Free Web NovelChapter 136: Chapter 136: If You Don’t Want to Sleep With Me, Who Do You Want to Sleep With?
"Don’t act like I demanded she cook for me to show her devotion. She was the one who insisted on making a show of it. And even if I had demanded it, so what? Would that have been so unreasonable?"
What was supposed to be a nice meal had been ruined from the moment his mother deliberately invited Gwen Morgan. Damien knew it instantly.
He was never afraid of his mother ignoring him, but he despised it when she used her maternal status as a pretense for these sudden shows of "concern."
She never asked for his opinion or considered his feelings, acting as if giving birth to him was the greatest gift she could bestow. He found it utterly laughable.
"This is a dinner table, not a debate stage. Grandpa and the kids are here. Mom, I don’t want to discuss this with you."
"If you like the food, eat it. If you don’t, I can have someone make you something else to your liking, or we can order takeout. It’s up to you. Do as you please."
Mrs. Vaughn was speechless.
After he spoke, Damien acted as if nothing had happened and calmly placed another bite of food in Cecelia Archer’s mouth.
Seeing the tense atmosphere and that the welcome-home dinner was about to completely fall apart, the Old Master stepped in to take charge.
"That’s enough. Everyone, less talk and more eating." freewebnøvel.coɱ
"Jessica, you’ve always been a reasonable person. Your daughter-in-law went to the trouble of doing this for you. Whether you like the food or not, show her some respect and eat a little. I’m an old man; I don’t have many days left. Please, for my sake, let’s just have a peaceful meal."
Out of respect for the Old Master, Jessica Bell reluctantly picked up her chopsticks again.
The meatballs were mediocre. She forced one down but couldn’t manage another.
Ms. King saw her staring at the spread, looking unsure of what to try next, and quickly made a well-intentioned suggestion.
"Madam, you should try the fried rice. The Young Madam peeled eleven pounds of fresh shrimp just to make it."
Mrs. Vaughn expressionlessly scooped up a spoonful of the Emperor’s Fried Rice. It, too, was nothing special.
"What a waste of all that shrimp. I really can’t stomach it. You all can have it."
’No wonder her hands are so swollen. She peeled eleven pounds of shrimp, and this is the thanks she gets?’
Damien Vaughn pulled Cecelia Archer closer and moved the fried rice in front of himself.
He tried a bite. "I think it’s quite good. If you won’t eat it, we will."
Mrs. Vaughn was speechless again.
’I’ve never seen a son be so stupid!’
’Arguing with his own mother at every turn, right in front of the aunts... That little vixen has completely addled his brain!’
"I’m a bit tired. You all take your time. I’m going upstairs to rest."
Mrs. Vaughn pushed her bowl aside and excused herself from the table. ’If she’s not eating, what’s the point of me staying here?’
Gwen Morgan quickly followed her. "I’m full, too. Please, everyone, take your time. I’ll go keep Ms. Bell company."
Back in the upstairs room, Mrs. Vaughn walked out onto the balcony without saying a word.
Although she remained silent, one look at her lonely, forlorn figure was enough to guess her mood. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Gwen Morgan walked to her side and began to comfort her in a soft voice.
"Damien was only twenty-three when he came back to the country by himself. He was so young, running the company all alone, even expanding into several new sectors. We can’t possibly imagine the pressure and loneliness he must have endured. We weren’t there to help him during his hardest times, yet now that he’s sorted everything out, we suddenly show up and start criticizing everything he does. Auntie, be honest—if you were in his shoes, would you react any better?"
"He’s human. He’s a young, passionate man. If he could just calmly accept anyone’s criticism without reacting at all, would he even be your son?"
Those few short sentences completely swept away Mrs. Vaughn’s disappointment in Damien, replacing it in an instant with a deep sense of compassion for him.
’Yes, Gwen is so right.’
’He was just a twenty-three-year-old kid when he came back to take over the corporation. He endured so much all by himself. And I, his own mother, wasn’t there to help him when he needed it most. Of course he resents me.’
’So that’s what it was. Everything he did tonight... he was just expressing his discontent, seeking comfort, acting out for my attention.’
’It’s true what they say: you can’t see the forest for the trees. If Gwen hadn’t pointed it out, I would have thought... ’
She instantly felt much more at ease and looked at Gwen Morgan with a newfound gentleness.
"You’re right. Thank you, Gwen. Otherwise, I would have completely misunderstood him tonight."
Gwen Morgan was delighted to see that her words had been taken to heart.
"You and Damien are both people I care about deeply. When you two are happy, I’m happy. When you’re not, I’m sad, too. There’s no need to thank me. Auntie, please don’t be so formal with me in the future."
Jessica Bell understood the hint and looked at her with a fervent gaze.
’So young, so beautiful, so clever, and so mindful of the bigger picture. If she could be with Damien, his career and his life would undoubtedly reach new heights. What’s not to love?’
"You’re probably the only person in the world who truly understands Damien. You’re even better at it than I am, his own mother. So I won’t patronize you with empty comforts."
"Gwen, you weren’t around before, and someone with ulterior motives took advantage of the situation with Damien. But thankfully, it’s not too late. As long as you stay by his side, I’m sure he’ll come to his senses soon enough."
"I’m confident I can." Gwen Morgan gave a playful wink.
"But Auntie, the timing of Cecelia Archer’s arrival was... unique. She likely showed up when Damien needed companionship the most. Forcing her to leave suddenly would be a huge blow to him. I’m not in a rush, so you shouldn’t be either. Let’s put Damien’s feelings first and take our time with this."
Gwen Morgan really was a good kid—so thoughtful and considerate. Jessica Bell wanted to pull her into a hug right then and there.
"Regarding this Cecelia Archer, you must have some thoughts. Why don’t you share your plans with me?"
And Gwen Morgan did, in fact, have a plan.
"First of all, you can’t be the villain in this. The Vaughn family is large, and you just came back. After clashing with Damien in public today, there are bound to be people waiting to see a show. We can’t let them get the satisfaction. We need a more subtle approach—make Cecelia Archer realize she’s out of her depth and leave on her own accord."
"That way, no one can blame you, and neither Damien nor Grandpa will hold it against you. What do you think?"
Jessica Bell thought it was a brilliant proposal.
"You were put in a difficult position tonight. You’re a good girl. When you and Damien are finally together, I’ll make it up to you."
After chatting for a while longer, Gwen Morgan left the Vaughn estate.
Seeing that the show was over, the second and third aunts finished their meal and went home. Damien and Cecelia took Candy upstairs.
Because they had taken Candy for a check-up the other day, Cecelia had sent Annie back to Shane Grant’s place. That meant she would have to share a room with Damien again tonight.
Before, there had been nothing between him and Gwen Morgan—or if there was, Cecelia didn’t know about it—so sharing a room with him hadn’t bothered her.
But after witnessing a disheveled Gwen Morgan return that day, the very thought of sharing a bed with Damien made her skin crawl.
"Mr. Vaughn, your mother just went through all the trouble of coming back, and you spent the entire dinner provoking her. Shouldn’t you go apologize? Candy and I will head to bed. You..."
Damien understood her unspoken message: she didn’t want to sleep with him.
On the day they went to Corvane to see a doctor, she had insisted on getting two rooms. Then, for the past few days, she had used Annie’s presence as an excuse to sleep in the children’s room. They hadn’t slept in the same bed for days.
’What’s this? Has she gotten used to sleeping separately? Does she plan to make this permanent? Give her an inch and she takes a mile, is that it?’
