My Child and I Married a Billionaire

Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Come, Sit on My Lap

People who have lived life at the bottom of society experience and witness so much suffering that they’re naturally more empathetic than those who are perched high above.

Cecelia Archer was grateful for Ms. King’s warning, but...

"I understand, Ms. King. Let’s start bringing out the dishes."

As they carried the dishes out, they found that the workday was over and the men had returned. They were gathered around the sofa, chatting with Mrs. Vaughn, whom they hadn’t seen in ages.

Damien Vaughn was back too.

As instructed, the driver had taken Cecelia Archer to the supermarket before calling Damien to report her movements. That was how he learned his mother was back in the country.

He worried his mother would meddle and find fault with the daughter-in-law who had appeared out of nowhere, so he immediately dropped everything at work and rushed back.

When he walked in, he saw Candy playing happily with his grandfather. He saw his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in ages. But he didn’t see Cecelia Archer anywhere.

He was just about to go look for her when his second aunt pulled him over to his mother’s side.

His mother had visited him frequently when he was in graduate school abroad. To be honest, it had only been three or four years since they’d last met. He didn’t miss her.

On the contrary, his mother was too young, too self-centered. She’d hardly fulfilled her maternal duties when he was growing up, yet now that he was an adult, she was always trying to impose her views on him. Damien Vaughn deeply resented it.

But in front of his second and third aunts, he didn’t want to embarrass his mother.

As he listened to them talk, his mind elsewhere, he saw Cecelia Archer emerge from the kitchen carrying a dish and walk over to the dining table.

Damien Vaughn felt a pang of frustration. ’No wonder I didn’t see her when I got back. Why did she go to the kitchen?’

"Cecelia."

His second aunt was leaning past him to speak with Mrs. Vaughn when Damien suddenly frowned and stood up.

"Mom’s back. Why are you in the kitchen instead of out here with her?"

’Mom?’

Cecelia Archer set the dish down, her expression complex as she looked back.

Before she could speak, his second aunt interjected with a smile.

"It’s precisely because your mother is back that Cecelia wanted to show her devotion by cooking herself! Damien, you really found a good wife—look how capable she is. None of us from our generation can even step into a kitchen, but Cecelia can. She’s even personally making lotus root meatballs for your mother."

’They had a whole crowd of people sitting around chatting, and they made *her* go cook lotus root meatballs? Did the Vaughn family not have any maids? No chefs? At the very least, couldn’t they have ordered from a restaurant? Did Damien Vaughn’s wife need to be doing this kind of thing?’

Damien Vaughn certainly didn’t want Cecelia to be saddled with the "dutiful wife" label.

’She’d suffered more than enough growing up. This kind of nonsense, used to brainwash women into willingly taking on more household chores, was not going to befall her!’

’Even he, a man, could see it clearly. How could someone as smart as her fall for their trap?’

Still, what was done was done, and it was all for his mother, so Damien couldn’t say much more.

"That’s enough. Go take a break. Let Ms. King handle the rest. Come here."

As he spoke, he reached a hand out to Cecelia, wanting her to come over and rest.

Hearing that her son was hopelessly bewitched by a vixen was one thing. Seeing it with her own eyes was something else entirely.

Mrs. Vaughn wanted to remain composed, but she couldn’t contain her anger.

She shot to her feet.

"What’s the point of coming over here? Since the food is ready, let’s all go to the table and eat. I’m hungry. Let’s go."

The whole group moved over to the dining table and sat down in their respective seats.

Cecelia helped Ms. King bring out the last two dishes. When she saw the empty seat to Damien’s left, she figured it was for her. But just as she was about to sit, Mrs. Vaughn suddenly called her name.

"Gwen Morgan is at the door. Cecelia, go let her in."

’Gwen Morgan?’

’It’s Mrs. Vaughn’s first day back, and this is a family gathering. Why would Gwen Morgan be here?’

Seeing the questioning look Damien shot her way, Mrs. Vaughn explained in a tone that was feignedly casual yet left no room for argument.

"It’s been a while, and I missed her, so I asked her to come. I hope no one minds?"

The second aunt’s eyes darted about.

"Gwen Morgan? Isn’t that Morgan’s daughter? The little girl who grew up with Damien? She used to visit from time to time during her college years, but it’s been a few years since we’ve seen her. We hadn’t thought about her, but now that you mention it, we’re quite curious. By all means, have her come. The more the merrier! What objection could we possibly have? Cecelia, you’d better hurry."

Those in the know could tell she was being ordered around, but an outsider might have thought she was being sent out to greet the guest as a representative of the Vaughn family.

The justification sounded too good to refuse, so Cecelia had no choice but to go.

Just as she stepped out into the hall and came to a stop, she saw the butler leading Gwen Morgan over. Gwen was carrying a pile of beautifully wrapped boxes.

"Miss Morgan."

"Cecelia."

Gwen Morgan beamed as she handed the boxes to her.

"I haven’t seen Grandpa and the others in so long, so I brought some small gifts. Sorry to trouble you by having you come all the way out here to greet me."

"It’s no trouble. We were just about to have dinner. You have excellent timing. Please join us."

"Oh, really? Then my timing is perfect. Let’s go in."

With that, Gwen Morgan stepped into the main hall first.

It was as if she were the lady of the house, leaving Cecelia in her dust.

The moment she saw everyone, she started calling out enthusiastic greetings from across the room.

"Grandpa, long time no see! It’s Gwen Morgan. I’ve come back to see you."

"Ms. Bell, long time no see! Joe York, Aunt Ford, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, it’s been too long!"

She was poised and graceful, acting incredibly familiar with everyone. She walked to the dining table, hugged the old patriarch directly, and gave him a peck on the cheek before going around to hug everyone else one by one.

"I haven’t been back to the country for several years; I only just returned two days ago. I was going to choose a more suitable day to pay a formal visit, but when I heard Ms. Bell was also back, I couldn’t help but rush over. I hope you all don’t mind, haha."

The Morgan family was one of Veridia’s most prominent clans, and Gwen Morgan’s father, Marcus Morgan, had been best friends with Damien Vaughn’s late father. The two were family friends for generations, so how could anyone possibly hold something like this against her?

Everyone was warm and friendly, bustling to get her seated. Gwen Morgan took advantage of the situation and sat in the chair right next to Damien Vaughn.

"I know you all want for nothing, but I still prepared some small gifts. They’re not valuable, but it’s the thought that counts. You have to take them whether you like them or not, so don’t argue with me, haha."

Then, as if just remembering Cecelia was there, she waved her over.

"Cecelia, bring the gifts over here."

Cecelia: "..."

The gifts were pieces of art Gwen Morgan had specially brought back from overseas. She explained them to everyone, earning a wave of praise. After the old patriarch accepted his gift, he finally had a moment to call for Ms. King.

"Set those things aside for now. Go, get another chair for Cecelia."

Cecelia was so touched she felt a sting in her nose and was on the verge of tears.

All those people were seated, laughing and smiling, while she was the only one left standing behind them all, as if she were their little servant girl.

Not a single person had cared about her feelings. Only the old patriarch...

Ms. King saw her awkward predicament as well. She gave Cecelia a pitying look and was about to move a chair for her when Damien leisurely leaned back in his seat and cut in.

"That won’t be necessary. There are only enough seats for the people here. It’ll be too crowded if we squeeze in another chair."

Cecelia: "??"

Everyone thought he was about to say something outrageous and got their expressions ready for the drama. ƒrēewebnovel.com

Damien reached a hand back and, without turning his head, spoke to Cecelia.

"Come over here and sit on my lap. You worked the hardest for this meal, so I’ll hold you while we eat."