Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 123

"Ike, everyone's been treating me real nice, super friendly, no rejection at all. You can chill, I'm all good," Lucinda reassured Ike, then asked, "Ike, you taking a break today? No overtime?"

"You left me in the dust to follow Stefan, what else am I supposed to do but work?" Ike sounded miffed. His sister got whisked away by her old classmate.

Lucinda chuckled, "Ike, drop by whenever you're free. I've decided to move back to the manor with Stefan."

Ike retorted, "That's way out in the sticks, it's gonna be a pain for you to commute."

"I can drive to work. In fact, I'm about to take Stefan for a spin."

Hearing this, Ike immediately said, "Lucy, hand your phone to Stefan. I need to have a word with him."

Lucinda hummed in agreement and passed the phone to Stefan.

Just as Stefan put the phone to his ear, he heard Ike ask, "You had breakfast yet?"

"Yeah."

"Well, don't go barfing all over the car."

"I don't get car sick."

Ike chuckled, "Just be careful, alright?" With that, he hung up.

Stefan was left puzzled. What was Ike trying to say?

"Ike hung up? Alright, I'm driving now." Lucinda, who hadn't driven in a while, cheerfully started the car.

At first, Stefan didn't catch Ike's drift. But once Lucinda began driving, it hit him.

Driving with Lucinda was a wild ride!

Even this seasoned driver was scared stiff, clutching the seat for dear life, worried that one sharp turn would hurl him out of the car.

"Lucy," Stefan called out.

"Honey, don't distract me when I'm driving. This is only my second time behind the wheel since getting my license. I'm a bit rusty,"

Lucinda scared Stefan into silence when she said this.

She's driving, but it was like she was piloting a jet.

Stefan sat rigidly, eyes fixed on the road ahead, his face turning a shade paler.

After a while, he asked, "Lucy, did you pass your driving test or did you buy your license?"

"I passed."

"That's good, that's good. Ah—slow down when you turn!" Stefan let out another shriek.

To Lucinda, Stefan was being a nuisance.

She'd already told him she was a bit out of practice and asked him not to distract her.

She loved the thrill of speeding, but she did pass her driving test.

During her driving lessons, she often scared her instructor witless, which led her to constantly mock his lack of nerve.

As Stefan sat there, tense, Lucinda finally had her fill of driving, parked the car and turned to her passenger with a gleeful expression, "Stefan, I'm so happy! The road's wide and there's hardly any traffic. It's been such a joy!"

Stefan didn't respond. He pushed the car door open and got out, his legs trembling.

Ike really should have been more specific.

Stefan asked, "Lucy, if you like me, why won't you let me drive you to and from work? Do you not want to see me or are you fed up with me?"

Lucinda was speechless.

Under Stefan's firm belief that her refusal to let him drive her to and from work meant she didn't love him and was repulsed by him, Lucinda had no choice but to relent.

So, she agreed to let him drive her to and from work and no longer insisted on driving herself.

She knew he must've been scared by her driving.

Lucinda was slightly regretful that she drove so fast with him in the car.

But what's done is done and regret was of no use.

After getting her license, she drove twice, including this time, and then, she never drove again.

While Lucinda and her husband were enjoying the breeze outside, Cecilia Yates was preparing fruits for the two elderly men engrossed in their chess game.

The two old men playing chess, one was Cecilia Yates' grandpa, Devon Yates, the other was Owen Martinez's grandpa, Trenton Martinez. But the folks in the Yates family didn't know he was the old man from the Martinez family.

Devon loved to play chess, and so did Trenton. He played chess with Devon twice as the new neighbor, and they became chess buddies.

Then, Trenton started frequently visiting the Yates family, observing Cecilia's personality firsthand.

Cecilia brought over some washed fruit, placed it beside her grandpa, and said to Trenton with a smile, "Trenton, help yourself to some fruit."

"Thanks."

Trenton nodded affectionately, looked at the chess game, thought for a moment, made his move, then said to Devon, "Devon, your granddaughter is really something, way better than my granddaughters. My granddaughters only treat me nicely when they need my help, otherwise, they're practically invisible."

Devon replied, "Yeah, my granddaughter is pretty great, basically flawless. The only thing is that she's already 24 and still doesn't have a boyfriend."