Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 94

After the meal, Lucinda's parents gently suggested she head to her room and get some rest. She had a feeling they wanted some privacy, probably to discuss matters between themselves.

After settling into her room, she listened intently for any sound outside. Once she heard the familiar footsteps of her parents, hinting they were retiring for the night, she couldn't resist the urge to replace out more. Stealthily, she made her way to their door, trying to catch any snippet of their conversation.

But despite her best efforts, the door muffled their voices, and she couldn't discern a single word. Was she just being overly paranoid? Frustrated and out of options, Lucinda retreated back to her room. Tossing and turning on her bed, her mind remained restless. To distract herself, she grabbed her phone and decided to text Stefan.

Being too lazy to type, Stefan called her directly.

"Honey, I miss you."

Lucinda couldn't help but chuckle.

He started the conversation with such a sweet line that she almost couldn't resist him.

"We've only been apart for a few hours and you're already missing me?"

"I miss you every moment you're not with me. You know, I've been missing you for eleven years, and only now have I finally got you."

Lucinda said, "I was only thirteen back then, you're such a bad boy."

"I was just waiting for you to grow up, even letting you date George, giving you enough freedom."

Stefan admitted he noticed her quite early on, which wasn't right.

But he didn't confess his feelings to her at that time.

He just silently waited for her to grow up.

For eleven years, he'd remained steadfast, never straying or allowing any other woman close. Ruby was the lone exception, due to their shared history and mistaken perceptions. His record was spotless, free of any scandalous whisper.

However, she had genuinely been involved with George. If Stefan hadn't been vigilantly keeping tabs, George might have wooed her.

Hearing his words, Lucinda laughed softly. "After going through your album, I've come to see things in a different light."

With a hint of playfulness in his voice, Stefan queried, "And what did you glean from it? That my feelings for you have always been genuine and that we've shared a connection since we were kids?" "No, I realized why no boys chased after me even though I'm pretty. It turns out you've been sabotaging me behind my back."

"I was the one who proposed to George to start dating. During our relationship, George might not be a good person, but he didn't end up with me. You were sabotaging me there too, weren't you?" Stefan praised, "My wife is so smart, just like me."

In other words, he indirectly admitted he indeed had been sabotaging her.

Who dares to snatch the woman he likes?

All he did was quietly scare off many competitors.

Lucinda was amused by his shameless remarks, "How can I be like you? You're not my dad. You could only say I inherited your intelligence if I were your daughter.”

"Honey, I'm smart, and since you're my wife, you're bound to become as smart as I am."

Lucinda burst into laughter.

Stefan was just talking nonsense.

"Honey, do you miss me?"

"No. If I missed you, I wouldn't have gone home alone."

Stefan pretended to be hurt and said pitifully, "I'm the poor guy abandoned by my wife."

Lucinda laughed again, "Okay, I just need some time to cool down."

Stefan's voice wavered with genuine concern. "Lucinda, don't even think about divorcing me. I'll never let you go. Our union isn't just bound by a paper; it's till death do us part. If you ever wish to live without me, it'll only be if I'm no longer in this world."

"Shut up, I won't allow you to say such things." Lucinda immediately retorted. "Stefan, did you hear me? You're not allowed to say such things in the future!"

"If you're going to boss me around, then I won't say it."

"The gap between us is too big... just kidding, I know you don't want a divorce, I won't get a divorce even if my mom advises me to break up with you." Stefan was still nervous, "After you go home, will your mom keep criticizing me and telling you to break up with me?"

Lucinda's brother had once harshly criticized him, saying he didn't deserve Lucinda.

Fortunately, he proved to Lucinda with his actions that he was good enough and deserved her!

"My mom is not that naggy. She won't keep bringing it up."

Lucinda knew her parents were just looking out for her.

They were worried that she might be bullied in a rich family, or that she might not adapt to the lifestyle of a rich family.

Even if her mother advised her to divorce Stefan, she wouldn't blame her.

"Stefan."

"I'm here."

"I asked my mom the question you asked me."

Stefan gently asked, "What was your mom's reaction?"

"My mom was stunned."

There was a silence from Stefan.

Lucinda didn't say anything either.

After a brief silence, Stefan asked her, "Do you want to search for your biological parents? I can help you arrange for someone to look for them.”

"Even if you replace your biological parents, it doesn't mean you need to leave your current parents. You just need to confirm whether you were abandoned by your biological parents or you were kidnapped." If she was abandoned, she definitely wouldn't bother with her biological parents.

If she was kidnapped...at least replaceing her would bring a peace of mind to her biological parents.

Thinking about the mad woman in her dream who cried her heart out after losing her child, her heart still ached when she thought about it now.

"Let's look for them if we can."

Lucinda pondered deeply, piecing together the fragments of her thoughts. If the distraught woman haunting her dreams was indeed her birth mother, then perhaps her emotional turmoil was driven by the pain of their separation. Could it be that reuniting might bring some solace to her mother's fractured mind?

The idea of a connection, some psychic bond between a mother and daughter, wasn't entirely far-fetched to Lucinda. But why had these dreams only begun to manifest now, after two decades of silence? The sudden onset made her wonder if her birth mother was currently facing some peril or crisis.

"Alright, I will help you arrange for someone to look for your biological parents. But there are so many people in the world, it might be hard to replace them. You shouldn't let this matter affect your mood too much." "Nor should it affect your relationship with your current parents.”

She didn't have a goal, she was just looking for her biological parents because of a dream.

"I know, my mom said I'm her biological daughter, then I am her biological daughter."

Even if she replaces her biological parents, her bond with the Moore family won't diminish, it will only deepen.

She'll never leave the Moore family.

"Stefan, we should stop talking now. Go get some rest, don't wear yourself out."

"I won't get tired if you're not by my side."

"Stefan!"

Stefan chuckled softly, then said indulgently, "All right, I'll stop. I didn't mean anything else by that, you're overthinking."

"If you dare say that again, you'll be sleeping in the living room when I get back."

Stefan quickly surrendered to keep the peace.

The last thing he wanted was to continue sleeping alone in the living room.

"I'll be over this afternoon."

"Didn't we agree you'd pick me up on the weekend?"

Stefan shamelessly replied, "I miss your parents."

Lucinda was speechless.

"Sweetheart, good afternoon!"

"Good afternoon."

Lucinda returned the greeting, waiting for him to hang up, but realized he hadn't, so she asked, "Do you have something else to tell me?"

"I miss you."

"I know you miss me."

"You hang up first. I don't want you to feel the disappointment of being hung up on."

Warmth filled Lucinda's heart.

His treatment of others was really good, so good that she couldn't resist him.