Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 71

"Stefan, are your folks retired?" Fiona casually asked, but in reality, she just wanted to get some information about her prospective in-laws to be prepared for the meeting between both sets of parents. Lucy and Stefan had already signed the marriage papers, but they still hadn't met Stefan's folks, which was not cool at all. They needed to sit down and hash out the wedding.

"My dad's retired, and my mom's never had a job. Dad's now at home tending to his flower field, selling the blooms to florists for some pocket money now and then. Mum's still the same, hanging out with her friends, shopping, traveling and all that jazz. All in all, they're having a blast in their golden years."

Fiona got the picture.

"Your dad's in the flower biz."

"You could say that. But he's always been a flower buff, and now that he's retired, he has all the time in the world to tend to his flower field."

"We have a ton of fruit trees and fields at our place too."

Fiona got the drift. She figured Stefan's folks were country folk like them. In her view, only farmers would engage in cultivating fields.

After getting the scoop on Stefan's family, Fiona nudged Stefan to get back to the cafe and lend Lucinda a hand.

"Mom, I'll head to the cafe now."

"Alright."

With his mother-in-law's watchful eyes on him, Stefan left their rented abode.

Once downstairs, he whipped out his phone and gave Ike a ring.

"What do you want?" Ike answered, sounding a bit miffed.

Stefan chuckled, "Come on Ike, we've known each other for eleven years. Just because I'm wooing your sister doesn't mean you have to give me the cold shoulder." "You've got the nerve to bring up how long we've known each other. You sly dog, you've had your eye on my sister for ages. How old was Lucy when you fell for her? Thirteen!" "I didn't confess my feelings to Lucy back then."

Ike was miffed and quickly retorted, "Whatever. Just thinking about it gets my goat. If you've got something to say, spit it out. I've got stuff to do."

"Dinner's on me tonight. Same place, Ascend Hotel."

"No way, I'd just end up third-wheeling you lovebirds. I can't stomach that."

Stefan had a good laugh, "Are you jealous?"

Ike grunted in response.

"Mom's here."

"Your mom or my mom?"

"Your mom is now my mom." But his mom would never be Ike's mom. He definitely got the better end of the deal.

Stefan was feeling pretty chuffed.

"My mom's here? What's she doing here?"

Ike was taken aback by the news of his mother's arrival, but he figured it made sense.

When Lucinda took Stefan home to meet the folks, even though Stefan had shown them the marriage papers, his parents were still a bit sceptical. His mom was probably here to get to the bottom of things. "I think my mom suspects that Lucy and I are faking it, hence her sudden visit."

Ike kept mum. Stefan's guess was on the money.

"Lucy was just playing along with you, but then you crafty fox turned it into something real."

Stefan took the jab in stride, and laughed it off, "Lucy has accepted me. After all, we've known each other for eleven years and I'm pretty awesome, so it wasn't hard to win her over."

Ike retorted in a huff, "Yeah, you're awesome. Does your mom know how awesome you are?"

The jerk who was with his sister was indeed pretty awesome. He was the heir to the Anderson family, the president of Ascend Global. Whether it was looks, talent or skills, he was second to none. "My mom's always been proud of me."

Stefan was as confident as he was conceited.

Ike: "...I'll drop by after work."

And with that, he hung up the phone, afraid he'd blow a gasket if he continued talking to Stefan.

After giving Ike the heads-up, Stefan called Eric and asked him to prepare dinner for Lucinda's mom according to the lunch menu.

Eric asked him, "Since Lucinda's mom is here, don't you think you should inform your folks to meet her?"

Stefan paused for a moment, "I'll discuss it with Lucinda first before making any decisions. Mainly because I don't want to freak out Lucinda's mom."

At the moment, Lucinda's mom thought his family were humble farmers.

Eric acknowledged and they ended the call.

Stefan heaved a sigh. Indeed, one lie led to another. And when he can't spin anymore yarns, the truth would have to come out.

Ike and his sister already knew his true identity. And he couldn't keep up the charade with Lucinda's mom forever.

On his way back to the store, Stefan took a moment to arrange for someone to check up on Cecilia.

The Serendipity Cafe was emptying out as many of the customers had finished their coffee and settled the bill. When Stefan returned to the store, it was much less crowded. "Is mom resting?"

Lucinda asked after clearing several tables.

"I told her to take a break."

Stefan took the cloth from her intending to help her clear the rest of the tables. He took a few steps, then turned back and looked at her.

"Is there something you want to say?"

Stefan nodded.

Lucinda smiled, straightening his collar, "Go ahead, I'm all ears."

"I told her we're having dinner at Ascend Hotel tonight and invited Ike. I'd like to invite my grandparents and parents too. Our families have to meet at some point, right? What do you think?" Lucinda's smile vanished in an instant. She asked him quietly, "Did you come clean with my mom?"

Wouldn't that freak her mom out?

Stefan gave a rueful shake of his head, "Not yet."

She herself had been quite taken aback by the truth back then.

Seeing his headache-stricken face, Lucinda immediately blurted out, "It's all your fault! You had to go fooling us, and now you're getting a headache, huh? That's what you get for lying."

No sooner had she spoken than she received a flick on the forehead. Rubbing the spot he had flicked, her lips slightly pouting, was she wrong?

"Honey, you should say I'm low-profile, not that I lied to you."

"Low-profile? After knowing you for eleven years, you're still pulling the 'low-profile' card? You're just fooling people."

Stefan grinned indulgently, "Alright, alright, I lied. So, honey, should I confess?"

"That's your problem. I've never lied to anyone."

Lucinda turned away satisfactorily and left. She handed this vexing problem back to him, letting him figure it out on his own. Anyway, it was him who was troubled by it, not her. She didn't deceive anyone. "Bzzz, Bzzz..."

Lucinda's phone vibrated. It was a notification from the bank.

She quickly pulled out her phone to check. Turned out, her manuscript fee had been credited. Looking at the credited amount, Lucinda immediately transferred $500 to Stefan, and turned to him, "This is your rent. Please check. I'm transparent in my dealings, I walk the talk, unlike you who can only deceive others. You're such a dishonest businessman. One should never judge a book by its cover, otherwise, they'll be badly fooled."

She initially thought he was a gentleman based on his demeanor and presumed him to be a good man, hence she boldly rented him as her "husband". But he turned out to be nothing like what she had imagined.

She was now trapped in his world, with no way out for the rest of her life.