My Child and I Married a Billionaire

Chapter 178: Chapter 178: President Vaughn Is Back

Although it was his own mother who had died, and Damien Vaughn’s heart was heavy, he just couldn’t believe Cecelia Archer was capable of such a thing.

"Grandfather, just give me some time to investigate and find out the truth..."

"COUGH COUGH COUGH..."

The old man was about to die from fury at Damien Vaughn.

"You’re normally so sharp. How is it that the moment Cecelia Archer’s name comes up, your brain turns to mush? What more is there to investigate? The facts are crystal clear. The police assigned blame in an instant, and you still want to look into it? Are you that desperate to make excuses for her? That was your mother! The mother who went through the hardship of giving birth to you and raising you for twelve years! Is she less important than a woman you’ve only known for a few months?"

"No wonder your mother always said Cecelia Archer was a seductress who’d stolen your very soul. She was right! Damien, you can’t even tell right from wrong anymore!"

But no matter how his grandfather berated him, Damien Vaughn refused to accept his view.

"No matter what you say, I have to go to the scene and see it for myself. If Cecelia Archer really did it, I won’t show any mercy. But if she didn’t... Please, try not to get upset. I’ll be back soon, alright?"

With that, Damien Vaughn shot to his feet.

Seeing that he couldn’t stop him, the old man flew into a rage and began to cough even more violently.

"You unfilial whelp, stop right there! Stop!"

"You wouldn’t listen to your mother, and now you won’t even listen to me. Are you trying to kill me with anger? COUGH COUGH COUGH... COUGH COUGH COUGH..."

Damien Vaughn suppressed the ache in his heart and walked swiftly to the door. ’He knew his grandfather would be fine.’

A whole crowd was waiting outside the hospital room. Even if he failed in his filial duty, others would step in to perform it for him. But Cecelia Archer was another story.

’If I don’t help her, she’s doomed.’

’If she dies, what will happen to Candy?’

His hand was on the doorknob. Just as Damien Vaughn was about to pull it open, the door was pushed in from the outside.

He looked up to see Gwen Morgan’s face in the doorway.

She was wearing a black dress with her hair tied back, a white flower pinned to her sleeve. Her face was bare of makeup, and her eyes were swollen like walnuts, the rims a startling red.

The moment she saw Damien Vaughn, the tears she had just managed to suppress came flooding back.

She rushed forward and threw her arms tightly around Damien Vaughn’s waist.

"Damien, you’re finally back! Your mother... she didn’t get to see you one last time. She was so heartbroken, so full of regret, sob... She was so pitiable, Damien. I’m just so devastated. Why was fate so cruel to her? Why were the people she loved the most always the ones to hurt her? Sob, sob, sob... Why..."

She cried with such heart-wrenching, hoarse emotion that even his aunts in the hallway, hearing her, couldn’t help but feel a sting in their noses.

Indeed, people are truly incomparable.

You give your all to some people, and they just stab you in the back.

Then there are others, merely friends, who grieve for your misfortune as if they were your own daughter. What a world.

Normally, if Gwen Morgan hugged him like this, Damien Vaughn would have pushed her away without a second thought. But now...

Gwen Morgan’s tears soaked through his shirt, her nails digging deeply into his waist and back, but he bore it all in silence.

Gwen Morgan cried inconsolably for a long, long time, only letting go when she was nearly out of breath.

Seeing she was a wreck from crying, Damien Vaughn pulled her into the hospital room and guided her into a chair.

"Don’t cry. Have some water and rest. I’m going to see my mom."

"Don’t!"

Gwen Morgan grabbed him, her voice hoarse and her eyes clouded with tears.

"You’re not ready. Maybe you should go later. The mortuary cosmetologist is... suturing her wounds. You know, after a fall from the eighth floor..."

Gwen Morgan left the rest unsaid, but Damien Vaughn’s mind could fill in the horrible details.

’A fall from the eighth floor... she must be unrecognizable.’

’For a presentable viewing, the cosmetologist would have to piece her back together.’

He was her son. And while he hadn’t been particularly close to his mother when she was alive, the thought of having to witness the horrific state of her body...

Damien Vaughn clenched his jaw, his fists tightening as he shut his eyes.

The old man looked at Gwen Morgan, then at Damien Vaughn. He suddenly grabbed one of each of their hands, pulling them together as he leaned forward.

"Gwen, this old man is sorry. When your aunt was alive, she told me many times that you are beautiful and kind, well-educated, and from a respectable family—the perfect match for Damien. But I was so confused..."

"Now, I know I was wrong. If I beg your forgiveness, can you give this old man another chance?"

Fresh tears streamed down Gwen Morgan’s face.

"Grandfather, what are you saying? How could I ever be angry with you?"

"That’s good. Hearing you say that means I can die in peace."

"Grandfather! Don’t you dare talk like that!"

"It’s not a curse, it’s the truth. I don’t think I have much time left. Damien, this is my last dying wish, and it was your mother’s last wish, too. Come here. Look at me."

He yanked Damien Vaughn with all his might, forcing him to turn and face him alongside Gwen Morgan.

"I want you to cut ties with Cecelia Archer completely and permanently. Marry Gwen Morgan, build a happy family, and spend the rest of your life cherishing and protecting her. Can you do that?"

Damien Vaughn’s mind was still reeling from the horrific images of his mother’s death, and now his grandfather was proposing marriage on his behalf? ’How absurd!’

"Grandfather, do you really think this is the right time to be talking about this?"

"It has to be said, appropriate or not! It’s not like I have much time left! Cecelia Archer’s fate is sealed, so don’t even think about making excuses for her! Even if you were willing to let her go, you still have the Bell Family to answer to! If you dare to protect your mother’s killer, Damien Vaughn, you’re worse than an animal!"

Damien Vaughn’s expression grew even darker.

"It’s not about me protecting her. I don’t believe Cecelia Archer would sign a confession. They could beat her to death and she still wouldn’t admit to something she didn’t do. You’re condemning her out of sheer prejudice!"

With that, Damien Vaughn stormed out of the room, his face ashen with fury.

Ryan hurried to catch up. "President Vaughn, are you alright?"

Damien Vaughn strode forward with purpose, his face grim and silent. Ryan swallowed hard.

"After it happened, I immediately had a professional team look into it. Between the surveillance footage and the scene itself, all the evidence really does point to Miss Archer..."

Damien Vaughn remained silent, making a beeline for the stairwell. His long legs carried him down the steps with a series of heavy THUMPS.

Ryan was still explaining the details of his investigation when Damien Vaughn suddenly pushed open the door to another hospital room and froze.

"Where’s Candy?"

Ryan’s mind finally caught up, and he remembered Candy.

"I... I couldn’t get ahold of you, and I was getting an earful from everyone, and then with your grandfather being hospitalized..."

Damien Vaughn shot him a look that could kill, and Ryan’s mouth started to tremble.

"I’ll go find her right now!"

He turned to bolt, but Damien Vaughn’s deep voice stopped him.

"Wait!"

"What is it, President Vaughn?"

"Where is Cecelia Archer now?"

"Rhineharbor District Detention Center."

"Bring Candy and meet me there in an hour."