My Child and I Married a Billionaire

Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Rendered Speechless by the Green Tea

Cecelia Archer was so exhausted she could barely open her eyes. In a daze, she heard someone calling her name but just couldn’t wake up.

Mrs. Vaughn called her once, no response. Twice, still no response. Furious, she reached out and yanked her ear.

"AH—"

Cecelia Archer cried out in pain and finally opened her eyes.

She saw Mrs. Vaughn in her pajamas, glaring at her furiously with wide eyes, and felt utterly bewildered.

"Ma’am, why aren’t you in bed? It’s so late. What’s wrong now?"

"What’s wrong now? You have the nerve to be annoyed with me? You went to sleep without even taking a shower. How can you be so filthy?"

As Mrs. Vaughn spoke, she fanned the air in front of her nose with her hand.

"It stinks! How am I supposed to sleep with you like this? Go wash up right now, or you won’t be getting any peaceful sleep tonight!"

Her head was buzzing. Cecelia had completely forgotten she hadn’t showered.

Knowing she was in the wrong, she dragged her dizzy, exhausted body out of bed.

After a quick shower that took just a few minutes, she returned to the bedside to find Mrs. Vaughn propped up against the headboard, apparently still waiting for her.

"Ma’am..."

"I didn’t get to eat anything at dinner. I’m hungry. Go make me something to eat."

Cecelia Archer: "?!"

"It’s getting late, so just make something simple. And be quick about it, I have low blood sugar."

Cecelia Archer: "..."

"Don’t tell Damien. I don’t want to worry him in the middle of the night. Cecelia, I’m sorry to put you through so much trouble on our first day meeting."

Still in her pajamas, Cecelia Archer went downstairs, cursing under her breath.

Even Ms. King was asleep; the entire house was silent.

She quietly entered the kitchen, deftly cooked a bowl of egg noodles, and brought it into the room. Mrs. Vaughn took less than five bites.

"It’s not quite to my taste. Forget it, I’m not eating any more. Go throw it out. And bring me a glass of water."

At this point, even a fool could see what was going on, and Cecelia was no fool.

’She doesn’t have anything important to say to me, and she certainly doesn’t have low blood sugar that requires a meal! She’s clearly just making up excuses to torment me!’

’If she doesn’t like me, she should just say so. It’s not like I’d refuse to leave. Why go through all this trouble?’

Cecelia Archer brought her the glass of water and, mentally and physically exhausted, sat down at the foot of the bed.

"Ma’am. If you don’t like me, if you don’t want me around, I’ll just leave tomorrow. There’s no need for all this..." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Mrs. Vaughn: "All what? I asked you to massage my legs and cook a bowl of noodles. You think that’s too much work, and now you’re feeling wronged? If I’d known you were so delicate, I wouldn’t have bothered you. Fine, fine, I’m sorry. I won’t dare ask you again. I apologize. Please don’t be mad at me, alright? Damien and Grandpa like you so much. If you go and say something to them tomorrow, I’ll be the one getting criticized again."

Cecelia Archer: "..."

All in all, it was an incredibly trying night.

With Mrs. Vaughn beside her, Cecelia spent the entire night in a state of half-sleep, never resting soundly.

She hadn’t gotten nearly enough sleep when she heard Ms. King’s familiar voice.

"Young Madam, it’s time to get up. The madam woke up early this morning to learn how to cook breakfast from me. She said she was making it for you, as an apology. You should hurry down and see."

’A woman who’s probably never cooked a day in her life actually got up early to learn, just for me?’

Cecelia Archer had no idea what new scheme Mrs. Vaughn was plotting, but she resolved not to play along. She took her sweet time getting out of bed.

By the time she brought Candy downstairs, Damien Vaughn and Grandpa were already seated at the dining table.

Mrs. Vaughn had completely shed yesterday’s domineering attitude. Dressed in a loose black skirt, an apron, and gloves, she looked the very picture of a gentle, virtuous wife.

"Cecelia, you’re up! You worked so hard making food for me yesterday. Damien was right to criticize me. As the elder, I should be the one taking the initiative to be good to you. So, this morning, I got up early and learned how to make a few dishes from Ms. King. They’re all your favorites. Come and try them, see if you like them."

Cecelia Archer: "..."

’What a complete one-eighty. Anyone who knew she’d tormented me half the night would be speechless. Anyone who didn’t would think we’d had a wonderful time together.’

"Thank you, Ma’am, but you really didn’t have to do this."

"What’s wrong? Don’t you like it? I’m just trying to apologize for yesterday... Are you refusing to accept my apology?"

"..."

As Mrs. Vaughn spoke, she suddenly squatted down and pulled a thick, bulging red envelope from her apron pocket.

"I didn’t know I’d suddenly gained such a big granddaughter. I came back in such a rush yesterday, I didn’t have time to prepare a red envelope. Let’s make up for it today. Candy, come here! My darling granddaughter, you’re not mad at Grandma, are you?"

It was the first time in her life Cecelia Archer had ever seen such a thick red envelope. It was so stuffed it couldn’t even be sealed shut.

She had no idea how much money was inside, nor why Mrs. Vaughn’s attitude had changed so drastically. She instinctively tried to refuse, but Mrs. Vaughn put on a reproachful look.

"What’s this? A grandmother can’t even give her granddaughter a red envelope? You really are still angry with me, aren’t you?"

"Oh, honestly. I may be old, but I’m a simple person. I say whatever’s on my mind and forget about it a moment later. And look at you."

"Dad, Damien, Cecelia is angry with me! I tried to appease her half the night, but it was no use. You two, hurry up and say something."

The two men didn’t know what had happened, but seeing Mrs. Vaughn’s wonderful attitude and her apparent determination to have a good relationship with Cecelia, they were more than happy to go along with it.

"Cecelia, since your mother-in-law has gone this far and even cooked for you, you shouldn’t be angry anymore. Just let what happened yesterday go."

Cecelia Archer was absolutely speechless.

’They make it sound like I’m being petty. In reality, what happened last night didn’t mean a damn thing to me!’

Seeing she was silent, Damien Vaughn walked over, took the red envelope, and stuffed it into Candy’s pocket.

"There. If Mom gives you a red envelope, just take it. We’re all family now, there’s nothing we can’t talk through. Hurry up and come eat."

He pulled Cecelia over to a seat at the dining table.

Mrs. Vaughn sat down across from them, smiling radiantly at Cecelia as she spoke.

"I noticed that we’re about the same height, but you weigh less than I do. I had a designer who specializes in Chinese-style fashion make a qipao for me when I was abroad, but it was a little too tight, so I never got to use it. I happened to bring it back with me this time, and it’s brand new. Why don’t I give it to you? Cecelia, later you can change into it and we’ll go shopping together."

"Before I had a daughter-in-law, I used to fantasize all the time about becoming best friends with my future daughter-in-law—going shopping, eating out, chatting, getting beauty treatments together. I can’t believe that day has come so suddenly."

Cecelia Archer: "..."

Mrs. Vaughn was as excited as an 18-year-old girl. She eagerly had Ms. King bring down the qipao, which was paired with a set of six-centimeter high heels.

"Look, this lotus flower was embroidered entirely by hand. Isn’t it lifelike? And the color is very flattering for your skin tone. And these shoes, I bought them but could never bring myself to wear them. Hurry and eat. When you’re done, try them on for Damien and your grandpa to see. If they look good, we’ll wear them to go shopping!"