Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 431

"Alright folks, show's over. Let's clear out," Lucy called out with a dismissive wave, dragging her broom back into the diner.

Watching Lucy's badass move, the waitress felt a surge of admiration worthy of applause.

It had been a while since anyone saw Lucy in such a fierce mode - not since that time George showed up with the audacity to suggest he could keep her, only to be chased off by her broomstick.

Olina was new to witnessing Lucy's formidable side and stood there gobsmacked.

It wasn't until Lucy dragged her broom back inside that Olina snapped out of it, her face paling as she carefully watched Lucy, wondering if she could bolt out the door at lightning speed should Lucy turn that broom in her direction.

Why on earth did she listen to Megan’s suggestion to come here and seek trouble?

She knew full well that neither Lucy nor Cecilia cared about her status as the bigwig of the Martinez family, yet she still came.

Olina was turning green with regret, cursing herself for not dismissing Megan's manipulative words.

Wouldn't it have been nicer to join other friends for a round of bingo or a bridge game?

“Lucy. I swear, I never badmouthed you or Cecilia,” Olina stuttered, the fear of being broomed out the door making her speech falter.

Lucy stopped sweeping and planted herself squarely in front of Olina.

After a moment of silence, Lucy said, “I have no idea how you've managed to survive this long.”

She wondered what on earth Mr. Martinez Senior was thinking when he married such a nitwit.

No wonder he couldn’t trust her to take the reins of the family.

Olina was at a loss for words.

“Megan might be your buddy, but does that trump your relationship with Owen? Instead of making his life easier, you’re just adding to his stress by listening to others,” Lucy continued, her words sharp as knives.

The harshness of Lucy's words sent shivers down Olina's spine.

She knew full well the Scott family couldn't hold a candle to the might of the Martinez empire. If they ever faced the wrath of the Andersons and the Blues, they would likely lose everything.

Just then, Owen's chauffeured car pulled up.

He was blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding inside the shop.

He was too excited about Cecilia agreeing to accompany him to a gala event, feeling like he had won the lottery.

He had taken his time to dress up for the evening, ditching his usual black suit for a pristine white one. Now he looked exactly like the fairytale prince straight out of a storybook.

Even his bodyguards complimented him on his striking appearance.

Olina, upon seeing her son enter, instinctively wanted to hide.

She had done something else to frustrate her son and hampered his efforts. She was afraid of him bringing up his old threat of joining a monastery.

However, Olina stood there, a prominent figure in the living room of the sprawling Martinez mansion, feeling as invisible as a ghost at this moment. Her son had just breezed in with his gaze immediately locked onto Cecilia as if she were the only person in the room.

The sight was enough to turn Olina's expression a shade of green. She was his mother, for heaven's sake. But her son didn’t seem to notice her all the way.

And then there were the sweet nothings he whispered to Cecilia, a symphony of compliments that grated on Olina's nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

Since marrying into the Martinez family, Olina and her sister-in-laws were well aware of the legendary trove of heirloom jewelry that their late mother-in-law had left behind. Each piece was a fortune unto itself, lovingly guarded by their father-in-law, who treated the collection as if it were the crown jewels.

Once, they were privileged enough to glimpse the fabled vault. Despite their own affluent backgrounds, they couldn't help but be dazzled by the jewelry. But their father-in-law's lips were sealed tighter than a drum, not a whisper of gifting them even a single piece crossed his lips, and they dared not ask outright.

They had all expressed to their husbands a desire to adorn themselves with just one set of those precious gems, even if only for a night. But each tentative request was met with a stern rebuke from the old man.

And now, to Olina's chagrin, her son had the audacity to ask his grandfather to gift a set to Cecilia.

The old man, who wouldn't part with a single gem for his daughters-in-law, seemed all too willing to lavish Cecilia with this token of esteem. It was enough to sour Olina's mood even further, as she realized just how much esteem the old man had for the young woman.

What made Cecilia so special in the old man's eyes? Olina just couldn't fathom it.