Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 72

When Stefan received the five hundred bucks rent money from his wife, he didn't refuse it, but accepted it. Soon, he sent her five grand.

And wrote: "Babe, this is your pocket money."

Lucinda: "You're really generous."

He really gave her five grand as pocket money.

Stefan quickly moved to her side, swiftly wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered in her ear, "Darling, this is your pocket money for today. If you can't spend it all, I'll double it for you tomorrow." Lucinda thought it was a monthly allowance. Turned out it was daily.

Did she look like someone who could spend five grand a day? She didn't even make five grand a month.

Stefan seemed to see through her thoughts, gently pinched her face, and said lovingly, "Don't worry, though your husband doesn't have much, money isn't one of them. Spend it however you like." "I don't have anything special to buy."

So, she couldn't possibly use up the five grand pocket money.

"I have a gathering tomorrow night, come with me. I'll introduce you to a few friends."

His friends were all elites in society, what if she couldn't communicate with them?

Lucinda wanted to voice her concern, but thinking about his firm decision not to divorce, and that marrying him wasn't a bad deal, she decided to stick with him. She would have to adapt to his friends. Just like he was trying to adapt to hers.

"Alright."

Lucinda was no longer worried, nor scared. If people were sincere to her, she'd return the sincerity. If anyone mocked her for not being good enough for Stefan, she'd definitely retort. "Lucy, about tonight's thing..."

"Last time you took me to meet your family, I remember you said your parents went on a vacation and won't be back for another two months."

Stefan laughed, "Yes, but my grandparents are home."

"If you think your grandparents would look down on me and my family, then don't invite them here. It'll just make everyone uncomfortable."

"No, absolutely not. My grandparents are very open-minded. As long as I'm happy, they'll support me unconditionally." Stefan quickly defended his grandparents.

"In that case, what are you worried about? The truth will always be found out. Your lies will be exposed sooner or later. You're the one who wanted to hide your identity, now you're afraid of scaring your mother- in-law?"

Lucinda said triumphantly.

Stefan really wanted to take this wife of his who was deliberately provoking him back home and teach her a lesson.

Lucinda: Teach me a lesson? Do you have the guts?

Stefan: ... Of course...well, no!

In the end, Stefan decided to formally apologize to Lucinda's mother at dinner and reveal his identity.

So, he called his grandmother.

His grandmother quickly picked up his call.

"Grandma." Stefan called his grandmother and then began to laugh.

Stefan's grandmother knew her grandson's personality very well. She understood him. Every time he laughed so happily, it meant he had a request.

"Spit it out."

Stefan's grandmother calmly said, "Stop laughing or you'll scare people. You might even shake their glasses off from the trembling. We don't run an eyeglass store, so we can't make money off that."

Stefan's grandmother knew her grandson was like a man wearing a mask, sometimes gentle, sometimes cold, sometimes cheerful; his personality was difficult to unpredictable.

But that was okay. If he was easily seen through by others, how could he hold his ground in this complicated world? Then he wouldn't be able to give his competitors an unexpected blow.

She once taught him that the business world was as cunning as a fox.

"Granny, we could go into the eyeglass business."

"Let's not. We're already involved in enough industries. We should leave some room for others."

"Grandma, can you and grandpa go out tonight?"

Grandma laughed, "What's up? You want to invite us to a show?"

"I want to invite you and grandpa out for dinner, so you can come out for a walk and check out Eric's performance. If he's not doing well, we can host a banquet for him and invite all the unmarried ladies." Stefan's grandmother laughed, "If Eric knew you were doing this to him, he'd be furious. He respects you so much as his brother, and this is how you treat him."

"I'm just looking out for their happiness."

Although he had many brothers, their ages weren't that different. Eric was only a year younger than he was. It was about time for him to get married.

"You've got your own woman now, and now you start to care about them. It's because you never married that they've been able to live so freely."

Stefan was speechless.

They had been urging him to get married for a long time. It was just that his younger brothers used him as a shield. Since their elder brother wasn't married yet, what was the rush?

"You must have a reason to invite us to dinner, right?" Stefan's grandmother purposefully asked.

"My mother-in-law is here."

"Mother-in-law? Where did you get a mother-in-law?" Stefan's grandmother played dumb.

Stefan gave a wry smile, "Grandma, what can I hide from you and grandpa? You guys knew about my shotgun wedding ages ago, didn't you?"

Even Owen knew about it.

That night, he coaxed Lucinda into accompanying him to the cocktail party. Everyone saw that he had a woman by his side. He didn't believe they wouldn't check who his companion was. Although, he was now the head of the family, the real formidable ones were still his grandparents. They always found out what they wanted to know.

Stefan's grandmother huffed heavily, "Such a big thing, and you didn't tell us. I almost let Ruby move into our house."

"I haven't even won over my wife yet. I at least have to win her over before I tell you."

Stefan's grandmother laughed out loud.

Stefan instantly felt incredibly helpless. The person laughing at him over the phone was his own grandmother, and there was nothing he could do.

"Stefan, even you have moments like these. Turns out not everyone listens to you. You deserve this for being so domineering, bullies always get their comeuppance, and your wife is destined to teach you a lesson!"

Stefan helplessly said, "Grandma, you're old. Don't laugh too hard."

"Don't sweat it. I'm tough as nails. A little laughter ain't gonna kill me. Come give me a hand, I can still afford to chuckle a bit more."

Stefan's grandpa walked over, supporting Stefan's grandma with one hand and snatching the phone with the other. He spoke to Stefan on the other end of the line, "When and where?"

"Six in the evening, our Ascend Hotel."

"Alright, you can hang up now. If you keep this up, you're gonna have your grandma laughing her guts out. Watch it or I'm gonna give you a good whack!"

And with that, Stefan's grandpa hung up the phone.