Free Web NovelChapter 124: Chapter 124: Bringing Her to Meet the Childhood Friends
After hanging up, Damien Vaughn shook his head speechlessly and looked at Cecelia Archer.
"You heard that?"
Cecelia had heard. It was his friend’s birthday, and they were asking him to go out and celebrate. Zeke Walton was going too.
"I heard. Everyone misses you, so you should go. You don’t have to drop me off. I can just take a cab to the hospital to check on Mr. Grant. Zeke Walton isn’t there today, so there’s no one..."
VROOOM—the car suddenly lurched forward at high speed.
’Mr. Grant, Mr. Grant. All she thinks about all day is that guy named Grant.’
Damien Vaughn floored the gas pedal. "I’m definitely going, and you’re coming with me."
"Don’t mention Shane Grant in front of me again. If his leg is broken, he can find someone to look after him. If he’s really so poor he can’t afford to hire help, I’ll hire someone for him. Does he really need you to go?"
Cecelia Archer knew she’d said the wrong thing again.
Damien Vaughn had warned her last time not to mention Shane Grant in front of him. She stuck her tongue out guiltily.
"Is it appropriate for me to go?"
Damien Vaughn shot her an annoyed glance.
"Why wouldn’t it be?"
"From what I heard, it sounds like it’s all guys."
"Don’t worry. They’re not exactly saints; they’ll definitely bring dates. If I’m the only one who doesn’t, they’ll just make fun of me again."
’So that’s how it is.’
Damien Vaughn had helped Doris Morton out so much yesterday; now that he needed her, she couldn’t possibly refuse.
"Then let’s buy a lot of presents to bring. That should shut them up."
The two of them went to the mall and bought a mountain of things—food, drinks, and other items—filling the entire trunk.
When they arrived at Wyatt Wynn’s house and unloaded everything in front of him, Wyatt almost died laughing.
"Did you have a sudden attack of conscience? Are you trying to make up for the last twenty-eight years of birthday presents all at once? Vaughn, you do care about me. Deep down, you’re terrified of losing me, aren’t you?"
Damien Vaughn replied, "I’m more afraid you’ll die from being so petty. Is this enough? If not, I’ll have another truckload delivered to you tomorrow."
"It’s enough, it’s enough! Thanks, Vaughn. Let’s get going."
’That’s strange. Did they all have a change of heart? Surprisingly, it was just the guys in the house, with no dates in sight.’
"We’re leaving just like this? Are you sure you didn’t forget anything?"
"Forget what? We’re going to Cloudtop Manor. What don’t they have there? Let’s go, let’s go."
The group took two cars. Joking and laughing the whole way, they soon arrived at their destination: a famous resort in the suburbs of Veridia.
After they got out of the cars, Wyatt Wynn slung an arm around Damien Vaughn’s shoulder.
"I mean, you never bring a date. Why’d you have to bring a woman on this crucial day? I was planning a surprise for you, but now I’m worried it’s going to be more of a shock. Just a heads-up, I didn’t mean for this to happen, so don’t get pissed at me."
Damien Vaughn didn’t know what he was talking about, but the moment he stepped into the lobby of Cloudtop Manor, he understood.
"Gwen Morgan?"
"You’re here. Hi, Damien."
A tall, slender young woman was sitting on a sofa in the lobby’s lounge area, reading a magazine.
Hearing their voices, she put down her magazine and walked over with an air of easy grace. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
She had a chic, short haircut and was wearing a shirt-style, long dusty-blue dress with a pair of flat leather shoes.
She wore no jewelry and her makeup was light, but none of that could conceal the aura of confidence, composure, and elegant nobility that she radiated.
The moment Brandon Jacobs and Zeke Walton saw her, they both froze.
Then they rushed forward one after another to hug her.
"Holy shit! No wonder Wynn wouldn’t let me bring a date today, it was all for you! When did you get back? Gwen Morgan, that’s not cool, you didn’t even give us a heads-up!"
