Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 493

Owen was on cloud nine, recalling the moment Cecilia said yes to his marriage proposal. He was over the moon, and at the engagement party, he’d had more than his fair share of drinks and ended up three sheets to the wind.

Cecilia's words had him grinning like a Cheshire cat. The throbbing in his head from earlier had vanished.

"Seriously, Cecilia, when should we have our wedding? I want to give you the grandest ceremony ever, just like Liam did, in a beautiful church."

As Owen swung his legs out of bed, he dreamt about the splendor of their wedding day, already causing a buzz.

"I'm gonna make sure you're the most stunning bride ever, in a custom-made gown... I need to get on that right away and get your dress ordered."

Imagining the wedding details made Owen realize that besides being ready to dedicate himself to her, he hadn't prepared a thing. It seemed like the wedding was still a ways off.

The first time he got hitched, they’d simply gotten the paperwork done. No ceremony, not even a dinner to celebrate, and his mother-in-law probably didn’t even know he was her son-in-law.

This time around, he couldn’t bear the thought of Cecilia feeling shortchanged.

"Cecilia, we still have a ton to prep for the wedding, but don't you worry, I'll sort it all out. You won’t have to lift a finger. We need to pick a perfect date too; we can't rush that. But we could go down to the town hall and start the paperwork."

Liam and Tiffany had set their date in a hurry, but their families had long ago given their blessing. From dowries to wedding gifts, everything was arranged in advance. They could pick any date they wanted without affecting the wedding plans.

At this moment, Owen was downright envious of Liam. Liam was the ultimate straight shooter, but now he was the happiest man alive. The guy had won the girl and was about to be a dad—double the joy.

"We'll head to the town hall this afternoon to get the marriage license."

Owen changed clothes in front of Cecilia, and their intimacy nearly led them to tangle in the sheets.

Cecilia teased him, "Aren’t you gonna shower? You didn’t last night and crashed out smelling like a brewery. Changing clothes won’t help—you need a proper wash. What day is it today? Sunday, right? The town hall is closed, so you might as well wait until tomorrow."

Nobody was working today. Why bother with paperwork?

"I'm not in a rush to get that license, not until our folks have had a chance to sit down and talk it out."

Owen's public proposal had touched her, and she’d said yes. Even though her family hadn’t objected, Cecilia felt a twinge of regret for her impulsiveness. Saying yes to a proposal was one thing, but rushing into marriage was another. This was for life. She didn't want to go through another divorce.

"Yeah, you're right. We can wait, Cecilia. My folks won’t make a fuss anymore."

Owen knew his grandpa had stepped in and warned his parents not to meddle. He was grateful for his grandfather raising him, teaching him so much, and now, at his age, still worrying about his grandson's future.

If he couldn't bring Cecilia home, he felt he’d be letting her down. Of course, he still needed to have a heart-to-heart with his parents. He wanted them to genuinely accept Cecilia, not just because they were pressured by grandpa.

He'd heard that when in-laws clash, it's the man stuck in the middle who has to mediate. And if he can't handle it, it only worsens the relationship. Right now, his mom was the one feeling the pressure, probably holding back a ton of frustration.

At the end of the day, he had to make sure Cecilia was treated right when she joined the family and that his mother didn’t think she was losing a son to his wife.

"After lunch, you sober up some more, and tonight, let's drop by Ascend Estate. Tomorrow, Lucy and her husband are heading back to Skywatch with her birth parents. Who knows when we’ll see them again? We should at least say goodbye and share a meal."

Owen headed for the shower with clothes in hand. Hearing her suggestion, he stepped back out and declared, "Cecilia, from now on, you call the shots in our little home."

They spoke at the same moment. Olina chuckled and yielded, "Go ahead, Cecilia. You first."

"No, Auntie, please."

"He may not have known you as long as he knew Ruby, but his love for you is no less intense, maybe even deeper. You've decided to marry, to be together, and you must take that responsibility seriously."

"If you leave him, he'd be devastated."

"After the wedding, if you two want to move out, that's your call. Just come by and visit us old folks once in a while. Owen was raised by his grandpa, and their bond is the strongest. Make sure to spend time with him."

Cecilia felt a warmth in her heart as she moved through the house, knowing she was about to become part of a new family—a family that, despite its complexities, was ready to welcome her with open arms.

"As long as you two are happy together, that's all that matters to me. After all, it's you who will be by Owen's side for a lifetime, not me, his mother."

It's hard to tell just how much soul-searching Shane and Mr. Martinez had to do to get Olina to this point of clarity and acceptance.