Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 50

"Thanks, Jean."

Owen expressed his thanks to the housekeeper and then, without pausing, headed straight for the main house.

Jean followed, saying as she walked, "Ms. Scott is in the study upstairs; you can go straight up. I'll get you an ice pack."

Owen just nodded.

The grand hall on the first floor was empty.

The Scott family was all abroad; only Ruby was back for Stefan.

This reality hit Owen right in the feels.

"Mr. Owen, would you like something to eat?"

Jean asked.

"No need."

Owen declined Jean's offer and went upstairs on his own.

He was a regular at the Scott family’s mansion and knew the place like the back of his hand.

When he reached Ruby's study, Owen stood silently for two minutes before knocking on the door.

"Jean, I'm busy."

Ruby assumed it was Jean.

"Ruby, it's me."

Owen responded in a low voice.

The room fell silent, and then the study door was opened, revealing Ruby in her nightgown.

She had just taken a bath and removed her makeup. Her face was bare.

Owen wasn't sure if it was an illusion or due to the lighting, but he thought Ruby looked a bit old.

Ruby was just a year younger than him, and Stefan was already twenty-eight.

"Owen, what brings you here? What happened to your face?"

Ruby asked Owen with concern, lightly touching his swollen face, "Does it hurt? Did Stefan do this?"

There weren't many people who could manhandle Owen.

Ruby's first guess was Stefan.

After getting slapped by Lucinda, Ruby bumped into Owen on purpose to let him know she had been bullied by Lucinda.

Owen cared for her deeply and would definitely take it up with Lucinda.

But with Stefan protecting Lucinda, there was a high chance of them clashing.

Ruby hadn't expected Owen to get beaten up so badly; his face was all swollen and red.

"Stefan did it. Because Lucinda hit you, I went to settle the score with her. Stefan was there, and we ended up fighting. You know Stefan's good with his fists; I was no match for him and ended up like this."

Even though she had guessed Stefan would protect Lucinda, hearing Owen say it like this still made Ruby's heart ache.

Stefan was a skilled fighter, but he didn't throw punches easily.

Ruby had grown up with him and had never seen him fight for anyone.

Now he fought for Lucinda. Did he really like Lucinda that much?

Ruby despised Lucinda; her eyes were filled with resentment.

Anyone who dared to take Ruby's man would regret it.

"Owen, you knew Stefan was tough. You shouldn't have lost your cool when he was around."

Ruby looked at Owen's pained face, touched it lightly again, and gave a helpless smile. "Stefan really crossed the line. He shouldn't have hit your face. It breaks my heart just looking at it. Let's go downstairs. I'll get you an ice pack to soothe it."

She led Owen downstairs as she spoke.