Free Web NovelChapter 112: Chapter 112: Overwhelming Possessiveness
Being watched by two men while Damien Vaughn rubbed her feet and put her shoes on, Cecelia Archer was about to die of embarrassment. freewёbnoνel.com
She wiggled her feet slightly and replied perfunctorily.
"It feels much better. It’s getting late, isn’t it? Let’s head back."
Damien Vaughn had brought Cecelia Archer out tonight specifically to lift her spirits.
They’d had drinks, they’d danced, and he’d staked his claim. He was completely satisfied.
"You’re tired. Okay. Candy’s still at home waiting for us to come back so she can sleep. Let’s go."
As he spoke, he took Cecelia Archer’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm.
Cecelia Archer instinctively glanced at Shane Grant, wanting to say goodbye, but he was already staring right at her.
"Mr. Grant..."
"Cecelia, are you free tomorrow?"
Shane Grant’s expression was grim, and he looked quite unhappy as he cut in before she could speak.
"Annie hasn’t been doing well recently. He hasn’t gone to school since we last saw each other at the hospital. I broke my promise to him, so he’s lost all trust in me. Now, he won’t listen to a word I say... If it’s not too much trouble, I was hoping you could go see him tomorrow."
Cecelia Archer’s heart ached to hear this.
She knew it was her fault that Annie was acting this way.
He craved a mother’s love, and she had promised to give it, only to break her word. His little heart must be shattered.
"I’m free! I’ll bring Candy over first thing tomorrow morning. Should I go to your house or..."
’She’s not even going to ask my opinion? Just agrees on the spot? And to his house, no less?’
Damien Vaughn frowned and pulled Cecelia Archer behind him.
"Who said you’re free tomorrow? You have to be with me tomorrow."
Cecelia Archer froze. ’With him for what? He hadn’t mentioned any plans for tomorrow before they left.’
Damien Vaughn read her expression like an open book.
"Grandpa isn’t feeling well. I’m taking him to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow. You and Candy have to come along."
’Using Grandpa’s health to pressure me?’
Cecelia Archer said, "...Then the day after tomorrow. Mr. Grant..."
Shane Grant graciously didn’t make things difficult for her.
"Alright, one more day doesn’t matter. The day after tomorrow, then. First thing..."
"She’s not free the day after tomorrow either."
Damien Vaughn’s possessiveness flared. He couldn’t stand the affectionate way Shane Grant was looking at Cecelia Archer.
"My friend is getting married the day after tomorrow, and Cecelia Archer has to attend with me."
If the story about his grandfather’s hospital visit could have been real, this was clearly just a deliberate lie.
Before Shane Grant could respond, Cecelia Archer angrily yanked her hand from the crook of Damien’s arm.
"So what is it? The day after that, and the day after that, too? Will I just never be free as long as it’s to go to Mr. Grant’s house? Why are you being like this? I’m just going to see a little boy. Don’t I even have that little bit of freedom?"
’The moment I say she can’t see Shane Grant, look how angry she gets!’
’If she’s so fond of Shane Grant, then why did he leave her high and dry a few days ago, forcing her to go work for Annabelle Young like some charity case?’
Damien Vaughn’s brow furrowed, and just as he looked about to lose his temper, Zeke Walton stepped between them.
"That’s not what he means, Cecelia. Vaughn really does have a friend’s wedding to attend—I got an invitation, too. You two just went public, so of course he wants to introduce you to more of his friends. It’s his way of showing he loves you! And you... okay, okay. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. How about this: on the day after tomorrow, I’ll go with you to Mr. Grant’s. How’s that?"
On the drive back, Damien Vaughn’s face was grim, and he didn’t say a word. Seeing his icy demeanor, Cecelia Archer couldn’t find the words to break the tension, so she simply remained silent.
The two of them didn’t say a single word to each other all the way until bedtime.
