Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 459

Owen had been lingering in the Serendipity Cafe for the better part of half an hour, nursing a cup of joe when Cecilia, the charming waitress with a glint of mischief in her eyes, nudged him to get a move on his workday.

He dragged his feet, secretly wishing for a torrential downpour to give him the excuse to play hooky. Unfortunately, as he escorted Cecilia back inside, the rain came to an abrupt halt.

"Cecilia, come on, see me off, will ya?" he pleaded with a grin.

She chuckled in response. "You don't know your way? It's just a few steps from the door. You really need me to walk you?"

Though she teased him, Cecilia turned around, heading back inside. Moments later, she emerged with a box of pastries, freshly baked by Basil, the cafe's renowned pastry chef. Tucking the box into a bag, she handed it to Owen. "You barely touched your breakfast rolls. I don't want you to starve, so here's a little something to tie you over."

"No charge, consider it a gift," she added with a wink.

Owen felt a warm buzz in his heart but couldn't resist a playful jab: "These are just for me, right? Not like those two boxes you gave to Ike Moore on the house."

He hadn't forgotten how Cecilia had once favored Ike with her generosity.

Cecilia's laughter filled the air. "Still clinging to that old story? You've got a heart smaller than a needle's eye. Now scoot, off to work with you!"

Yet, she couldn't resist walking him to his car.

As Owen reluctantly rolled down his window, he made one last request: "Cecilia, it's gonna be hours before I see you again. How about a couple of pecks to keep the longing at bay and spare me the pangs of lovesickness?"

"Owen!" Cecilia's face flushed with a mix of amusement and embarrassment. They were in the middle of the street, for goodness' sake, and he had the audacity to ask for a kiss!

She had her dignity, even if he seemed to have left his at home.

Knowing well that Cecilia wouldn't indulge him in public, Owen was merely stirring the pot. He glanced at Jay and Rex, ensuring Cecilia would have their assistance whenever needed, before reluctantly rolling up his window and driving off. Soon after, several cars filled with his bodyguards trailed behind him.

Cecilia was taken aback, realizing only then that Owen's entourage had been nearby all along. He was still the same Owen, never without his grandeur.

She watched his car disappear into the distance, then turned back to the cafe, asking Jay and Rex to stay inside. She didn't want their imposing presence to scare off potential customers.

The phone rang; it was Lucinda, inquiring about the cafe. After a brief chat, Lucinda had to head back to work, and a customer entered—a woman dressed to the nines, her belly slightly protruding beneath a tight dress, her long hair flowing, and sunglasses perched on her nose.

She bypassed the waitress and made a beeline for Cecilia.

"You're Cecilia, right?" the woman asked, her tone suggesting familiarity.

Cecilia eyed her guardedly. "May I ask who you are?"

Without waiting for a proper introduction, the woman pulled out a document from her stylish tote and slapped it on the counter in front of Cecilia.

"What's this?" Cecilia asked, perplexed.

The paper was a medical report, confirming the woman's pregnancy.

"Miss, I'm not sure I follow. Why are you showing me your pregnancy test? Am I supposed to be responsible for it?"

The waitress bit back a chuckle; the absurdity of the situation was almost comical.

The woman dropped the bombshell: "Cecilia, I'm pregnant, and your man is the father."

The cafe went silent, and the playful atmosphere from moments ago vanished.

"Jay, should we call Mr. Owen? He must have just gotten back to the office," Rex suggested, sensing the gravity of the accusation.

Jay was already dialing Owen, who answered promptly. "Is Cecilia in trouble?" Owen's voice was tense.

"Mr. Owen, it's you who's in trouble," Jay murmured, trying to keep the situation under wraps. "It's a big mess, Mr. Owen."

"Nonsense, I'm perfectly fine!" Owen retorted.

"Mr. Owen, there's a lady here claiming she's pregnant with your child. Have you been indulging on the sly?" they probed, their loyalty making them incredulous.

Owen's shock gave way to outrage. "When did I ever cheat? Who's trying to pin their bastard on me?"

The boardroom at Owen's office went silent. He had stormed into the meeting only to be interrupted by the startling call.

Realizing he was still in the conference room, Owen excused himself with a hasty apology to Walter, his second-in-command, and stepped outside to handle the call.

The executives were left in a state of bewilderment, their ears pricked up for any juicy details. Whispers of the scandal began to circulate, questioning how Owen, so devoted to Ms. Scott, could have ended up in such a predicament.

Soon, they heard the CEO's furious tirade just outside the door, followed by the sound of his footsteps storming away, presumably off to confront the woman who was rumored to be carrying his child.

The other executives exchanged glances, their eyes darting between Walter and Harry, trying to pick up on any hint or clue from their expressions.

In reality, both men were completely in the dark.

They were well aware of Owen's steadfast attitude toward relationships. He'd been hung up on Ruby for over a decade, and even though she'd been using him all this while, he never got involved with anyone else. You could say he was a one-woman man, loyal to a fault.

And then there was Cecilia.

Their marriage had been brief, more of a formality than anything else, with no real conjugal bond to speak of.

They were convinced that woman must have forced herself on Owen!

Neither Walter nor Harry could imagine Owen letting any other woman get pregnant. They both believed in his integrity and his devotion to Ruby.