You can dine out at a hotel instead, you shameless flirt. And as for kissing, not here in the middle of Main Street with everyone watching. I'm not about to give a free show of my kissing skills."

Kissing on the street was too embarrassing for her.