Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 20

Lucinda and her contract hubby had a chill weekend at home, with Ike driving them back to the city on Sunday afternoon.

Ike's company had rented an apartment for him, and he initially planned to take the couple back with him, but Lucinda rejected the offer.

The place was too far from her shop and wouldn't be convenient for work the next day.

So Ike ended up dropping them off at their rented house.

Knowing that the two of them were living together made Ike a bit uncomfortable, but he couldn't really say anything.

After all, both of their parents had accepted Stefan, so there was no point in Ike opposing it.

"Lucinda, you go ahead, I need a word with Stefan."

Lucinda glanced at Stefan and got out of the car, she still had to take the stuff from the car to the house.

These were home-cooked foods her mom had brought for her, including Fiona's homemade chili sauce.

There were also some vegetables and fruits grown in their home garden.

Every time she went back home, her parents would prepare a lot of stuff for her to bring back to the city.

"Lucinda, I'll take care of this stuff later."

Stefan stopped her, not wanting her to carry such heavy things.

The stuff was plentiful and quite heavy.

"I'll take some of the fragile stuff first, and you can bring the rest in later. And bro, don't forget to lend a hand."

Lucinda reminded Ike that he should help out and not just stand by.

"Yeah, yeah."

Ike responded dismissively.

He didn't really plan to help, he wanted Stefan to do it all by himself, to tire him out!

He still couldn't accept that his classmate had become his sister's husband.

Lucinda took some stuff and headed for the house.

Once she walked away, Ike turned to Stefan who was sitting in the back seat of the car and warned him, "Stefan, just because my parents and grandparents don't hate you, don't get cocky. If you treat Lucinda badly, I won't let you off the hook. If you think Lucinda is doing something wrong, you are not to hit her, and you are not to yell at her. Call me, and I will take her back home immediately. I'll take care of her for the rest of her life!"

Lucinda was their family's treasure, and they couldn't bear to hurt her in any way.

Stefan responded seriously, "Ike, we might not have been close, but we were classmates for four years, and we've kept in touch since graduation. Don't you know me at all? I..."

Ike interrupted him, "I don't know you. When we were in school, a lot of classmates and I thought you were not easy to get along with. All I know about you is your name, your age, and that you were single before you met Lucinda. That's it."

"I work at Ascend Global, don't you know that?"

"...That's all I know."

"Ike, since you have such a view of me, no matter how nicely I speak, you won't believe me. I can only prove my love for Lucinda through time and actions."

Ike glared at Stefan for a while before reluctantly saying, "I'll take your word for it this time. Get out and carry the stuff in."

Stefan smiled and said, "I didn't plan to bother you with this in the first place, brother."

"Don't call me brother. Every time I hear you call me that, it hurts even more. My beloved little sister was taken away by you, and now every time I see you, I get pissed."