"Yeah, why did you only tell Wynn? You two aren’t having some secret affair behind our backs, are you?"
"Oh, give me a break. What kind of affair could they have? Gwen Morgan is with Vaughn..."
As he spoke, Brandon Jacobs glanced back at Cecelia Archer.
"Hey, uh, Vaughn... aren’t you going to come say hi?"
Everyone else was dressed casually, but Damien Vaughn, in his black shirt, black trousers, and gleaming leather shoes, looked as if he were there to conduct a business inspection.
His hands were shoved in his pockets, and he didn’t move an inch.
"No need. I was the one who asked her to come back. I already knew."
"What? You already knew? Holy shit, Gwen Morgan, what’s really going on with you two?"
Gwen Morgan hugged them all, laughing heartily.
"Damien heard I was unemployed over there, so he took pity on me and offered me a job. That’s why I came scurrying back. Don’t listen to his nonsense. I only got back two days ago and had to make the rounds with my family. Today’s the first free moment I’ve had, and you guys were the first people I thought of." freёwebnovel.com
Brandon Jacobs couldn’t hide his excitement.
"You’re going to work at Vaughn’s company? And you’re not leaving again? Oh, that’s fantastic! Our little crew is finally reunited. You have no idea how much we’ve missed you. Every time we get together, we always say, ’If only Gwen Morgan were here.’ You’re the only rose among the thorns, our beloved mascot. Seriously, why were you putting up with all that crap over there when you could have been living the good life back here? What was the point?"
"Tell me about it," Gwen Morgan said, smiling as she tapped her own head.
"I must have been out of my mind before. I just couldn’t see it. But thankfully, Damien knocked some sense into me, and I’ve finally come around. It’s not too late, is it?"
"Not too late at all! The timing is perfect. Aww, let me give you another hug. A twenty-eight-year-old woman, and you don’t look a day older. Just look at you, so beautiful!"
Watching the men interact so intimately with Gwen Morgan, hearing their easy jokes, Cecelia felt like an outsider who had crashed the party.
She didn’t share their privileged background, nor the bond of having grown up with them. It was so awkward.
Feeling vulnerable, she instinctively sought refuge, her gaze subconsciously landing on Damien Vaughn.
Fortunately, he showed no sign of joining Gwen Morgan.
"Alright, she’s back in the country for good now," Damien finally said. "You’ll have plenty of chances to see her, so many you’ll get sick of it. Let’s go. We’ve been in the car for a while. I’m exhausted. Let’s go get some rest."
"Let’s go, let’s go."
As the lively group started to head inside, Gwen Morgan finally turned her attention to Cecelia Archer.
"You must be Cecelia Archer, right? I didn’t expect you’d bring her today. She’s so beautiful. Hello, Cecelia. I’m Gwen Morgan. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
Cecelia Archer was surprised that she knew who she was.
’She hadn’t expected Damien Vaughn to mention her to another woman.’
A rush of warmth flooded through her.
’Had Damien Vaughn already introduced her to all his friends? Was he really ready for her and Candy to become part of his life?’
Looking at this tall, imposing man, thinking of everything he’d done for her, her heart began to pound uncontrollably as waves of warmth surged from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head.
’Damien Vaughn was serious.’
’Did this mean that with just a nod from her, Candy could have a complete family and become the young miss of the Vaughn Family?’
’This was bliss.’
To be protected and acknowledged by someone so powerful... so this was what happiness felt like. Cecelia Archer thought her smile must be exceptionally sweet at that moment.
"Hello, I’m Cecelia Archer. It’s very nice to meet you."
Gwen Morgan came over, linked her arm intimately with Cecelia’s, and whispered in her ear as they walked along with the group.
"Damien told me you’re his family doctor. That’s wonderful. I got a little too excited when I arrived and accidentally twisted my ankle. Could we find somewhere for you to take a look at it?"
