Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 122

Stefan turned on his heel and walked away.

After a few steps, he turned back to his younger brothers and said, "What are you guys still doing here? Come on in!"

The kids looked at each other, none of them eager to be the first one to follow Stefan.

"If you keep dilly-dallying here, I'll make you run up the mountain for three hours," Stefan warned.

At that, they quickly followed, not wanting to be punished by running up the mountain.

The mountain path was full of loose pebbles. Running for three hours would surely leave their feet bleeding.

"Good morning, Stefan."

"It's not morning anymore."

"But it's still morning now."

Stefan huffed and gave his brother a side glance. The man who said so could only touch his nose, chuckle awkwardly, and keep his mouth shut.

Stefan gathered all his brothers inside, then called Campbell and Judson out and pointed them out, "Line up by age!"

They sprang into action and quickly formed a line.

After they were all lined up, Stefan went to Lucinda and gently told her, "Lucy, these are my brothers, all nine of them are here."

All nine of them thought, "He's so harsh on us but so gentle with Lucinda. Stefan is indeed two-faced.”

Lucinda looked at the nine handsome faces in front of her, some of them looked a lot like Stefan. She guessed they all took after their father since they were full brothers.

"Did you all lose your tongue? Say hello to Lucinda and introduce yourselves, so she can recognize you in the future."

Stefan ordered his brothers to greet Lucinda.

"Hello, Lucinda!"

Nine voices chorused a greeting.

Lucinda quickly responded, "Hello, everyone." Then she whispered to Stefan, "I didn't prepare any gifts for them. What should I do?"

Stefan asked his brothers loudly, "Who asked Lucinda for a gift?"

"Stefan, I didn't. We're family, we don't need to be so formal. Lucinda, you don't need to prepare any gifts for me."

Eric Anderson was the quickest to respond.

He had met Lucinda a few times and knew that Stefan treated Lucinda as the most important person.

Unless Lucinda prepared gifts for them on her own accord, they wouldn't dare to ask for any.

The others quickly echoed Eric's words.

No gifts needed.

Stefan turned to Lucinda and said, "Lucy, you see, they said you don't need to worry about gifts."

Lucinda was speechless.

She wondered if her husband bullied his brothers at home, because they all seemed so afraid of him.

After the introductions, Stefan told his brothers coldly, "You should go now, I'm taking Lucinda out."

He was rushing them away.

"But Stefan, I want to go too."

Judson, the youngest and most lively among them, wanted to join when he heard Stefan and Lucinda were going out.

Then, all the other brothers turned to look at him.

Judson felt confused under their gaze, had he said something wrong?

All he wanted was to go out and get some fresh air with Stefan, was that wrong?

Before Stefan could respond, Lucinda laughed and said, "If Judson wants to join us, he can. Anyone else wants to come? The more the merrier."

Stefan's face darkened.