Free Web NovelChapter 102: Chapter 102: A Gathering with Ulterior Motives
With nothing to do after dinner and seeing the old gentleman in high spirits, Damien Vaughn suggested they all play mahjong for fun and to give Cecelia Archer some practice.
The old gentleman hadn’t played mahjong in over half a year, so he was delighted.
Ms. King, Damien Vaughn, Cecelia Archer, and the old gentleman made up a table.
Back when the old madam and Damien Vaughn’s mother were around, they’d often have Ms. King fill in when friends came over and they were short a player. She was a veteran mahjong player herself.
Yet, the three veterans found they couldn’t get much of an upper hand against Cecelia Archer, a complete novice.
Cecelia Archer was a quick study. After winning some and losing some over more than two hours, she broke even, not losing a single cent of her initial stake.
The old gentleman happily praised Cecelia Archer.
"Impressive, Cecelia, my dear! I’ve never seen anyone get the better of Ms. King at the mahjong table. Damien is one, and now you’re the second. I’ve finally found another worthy opponent!"
"Let’s call it a night. Tomorrow, we’ll get the butler, and the four of us, Cecelia my dear, will have a proper match."
As long as it kept the old gentleman happy, they were willing to do anything, so everyone cheerfully agreed.
The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Damien Vaughn said his goodbyes after breakfast and left for the office. No sooner had he walked out the door than Simone Vaughn came running over.
"Sister-in-law, are you free? I invited some friends over for mahjong today, but my mom’s headache is acting up, so we’re short one person. She told me you’re a pretty good player. Could you come fill in for us?"
’Do they have this much free time? We just played yesterday afternoon, and now they’re gathering people to play again first thing in the morning.’
Cecelia Archer was getting ready to give the old gentleman his physical therapy and didn’t want to go, but the old man was very encouraging about her making friends with Simone Vaughn.
"Go on. Young people should have fun with other young people. What’s so great about hanging around an old man like me? Go on, go polish your skills. Then you can come back in a few days and give me a real challenge."
"Candy and I still haven’t finished planting the flowers from yesterday. We’ll head back to the garden, so you don’t need to worry about me."
Since the old gentleman had spoken, Cecelia Archer had no choice but to go with Simone Vaughn to her aunt’s house.
After they were seated and served tea, Simone Vaughn and her aunt made small talk with Cecelia. A few minutes later, the maid showed two young women in.
"Miss, Miss Young is here."
Simone Vaughn hurried forward to greet them. "Annabelle, I’ve been waiting forever for you! You’re finally here. Come in, come in."
But when Cecelia Archer suddenly heard the name "Annabelle," her mind went blank with a buzz.
’It can’t be that much of a coincidence, can it?’ freewebnovёl.ƈom
She set down her teacup and looked toward the door. As it turned out, it was.
Annabelle Young, dressed to the nines, was holding hands with Simone Vaughn and laughing happily. ’This is...’
Cecelia Archer instinctively wanted to find a place to hide, but her aunt grabbed her by the hand.
"We have guests. Let’s go say hello." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
"Annabelle, you’re here! When Simone came home last night, she told me she’d run into you and had a wonderful chat. I told her, ’Well, if you like her so much, why don’t you invite her over to visit?’ And now I finally get to meet you. You’re just as beautiful as Simone said, and you have such a wonderful figure. Welcome!"
Although the Young Family was also well-off, compared to the Vaughn Family, they were in a completely different league.
It had been a tremendous honor for Annabelle Young to have a blind date with Damien Vaughn. The fact that she was now becoming friends with Simone Vaughn and visiting their home had her over the moon.
"Thank you, Auntie. My mother has told me so much about how beautiful and kind you are, and she was right! I like you so much already. I was in such a rush that I couldn’t bring a proper gift, but I grabbed a little something. I hope you won’t mind."
"Oh, my dear, you shouldn’t have! Your presence is gift enough; there was no need to bring anything. I’m just so happy you could come, how could I possibly mind? Come, have a seat, have a seat."
After a round of disingenuous pleasantries, the aunt took the gift and pulled Annabelle Young over to Cecelia Archer.
Only then did Annabelle Young notice there was another person beside the aunt.
She gave the person a casual glance... then another... then a full-on stare.
"Cecelia Archer?"
She looked back at Simone Vaughn and her aunt in utter shock.
"What are you doing here? Are you... Are you working for the Vaughn family now?"
Cecelia Archer’s first instinct was to hide, but then she had a second thought. ’I’ve done nothing wrong. I haven’t stolen anything. Although I accepted Miss Young’s help the other day, I didn’t take her money afterward, so we should be even.’
’We can’t avoid each other forever. Since this day was bound to come, it’s better to face it now.’
So, she looked at Annabelle Young calmly. "Hello, Miss Young. I didn’t expect us to meet again so soon."
’So they really do know each other!’
Simone Vaughn and her mother exchanged a look, feigning surprise.
"You two know each other? It’s such a small world! I can’t believe you’re already acquainted!"
Annabelle Young looked at Simone Vaughn in confusion.
"Didn’t I tell you yesterday? It was her. The one whose daughter is seriously ill. My blind date with your older brother took place in her daughter’s hospital room."
"Oh! So she’s the one you were talking about! I didn’t realize it was the same person. But... how could that be? Annabelle, are you sure you’re not mistaken? This is my sister-in-law. My older brother already brought her home and introduced her to the entire family."
What?
Annabelle Young thought she must have misheard.
"Sister-in-law? That’s impossible, right? Cecelia Archer, what is going on? Why are you at the Vaughn residence?"
Cecelia Archer composed herself, swallowing the guilt she felt, and spoke.
"It’s too complicated to explain in a sentence or two. To put it simply, Damien and I are together now. I’m sorry, Miss Young."
Annabelle Young looked like she was about to fall apart right there.
’She’s with Damien Vaughn?’
’Who even is she?’
’A single mother with a seriously ill child! A woman with no family background, no job, a complete nobody!’
’This woman, who just a few days ago claimed she barely knew Damien Vaughn, who was surviving by selling jewelry right under my nose, had actually won? She was with Damien Vaughn?!’
"I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand. Is there something wrong with my head, or... How is this possible?"
Seeing her in such utter disbelief, Simone Vaughn wanted to burst out laughing, but she fought to control her expression.
"You heard right, Annabelle. She is indeed my sister-in-law. She and my older brother have been together for a long time, and their child is already a few years old. My grandfather has already acknowledged both mother and daughter and even said they should get married as soon as possible. There must be some kind of misunderstanding here, right? If my brother already has a wife and child, why would he be going on a blind date with you?"
Annabelle Young couldn’t believe her ears or the scene unfolding before her. With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone and called her cousin, Brandon Jacobs.
When Brandon Jacobs heard that Damien Vaughn had a wife and child, he thought it was even more absurd than she did.
"Did you drink too much last night? Where’d you go? Did you get some bad booze that fried your brain? Spouting this kind of nonsense first thing in the morning."
"Damien’s married? With a wife and child? What’s next, you’re going to tell me he’s a grandfather! Look, I don’t have time for this nonsense. If you’re still half-asleep, go back to bed. Turn off your phone and stop embarrassing yourself in public!"
Annabelle Young had the call on speaker. When Simone Vaughn and her aunt heard Brandon Jacobs so adamantly refuting the news, they glanced at each other, speechless.
