Free Web NovelChapter 125: Chapter 125: Wishful Thinking
Cecelia froze. ’Family doctor? So that’s how Damien Vaughn introduced me?’
Before Cecelia could reply, Gwen Morgan turned and called out to the men.
"You guys go on ahead. Cecelia and I are just going to the restroom. We’ll be right there."
She pulled Cecelia into the restroom.
The moment the door closed, Gwen Morgan slumped against her, her face contorting in pain.
"Oh, it hurts so much! I twisted my ankle the second I got out of the car, and it’s been killing me ever since. I would’ve said something sooner if I wasn’t worried they’d laugh at me. I’m so sorry, Cecelia. It’s embarrassing to have you see me like this right after we’ve met."
Cecelia didn’t find a sprained ankle funny at all. She was still reeling from what Gwen had said earlier.
’Family doctor...’ God knew how fast her heart had pounded when Gwen Morgan called out her name. She had thought Damien Vaughn had finally told someone about their relationship. Turns out, it was all just wishful thinking...
"Quick, help me see if I’ve broken any bones. If it’s serious, I’ll just have to let them laugh at me. Cecelia, what’s wrong? Are you unwilling to even look at my foot?"
After rattling on to herself and getting no reaction from Cecelia, Gwen Morgan seemed to have an epiphany and took out her phone.
"Right. That was thoughtless of me. Asking you to treat me on our first meeting, and my foot no less. Of course, I have to pay for the consultation. How do you charge? By the month, by the hour, or per visit? So, how much should I pay you?"
Although the other woman’s words were likely unintentional, Cecelia, acutely aware of her own wishful thinking, felt a surge of shame and anger. Gwen Morgan repeatedly bringing up money made her feel like a greedy, pathetic clown.
"It’s fine. I wasn’t thinking about that. You don’t need to pay me. Just lean against the wall and take off your shoe. I’ll take a look for you."
Gwen Morgan leaned back against the wall and slipped off one shoe. Cecelia crouched down, lifted Gwen’s foot onto her own knee, and gently squeezed her ankle.
"It doesn’t seem like anything serious. You just twisted it. Moving it around a bit should help. If you’re still worried, you can ask a staff member for some pain-relief spray."
"Oh, is that all? Well, if you say it’s fine, then I’m relieved."
Gwen Morgan put her shoe back on and tiptoed to the sink, examining herself in the mirror as she washed her hands.
"I left in such a hurry today I didn’t even do my makeup properly. Cecelia, take a look for me. Do I look okay?"
Having just touched Gwen’s foot, Cecelia also needed to wash her hands and moved to the adjacent faucet.
She glanced at Gwen Morgan’s face in the mirror. Though her makeup was light, every detail was meticulously crafted. It was what people called a "no-makeup makeup look"—utterly perfect.
"You look great. You’re very beautiful, Miss Morgan, and your skin is lovely. You’d probably be just as pretty without makeup."
Gwen Morgan smiled and glanced back at her in the mirror.
"You’re very pretty too. Much prettier than I imagined. Your skin is great as well. No wonder someone as picky as Damien would have you as his doctor."
Cecelia had never found the word "doctor" so grating before. She regretted coming out with Damien Vaughn today.
’An ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend, who are also childhood friends, reuniting... they must have so much to talk about, so much catching up to do. What am I even doing here?’
’The birthday party hasn’t started yet. There’s still time to leave.’
"Thank you, Miss Morgan. We should get back out there."
"Don’t be in such a hurry. There’s still so much I want to talk to you about."
Gwen Morgan turned off the faucet, walked smilingly over to Cecelia, and intimately took her hand again.
"I don’t know why, but I felt a connection the moment I saw you, like we were long-lost sisters. I really like you. Cecelia, I haven’t been back in the country for years, and I barely have any friends here. Would you consider being my friend?"
Cecelia found this scene all too familiar.
When she first met Annabelle Young, it had been just as harmonious and warm. Who knew what would happen later... freēwēbnovel.com
With a small smile, she pulled her hand away.
"You wanting to be my friend is an honor, Miss Morgan, but I’m usually swamped with things to do..."
"That’s fine. I have to work too. We can just meet up when we’re free. Here, let’s add each other on WeChat. I’ll ask you out for coffee and shopping when I have time."
Regardless of how things might turn out later, it was impossible to refuse such a display of goodwill. Cecelia had no choice but to add her on WeChat.
Gwen Morgan put her phone back in her bag and linked arms with her again. She began questioning Cecelia as they walked out.
"Which university did you graduate from? How old are you? Did you study orthopedics? How did you and Damien meet? How long have you known each other? Why aren’t you working at a hospital? Did you choose to come to the Vaughn family because he pays well? What about your position at the hospital then? Or did Damien arrange for them to hold it for you?"
Cecelia was taken aback by the barrage of questions, none of which she wanted to answer.
She desperately wanted to leave right then and there, but she hadn’t said anything to Damien Vaughn yet, and Gwen Morgan was still half-leaning on her.
After a pause, Cecelia could only turn the question back on her.
"Didn’t Mr. Vaughn tell you?"
Gwen Morgan scoffed playfully. "That clueless guy? He’s as dense as a block of wood. He’s in no mood to talk to me about this stuff. I’m only asking because I like you and want to get to know you better. C’mon, tell me, tell me."
Cecelia gave her the short version, "We haven’t known each other long, just a few months. I ended up at the Vaughn residence by chance. I haven’t started looking for a hospital job yet."
"Oh, I see," Gwen Morgan nodded.
"So, after being around Damien for so long, do you think he’s a good guy?"
Cecelia: "?"
"What I mean is, do you think he’s easy to get along with? What’s his temper like?" freēwēbnovel.com
Cecelia understood.
’Gwen Morgan doesn’t want to be my friend at all. She’s playing the same game as Annabelle Young, taking an indirect approach to try and get information about Damien Vaughn from me. She likes him too.’
’Unbelievable.’
’I can’t believe I got involved with a guy who’s such a chick magnet.’
"You said it yourself, Mr. Vaughn doesn’t talk much. I don’t know him very well."
After saying that, Cecelia knew she shouldn’t ask, but she couldn’t suppress the sour feeling in her heart and posed a question of her own.
"Have you and Mr. Vaughn known each other for many years, Miss Morgan?"
"It’s much more than ’many years.’"
At this, Gwen Morgan’s face absolutely lit up.
"The four of us—him, Brandon Jacobs, Wyatt Wynn, and I—we’ve known each other since we were born. We went to kindergarten together, elementary school, middle school, and college. Damien and I even went abroad for our master’s degrees together. So, what do you think? Is that ’many years’?"
Cecelia knew they were childhood friends, but she hadn’t realized they were *this* close.
Gwen Morgan continued, "You must be curious. If we went to grad school together, why did I stay abroad while Damien came back alone, right?"
"The truth is, he didn’t want to come back either, but his grandfather’s health was failing, and someone had to take over the Vaughn family business... We were forced to be apart for over four years. But it’s okay. I’m back now, and from now on, I’ll do everything I can to make his life, both at work and at home, a little easier."
