Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 479

After running a fair distance, Darlene finally allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief when she realized Keith hadn't followed her.

She stopped by the roadside, opened the trunk of her car, and pulled out her cellphone to use its flashlight. Rifling through the stacks of cash inside the box, her fingers stumbled upon a tiny tracking device.

With a chuckle, she mused, "I knew you'd pull something like this."

She plucked the tracker from among the bills and flung it into the roadside brush. After a thorough second search to ensure there were no more bugs, she closed the trunk and restarted the car.

Keith had been convinced he'd gather enough proof to confirm she was the elusive Darlene. But the tracker had landed too close to the Moore residence for comfort. Without even checking, he knew Darlene had discovered his little spy gadget and tossed it aside.

Clever girl. Always on her toes. You don't get that kind of street smarts without a few years under your belt.

Keith's appreciation for Darlene grew, as did his intrigue. Her actions were peeling back the layers of his curiosity.

By day, she was Ms. Darlene, a vision of beauty with a gentle nature that could fool anyone into thinking she was a delicate flower. Such a girl, like a greenhouse bloom, deserved to be treasured and protected, not meant for the likes of him.

Keith's wife wouldn't need a prestigious family background or a stunning face, but she must be strong-willed. Otherwise, entering the Blue family would be a recipe for disaster, leaving her open to the same tragedies that befell his mother.

But if the masked woman was indeed Darlene, her wolf-in-sheep's-clothing act might just fit the bill. Her facade was dangerously deceptive—even he had been fooled. If Lucy hadn't been playing matchmaker, suspecting Darlene was the woman behind the mask, Keith might never have seen through her charade.

Darlene had mentioned keeping tabs on him, indicating she had access to some serious intel. It would make sense if she were the mastermind behind Cipher Detectives. Only Lucy had known he was visiting the Moore estate prior to his arrival, and she had been with Darlene at the time. It must have been their overheard conversation that led Darlene to follow him there.

Through various tests, he and his sister had all but confirmed Darlene's secret identity. "One of these days, I'll peel off that mask myself and see who you really are," Keith muttered to himself before loading the money back into his car. Tomorrow, he would return it to the Anderson brothers.

He summoned a bodyguard to watch over the vehicle—a carful of cash was not something to leave unattended. Keith slipped back to the Moore estate and was just about to sneak into his guest room when the motion-sensor light flicked on.

The door to another room opened, and there stood his glamorous mother, Janice, silently observing him. Keith nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Mom, what are you doing popping out like that? You scared the life out of me."

Janice gave her son a once-over and said, "Is that all the courage your father managed to instill in you? Typically, only a guilty person is so easily startled. What were you up to just now, Keith?"

Unsure if his mother had seen his interaction with Darlene, Keith hesitated between honesty and a lie.

"Who was that girl with the silver butterfly mask? She seemed quite proficient."

With that one sentence, Janice let Keith know there was no fooling her. Rubbing his temples, he asked, "Mom, why are you awake at this ungodly hour?"

The thought of courtship seemed absurd. Even if he knew the masked woman was Darlene, he couldn't dare send his mother to the Bishop family to ask for her hand.

Keith resigned himself to a late-night chat as Janice waited patiently for his tale. Mayor Belinda could send her mother packing with just a word. George had heard it from his sister Lucy more than once—Mayor Belinda was quite fond of Aunt Darlene.

"And yes, I'll admit I admire her. Just her quick wit and impressive agility, nothing more," he said, trying to be clear. At least, not for now.

It was ludicrous to suggest he was smitten with her at first sight; that just wasn't the case. And to argue it was a slow-growing affection didn't hold water either. Because he hadn't even seen her true face yet.

"To admire someone is to like them, and given time, that turns into affection," his mother said, a knowing look in her eyes.

George stared at his mom, speechless. He finally understood why his sister always joked about him being 'last season's stock' that needed pushing onto the market. It was hereditary. Like mother, like daughter indeed.

"Mom, she came to collect a reward because she helped me out once, even saved my life. I don't like owing anyone favors, so I gave her some cash as a token of my gratitude."

"That's all there is to it. It's not as complicated as you're making it out to be."

If his mom hadn't married his dad, George mused, with her vivid imagination, she'd probably have ended up as a novelist. And that trait—Lucy definitely got it from their mother.