Free Web NovelChapter 153: Chapter 153: Cecelia Archer Is Missing
Cecelia Archer angrily pulled Candy out of the beauty salon. They bypassed their driver and quietly hailed a taxi on the side of the road.
In the car, Cecelia asked the driver for some tissues and, with trembling fingers, began to wipe the makeup off Candy’s face.
Candy looked at her silent mother, whose eyes seemed to be brimming with tears. The little girl felt scared and wronged.
"Mommy, I know Grandma doesn’t like me. I knew it from the first time we met. She said I was a bastard, and because of me, you’re not good enough for Uncle. So you can’t marry Uncle anymore, right?"
"I’m sorry. It’s all because of me. I’ve made you... again..."
Before she could finish, Cecelia pulled her into her arms again, stroking her head tightly.
"Nonsense. You’re Mommy’s precious darling. Don’t you ever say things like that again!"
"I don’t have to marry Uncle. I don’t have to marry anyone. Candy, there’s no rule that says a woman has to get married in her life, and no one can guarantee that a woman will be happy just because she’s married. So Mommy isn’t going to get married. And it is absolutely, definitely not because of you. So don’t let your imagination run wild, okay?"
"And don’t you worry about whether other people like you. In this world, all that matters is that Mommy will always love you, and you will always love Mommy. Being strong on our own is what makes us truly strong. We don’t need to depend on anyone."
"Don’t be scared. We have our own house now. Once you’re all better and can go back to school, Mommy will find a good job and work hard to earn money. Our lives will keep getting better and better, so don’t you worry about a thing, understand?"
Candy didn’t know if her mother was telling the truth, but looking into her determined eyes, she wanted to believe her.
"Candy promises to love Mommy forever. Mommy, you don’t have to work so hard. I’ll get better quickly, and I’ll study hard. When I grow up, I’ll be the one to take care of you."
With such a thoughtful and adorable daughter, Cecelia felt that nothing else mattered. She was happy, and the opinions and judgments of others weren’t worth a second thought.
Cecelia took Candy to a nearby mall. They washed her face in the restroom, bought a pretty new outfit, and then the two of them went to a hotel.
Because of what happened last night, Damien Vaughn was in a good mood today.
He called Brandon Jacobs during a break. The two joked around for a bit, and after learning that Cecelia had already gone home, Damien finished up his urgent work and left the office early.
But when he got home, Cecelia and Candy weren’t there. Only his grandfather and mother were chatting in the living room.
"Where are Cecelia and Candy? Are they playing in the garden?"
Damien asked his grandfather, feigning nonchalance. He didn’t expect his grandfather’s reply.
"You and Cecelia didn’t come back last night, and Candy was bored at home, so your mom took her out this morning. Cecelia came back around noon to find your mom and picked Candy up. You didn’t know?"
Damien didn’t know.
Cecelia hadn’t given him a single call or sent him a single text.
He subconsciously looked toward his mother, who met his gaze and said flatly,
"It seems she went back to her family’s home. Cecelia said she wanted to take the child out for a bit, so I let her go. I didn’t ask too many questions. Why are you looking at me like that?"
Even though everything seemed normal, Damien couldn’t shake the feeling that something was strange.
He took out his phone and dialed Cecelia’s number right in front of them.
But he called once, and there was no answer. He called a second time, and still, no one picked up.
Damien felt more and more that something was wrong. He locked his phone and looked at his mother, his eyes filled with displeasure.
"Why did you suddenly decide to take Candy out? And why would Cecelia suddenly decide to go to her family’s home? Did you two have a fight?"
The moment something happened, his first instinct was to suspect her, his own mother. She hadn’t even gotten a chance to settle the score with him over last night, and Mrs. Vaughn was instantly displeased.
"What is that supposed to mean? Am I that vicious in your eyes? The child was bored at home, so I took her out for a while. Was that wrong? She wanted to go to her family’s home, and I didn’t stop her. Was that wrong, too? Damien, I’m your mother, not your enemy. Do you really think it’s appropriate to speak to me like this?"
Appropriate or not, this was how it was. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Damien didn’t want to argue with her. He stood up and said to his grandfather,
"Cecelia isn’t answering her phone, and I’m a little worried. I’m going to go look for her."
The moment he heard that Cecelia wasn’t answering her phone and had suddenly taken the child back to her family’s home, Grandpa grew worried too.
"I’ll go with you. I miss Candy. I’m anxious to see her."
Mrs. Vaughn felt like she was about to be driven crazy by this grandfather-grandson duo.
’A woman who gave birth out of wedlock, who has nothing and is nothing, bringing a bastard with her, and they’re treating her like a precious treasure?!’
"Do you have to go that far? It’s only been a little while since you’ve seen them. What could have possibly happened? Do you really have to go find them yourselves?"
The old man really disliked the way Mrs. Vaughn spoke. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"Candy is the Vaughn Family’s first great-granddaughter and Damien’s first child. What’s wrong with me spoiling her a little? Besides, I’m just sitting around at home with nothing to do. I’ll just treat it as an outing to clear my head. Let’s go, let’s go, Damien. Hurry up."
Damien didn’t want his grandfather to come along. He was afraid that Cecelia had indeed left in a fit of anger after fighting with his mother, and he also didn’t want his grandfather to go through the trouble.
But seeing how anxious his grandfather was, he was afraid of upsetting him.
Damien drove his grandfather out himself. On the way, he tried calling Cecelia again, but this time the call wouldn’t even go through. It said the line was busy every time.
’Did Cecelia block me?’
A fire of anger surged inside Damien.
He had told her so many times to tell him right away no matter what happened, that he would help solve it, but she just wouldn’t listen! Did she distrust him that much?
Even if she had fought with his mother, as long as she was in the right, he would have taken her side! But to run away from home with the child and even block his number—what was that all about?
With a grim face, Damien floored it, speeding all the way to the outside of the residential complex where Cecelia’s brother rented a place.
He made the call, and thankfully, her brother picked up.
Upon hearing that Damien was waiting for him at the entrance to the complex, her brother quickly returned on his electric scooter.
"Damien, what happened? Why were you in such a hurry to find me? And this is...?"
Seeing an energetic, gray-haired old man standing beside Damien, her brother became a little reserved.
Damien introduced his grandfather. Her brother quickly wiped his hands on his clothes before shaking the old man’s hand and greeting him.
Grandpa only knew that Cecelia didn’t have much family and that her brother was a deliveryman. He hadn’t expected her brother to seem so simple and honest.
He had a very good impression of this type of person.
After some pleasantries, upon hearing that Cecelia had taken Candy and disappeared somewhere, her brother became very angry.
"That girl! Whatever the issue was, couldn’t she just tell you to your face? And she ran off alone with the child! I’m definitely going to give her a piece of my mind! Damien, don’t worry, I’ll call her right now!"
In the hotel room, Cecelia had just given Candy a bath, ordered takeout, and finished eating with her when her phone rang again.
She saw it was a call from her brother. Not knowing what he wanted, Cecelia hesitated for a long moment before finally answering.
It was the first time her brother had ever spoken to her so harshly.
"Where are you? Why didn’t you take Candy home? Do you have any idea that Damien is looking for you? You’re not answering your phone—did something happen? You’re a grown woman, why can’t you be more considerate? It’s not just Damien who’s worried; Grandpa is worried too. The man is so old, can’t you be a little more thoughtful?"
