Free Web NovelChapter 57: Chapter 57: Watching Her Show Off Affection With Someone Else
"HAHAHA, of course, that would be wonderful. But this isn’t for Grandpa Lee to decide. It’s up to your father and Aunt Archer."
"Shane, I see you and Miss Archer are getting along quite well, and the children like each other too. Are good things on the horizon?"
"If that’s the case, don’t forget to invite me when the big day comes. I was friends with your mother for half a lifetime. Being able to witness your happiness again would be like fulfilling a wish for her."
Cecelia Archer: "..."
Shane Grant couldn’t help but glance at her. Being so openly matched up with him had made her shy. Her cheeks and ears were red as tomatoes, and with her eyes slightly lowered, she looked utterly captivating.
Shane Grant’s heart skipped a beat.
’Over the years, countless young, beautiful, and highly educated university students had applied to be a nanny and tutor for Annie. But Annie didn’t approve of a single one, always crying and throwing tantrums, refusing to cooperate.’
’The last one, Ms. Sawyer, had only stayed because he had forced her to, compelling Annie to accept her. But she only lasted three months before making up an excuse and refusing to come back.’
’He never would have expected that Annie would take a liking to Cecelia Archer at first sight.’
’Not only did he want her as his teacher, but he also wanted her as his mother. And now, even an old fox like Uncle Lee, a man who had seen countless people and had impeccably sharp judgment, had a good impression of Cecelia Archer after meeting her just once.’
He couldn’t help but wonder: ’Could it be that Cecelia Archer is an angel sent by Rose’s spirit in heaven, meant to take her place for us?’
’Otherwise, how could I, a man who deeply loved Rose, not feel any aversion to Cecelia?’
’Since this seems to be destined, I might as well seize the opportunity.’
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. Don’t worry, when that day comes, you will certainly have the seat of honor."
’So, does this mean Dad has decided to start pursuing Auntie?’
Annie was thrilled, as if Cecelia Archer had already become his mother. His big eyes darted around, and he moved from Cecelia’s left side to her right, nudging her closer to his father.
Cecelia hadn’t expected him to suddenly push against her. The dirt path underfoot was uneven, and she stumbled, tripping over a rock.
Shane Grant quickly reached out to steady her. "Careful."
His clean, warm hand gripped her wrist. A wave of masculine strength and pheromones washed over her, and Cecelia’s face turned even redder.
"Thank you, Mr. Grant."
She quickly pulled her hand away.
Watching the man and woman in their early, ambiguous stage of courtship—the blushing and the tentative testing of boundaries—Uncle Lee couldn’t help but give a knowing smile. He turned and picked Annie up.
"Come here, little fella. Let Grandpa Lee hold you. Let’s go, you and I can have a little chat."
The group split into three pairs. Damien Vaughn walked in front, holding Candy. Uncle Lee was in the middle, holding Annie. And Cecelia Archer and Shane Grant fell to the back.
Cecelia felt a little anxious. She wanted to catch up and ask Damien Vaughn what was going on with his name and identity, and how he knew Candy so well. But Shane Grant was walking slowly, and she felt it would be rude to just leave him behind.
When they arrived at the site of the beef banquet, Damien Vaughn turned around and saw a certain scene.
Cecelia Archer and Shane Grant were walking side by side, smiles on both their faces as they chatted about something or other.
One tall and handsome, the other leaning on him like a delicate bird—they looked for all the world like a couple in love!
Uncle Lee, still holding Annie, also turned back to look and teased Damien Vaughn.
"Don’t they look good together? Similar in age, similar in looks. One has a son, the other has a daughter. It really seems like a match made in heaven."
"Looks like Shane’s love life is about to be sorted out. Damien, you’re not getting any younger yourself. You should hurry it up."
Damien Vaughn looked like he was about to shoot fire from his eyes.
’Veridia’s social circle is only so big,’ he fumed. ’After sleeping with me, she’s just going to take our child and marry someone else? Isn’t she afraid Shane Grant will find out one day?’
’Just what does she take me, Damien Vaughn, for?’ freewebnσvel.cѳm
’That audacious woman!’
The beef banquet began shortly after. The group chose what looked like the most impressive and cleanest local household and prepared to sit down, but a small argument broke out between the two children over Cecelia’s seating.
Candy, led inside by Damien Vaughn, expertly scrambled onto his lap and settled in his arms.
Then she waved to Cecelia. "Mama, come quick! Sit next to us."
Uncle Lee took the head of the table, with Damien Vaughn on his left and Shane Grant naturally on his right. That just left the remaining seats for her.
Cecelia saw no problem with this and was about to walk over when Annie grabbed her hand. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"You should sit next to my dad, Auntie. He’s about to start pursuing you, so you have to give him a chance."
With that, he pushed Cecelia down into the chair next to Shane Grant.
Uncle Lee couldn’t help but roar with laughter.
"This boy Annie, he really seems to like Miss Archer, constantly telling you to pursue her... Shane, there aren’t many sons who look out for their old man like this. This kid was well worth having."
Cecelia Archer: "..."
Across from them, Damien Vaughn: ’Heh.’
After seating Cecelia, Annie obediently climbed into his own chair.
"Candy, you should get down. You’re a big girl now, always asking to be held. Aren’t you embarrassed? Besides, he’s not related to you."
"Who says he’s not related to me? He’s my..."
Halfway through her sentence, Candy cupped Damien Vaughn’s face with her chubby little hands and studied it. ’It’s true, we’re not really related,’ she seemed to conclude.
"Okay, Uncle. You can put me down. I can eat by myself."
The two CEOs were dining with Uncle Lee, and both had their own agendas. A server brought them tea, and the three men, each with their own ulterior motives, started by discussing the local terrain and slowly moved on to the topic of the international airport.
Uncle Lee spoke with great care, afraid of showing favoritism and making one of his "nephews" uncomfortable. His words were vague and roundabout, full of twists and turns.
The two men listened intently. Cecelia couldn’t get a word in, nor did she dare to speak carelessly.
When the beef was served, she picked out some of the most tender pieces for the children, then sat quietly to the side and ate her meal.
Who knew the meat would be so spicy? It looked unremarkable, but one bite sent a jolt of heat through her, making her cough out loud.
Uncle Lee was just getting to a crucial point, and Cecelia, afraid her coughing would interrupt them, quickly covered her mouth and desperately tried to stifle the sound.
She was being as quiet as possible, but both Damien Vaughn and Shane Grant noticed her at the same time.
Damien Vaughn’s hand instinctively moved toward his teacup, wanting to tell her to take a drink of water to soothe the spice, but before he could speak, Shane Grant’s hand was already on Cecelia’s back.
He gently patted her back while bringing a teacup to her lips, all while nodding in agreement with what Uncle Lee was saying.
It was as if his concern for Cecelia wasn’t a deliberate act, but a long-standing habit.
Damien Vaughn watched the tender scene between the two of them and couldn’t help but suspect: ’Have they known each other for a long time? Then why did Cecelia come to me for help instead of him? What on earth is going on in that woman’s head?!’
If even Cecelia found it spicy, the children would find it even more so.
After one bite, both little ones stuck their tongues out as far as they could go.
"So spicy, so spicy! My mouth is on fire!"
Not wanting to interrupt the three men’s conversation, Cecelia took their hands and led them outside.
"I’ll take them to order a non-spicy dish. You all keep talking."
But less than two minutes after they left, the sharp, piercing cry of Candy echoed back...
