Faux Vows, True Desires
Chapter 96

When Owen said this, he was actually a bit unsure of himself.

The Martinez family wasn't as harmonious as the Anderson family.

The Anderson family got along well with each other. They didn't have any ambitions to take over the Anderson family business, and they didn't scheme behind the scenes for power. When Stefan was chosen as the heir, his brothers willingly became his assistants.

Owen was most envious of this about Stefan.

As long as Stefan didn't mess up, he could keep his position as the Anderson heir and enjoy all the power that came with it.

Everyone said the Anderson family had good family values.

The Anderson kids were all top-notch. Marrying into the Anderson family not only meant endless wealth and glory but also the husband's exclusive affection.

This was because the Anderson family rules stated that their children were not allowed to divorce.

Marriage was a big deal.

Before the Anderson kids got married, they were required to fully understand what marriage meant to them.

"So, Trenton Martinez set you up on a blind date."

Despite their rivalry, Stefan had known the Martinez family since childhood and was well-acquainted with them.

On the rare occasion he crossed paths with Trenton, he'd offer a greeting. Regardless of the intense business rivalry, whenever Trenton saw Stefan, he'd wear a smile as if looking at a cherished family member.

Trenton would often joke, "That's a smile of envy." He secretly wished Stefan were his own grandson.

If Stefan had a daughter, Owen's grandfather would undoubtedly push Owen to woo her. If they couldn't best the Andersons in business, perhaps marrying into their family was the next best strategy. "Stefan, stop mocking me."

Stefan laughed, "Well, I must be spot-on then. Owen, even though you're always green with envy, I kindly remind you, Ruby isn't worth your sacrifice. You need to steer clear of her and replace a good woman to marry. You're not young anymore, we're the same age. I'm married, and you don't even have a girlfriend. By the time I become a dad, you'll still be single, falling behind me in love. In the end, you'll still lose to me."

Owen rolled his eyes.

"What's so great about Lucinda? Other than being pretty and younger than Ruby, what makes you want to end your bachelor life?" Owen began to mock,"As a member of the Andersons, you married a common girl. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Stefan's face changed instantly, he said coldly, "So what if my wife Lucinda is a commoner's daughter? Does that mean commoners' kids don't deserve happiness?"

"We Anderson men marry women we love, unlike some who need to arrange marriages and marry women they don't love."

Unless a couple in a political marriage hit it off, they won't be happy after marriage.

This kind of marriage is based on mutual benefits.

Owen: "I only mentioned your wife once and you've been rebutting me. Stefan, do you love Lucinda a lot?"

"Should I be in love with you instead?"

Owen was shaking with anger, "I don't love you."

Stefan laughed, "You're always targeting me, I suspect you actually love me. You're just too shy to admit it, so you use helping Ruby as an excuse to get close to me."

Owen's face flushed with anger. The audacity of Stefan, his adversary, to say such things was almost too much.

Not hearing a response, Stefan teased further, "What, no retort? Silence means agreement, after all. Maybe you do have a fondness for me but don't know how to express it. But alas, I'm already taken. My heart only has space for Lucy..."

"Stefan!"

Owen roared on the phone, "Stop saying I have feelings for you, I only like Ruby. You're the gay one, go amuse yourself, I'm done talking to you." Successfully infuriating his opponent, Stefan laughed gleefully on the phone.

The louder he laughed, the angrier Owen got. He wished he could confront Stefan right now and give him a good beating, no, he wanted to kill him! "My wife knows I'm not gay, she knows very well that she's the only one I love. But you, who knows if you like men?"

Owen was too angry to say anything.

Calm down, calm down!

He couldn't let this bastard piss him off to death.

His grandfather always said he wasn't as calm as Stefan.

Stefan was good at socializing. He had different ways of speaking to different people. He was very good at reacting and could stay calm during major events. Every time he clashed with Stefan, he was easily provoked.

"Stefan, let's not do this."

Suppressing his anger, Owen said coldly, "Let's talk about Ruby."

"I saw today's stock market, your Ikella Group's stocks have been falling."

Stefan's words were seemingly sympathetic, but were actually dripping with sarcasm.

Owen felt that he hadn't taken action against Stefan all these years because he was kind-hearted, he was magnanimous, and he didn't bother with Stefan.

"Ruby led people to wreck my wife's shop, and even hurt someone. Ms. Yates's hand was injured, it's swollen pretty badly now. We don't know if it'll affect her future life."

"You've gone off the rails, ranting about Ruby and it's all over the internet now, stirring up public outrage. You've screwed up, who else you wanna blame?"

Stefan retorted coolly, "Don't talk to me about childhood ties. I've never had any intentions towards Ruby."

"Owen, you think I don't know how you feel about Ruby? Do you think you can hide what happened ten years ago from me? The lengths you went to for Ruby, it just makes me think you...Are pathetic, pitiful!" Owen was speechless.

It was enough to make him blow a fuse!

The woman he loved was nothing to his nemesis.

"We'll sort out the matter from ten years ago some other time." Stefan said coldly.

Owen said, "I didn't screw up, did I? And you didn't lose anything."

"Owen, you're such an idiot. Let me tell you, if you hurt Lucy over Ruby again, don't say I didn't warn you!"

"I've never loved Ruby, I've never made any promises to her. You love her, you're willing to sacrifice for her, you let her take advantage of you, lose your dignity over her, that's your problem."

"But don't drag my Lucy and me into it. If you make Lucy misunderstand me because of this, Owen, I'll make sure Ruby ends up with nothing, her reputation in tatters."

Owen suddenly woke up to reality.

Stefan was really pissed off, and he was starting to feel scared.

He was silent for a long time before he managed to say, "Do you really not like Ruby at all?"

"You already know the answer, why are you still asking?"

Owen gave a bitter smile, "She came back to the country all because of you, and you...you're already married. She won't just let it go. Even if I don't help her, she'll replace all sorts of ways to create problems between you and your wife."

"Stefan, I really envy you. The one I can't have, you don't care about; the one you like, you've successfully married."

Stefan was just born under a lucky star.

No one could match his luck.

Whether in business or in love, he was always the winner, the object of both envy and jealousy.