That night, Damien Vaughn didn’t move Candy to the side against the wall. With Candy between them, they spent the entire night in silence.
The next morning, Cecelia Archer woke up early, washed Candy up, got her dressed, and went to sit in the dining room downstairs.
When Old Master Vaughn came downstairs, Cecelia Archer rushed to ask him what was wrong and which hospital they were going to, leaving him utterly baffled.
"I don’t feel unwell anywhere, and it’s not time for a follow-up. Why are we going to the hospital again? Did my doctor tell me to come in for an examination?"
Cecelia Archer: "..."
Just then, Damien Vaughn came up from behind, his face grim, and sat down next to the old master.
"A routine physical. I happen to be free today, so we’ll all go with you. Don’t overthink it."
It wasn’t necessary for so many people to go, but it was rare for his grandson and granddaughter-in-law to be so filial. Since everyone was willing to accompany him, the old master was happy to go for the check-up.
Damien Vaughn deliberately dragged things out, having the old master checked from head to toe, inside and out. The entire day was spent at the hospital.
Although he and Cecelia Archer hadn’t exchanged a single word all day, just watching her move around in front of him brought him an inexplicable sense of comfort.
After dinner, Cecelia Archer gave the old master’s legs some physical therapy and then took Candy back to their room.
"Candy, tomorrow we’re going to see Annie. We haven’t seen him in a few days. Do you miss him?"
"We’re going to see Annie?" Candy instantly perked up.
"Yes! I miss him so much! I even dreamed about him last night! Mommy, you’re finally taking me to see him! I’ve gotten so many presents recently. Can I bring a few for Annie?"
"Of course you can," Cecelia Archer said, pinching her little cheek.
"We ran into Uncle Grant when we were out yesterday. He said Annie hasn’t been in a good mood lately, probably because we moved out of his house. Be a good girl, Candy. When we go tomorrow, I need you to cheer him up and put in a good word for Mommy, so he’ll forgive me, okay?"
"Okay. I forgot to get his phone number last time we left. Tomorrow I’ll bring my watch and add him on WeChat, so we can chat every day. Don’t worry, Mommy, I’ll cheer him up!"
The good mood Damien Vaughn had enjoyed all day evaporated at their conversation. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
’Dreaming about him?’
’A pair of ungrateful little things, the big one and the small one!’
And it wasn’t just the two of them who were excited to finally be going to the Grant residence. Zeke Walton was excited, too.
He’d dressed sharp first thing in the morning and driven over to the Vaughn estate himself.
As soon as Damien Vaughn came downstairs, he saw him talking to Ms. King by the dining table and couldn’t help but sneer.
"You’re certainly enthusiastic. I never see you this eager to get to work."
Zeke replied, "I’m doing this for you, man. I’ve got to be enthusiastic when I’m escorting Cecelia, right? Come on, Vaughn, don’t be upset. You’ll have me, Candy, and his son Annie there. With so many chaperones, you still don’t trust her?"
It wasn’t that Damien Vaughn didn’t trust Cecelia Archer; it was Shane Grant he didn’t trust.
But things had already come to this. If he tried to stop her again, Cecelia Archer would definitely accuse him of restricting her personal freedom again.
Damien Vaughn could only feign magnanimity. "Am I such a petty person? I just can’t stand seeing her casually give a foot rub to anyone."
"Has Grant gone broke or something? Can’t he even afford a doctor? If his leg is acting up, he should get it treated. What kind of man plays the pity card in front of her?"
Zeke Walton felt that he had a point.
"Mr. Grant really should see a doctor if he’s not well. I’ll get in touch with a few top neurologists for him. Relax. As long as I’m there, I won’t let Cecelia get another chance to rub his feet."
Damien Vaughn felt there was something off about that statement, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He just shot Zeke a sideways, irritated glare.
"Call me anytime if something happens. And by the way, relay a message to Shane Grant for me: the doors of Vaughn Hospital are always open for him."
