Free Web NovelChapter 74: Chapter 74: Too Ashamed to Face Anyone
Doris Morton’s dream of landing a huge contract had fallen through. With her studio still struggling to get off the ground, she wasn’t planning on toughing it out much longer.
She was preparing to enter a young fashion designers’ competition and would reconsider starting her own business after placing well. For now, this meant she had all the time in the world to help take care of Candy.
But what about Cecelia Archer? What was she going to do?
Candy’s medical bills were enormous.
"If all else fails, I’ll just go back into sales," Cecelia said. "I’ll reach out to my old colleagues today and see what they say. You can go to the hospital tomorrow." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
After showering at Doris Morton’s place, changing her clothes, and using foundation to cover the marks on her body, Cecelia Archer returned to the hospital.
In the hospital room, the refined and respectable Shane Grant was feeding the two children breakfast.
Seeing the two children dressed in clean clothes, sitting in a row, and waiting obediently for Shane Grant to feed them, Cecelia saw a glow of fatherly love on his face. Her nose tingled, and she nearly burst into tears.
’In the end, I’m the one who isn’t worthy.’
’I was never good enough for a man as wonderful as Shane Grant.’
The door closed with a soft CLICK. The three of them heard the sound and looked over. The two children immediately rushed toward her.
"Mommy!"
"Auntie!"
"You’re finally back! Where did you go last night? We missed you so much!"
"Auntie, you smell so nice! I really like your scent!"
Cecelia Archer knelt and hugged the two children tightly, comforting them with a few words before letting go.
The children ran back to finish their meal, and she looked at Shane Grant, her face full of apology.
"Mr. Grant, have you eaten breakfast?"
"I have. Why are you calling me Mr. Grant again?"
Shane Grant fed the last few bites to the children, then stood up and looked gently at Cecelia Archer.
"You must have been exhausted last night. I can see the dark circles under your eyes. Is your friend okay?"
"She’s fine."
Cecelia Archer was too ashamed to meet his gaze. She hesitated, wavering again and again, but finally steeled herself to talk to him.
"Mr. Grant, if you’re not in a hurry to get to work, can we talk?"
Shane Grant could tell from the moment she walked in that Cecelia Archer had something on her mind.
Shane Grant thoughtfully walked with her to the doorway of the room. Before she could even speak, Cecelia’s face flushed red with shame.
"I’m so sorry. I’ve wronged you, and I’ve wronged Annie. Mr. Grant, please don’t hate me."
Her eyes were downcast, and glistening tears welled up on her thick lashes, threatening to fall. She wrung her hands together tightly, like a schoolgirl who had done something wrong.
She looked so lost, so utterly pitiful.
Shane Grant’s heart ached seeing her like this. He instinctively reached out to take her hand, but Cecelia Archer pulled away.
Shane Grant remained gentle. "What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly apologizing? Just tell me what happened. I’ll help you work through it. Don’t cry."
She already felt immensely guilty, and his tenderness only made it worse. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
"I can’t accept your kindness anymore. You’re a good person, Mr. Grant, one in a million. But... Annie should be getting back to school. You shouldn’t bring him here anymore. I’m sorry."
Shane Grant’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean? What do you mean you can’t accept my kindness? What do you mean I shouldn’t bring him here anymore? What on earth happened? Wasn’t everything fine just last night? Just tell me straight, and stop crying."
Seeing his distress, Cecelia could only suppress her own emotions and make something up.
"Candy’s father is back. He’s willing to cover her medical expenses. And he said... he’ll take good care of both of us from now on..."
Shane Grant’s expression grew solemn, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
’So that’s what this is about.’
He had already developed feelings for Cecelia Archer, and Annie absolutely adored her, but...
After a long pause, he quietly let out a sigh.
"I understand. There’s nothing to be sorry for. As long as he’s willing to treat you and Candy well... After all, he is Candy’s biological father... I’ll take Annie and go, then. If you ever need help with anything, call me anytime."
’Even after I hurt him like this, he’s still telling me to call if I need anything?’
Cecelia Archer felt like a monster. She wanted to slap herself across the face.
’But what good would that do? If there’s anything to blame, it’s cruel fate.’
「Club DL.」
Damien Vaughn, after sleeping off a groggy haze for what felt like an eternity, finally opened his eyes to find Brandon Jacobs and Wyatt Wynn were, surprisingly, still there.
Seeing him awake, the two of them rushed over, mischievous grins plastered on their faces.
"Vaughn, you’re awake? You were out for a long time. How are you feeling? You okay?"
’Why are these two here?’ Damien Vaughn clearly remembered... ’Could it be that last night was just a dream?’
Ignoring them, Damien Vaughn pushed himself up into a sitting position.
But the moment he sat up...
He was completely naked, with only a blanket someone had draped over him.
’No wonder these two bastards were grinning like that!’
"Where are my clothes?"
The two of them had been barely holding back their laughter, but that question sent them over the edge. Brandon Jacobs and Wyatt Wynn laughed so hard they almost collapsed onto the floor.
"Clothes... your clothes..." Brandon choked out. "I say, Vaughn, when did your alcohol tolerance get so bad? Last night, you chased one away, only to get taken by another... We told you to let us post some guards at the door, but you refused. And now look..."
"There are too many women throwing themselves at you these days," Wyatt added. "We have no idea who that woman last night was, or if she was... clean. Vaughn, should we call a doctor over to give you a check-up?"
’So last night really did happen!’
Damien Vaughn’s face darkened, looking as grim as the King of Hell. "Brandon Jacobs, this kind of thing has happened on your turf time and time again. It’s a serious failure of your management, and you still have the nerve to laugh?"
He had a point. If that woman last night hadn’t been after his body, but his life...
At that thought, Brandon Jacobs suddenly stopped laughing.
"Sorry, Vaughn, I just thought... I’ll beef up security from now on, don’t be angry. Besides, you’re a man. It’s not like you really lost anything..."
"Cut the crap! Pull up the security footage. I want to see who was so bold last night!"
’He vaguely remembered it being Cecelia Archer, which was why he had let his guard down. He couldn’t have been wrong, could he?’
Seeing that he was genuinely angry, Brandon Jacobs hurried to pull up the surveillance footage.
Soon, Damien Vaughn was watching the video.
It really was Cecelia Archer.
’What was she doing here so late at night?’
But that wasn’t the pressing issue. The pressing issue was...
What was it? Suddenly, Damien Vaughn didn’t know either.
The last time they had slept together, he’d assumed Cecelia Archer did it on purpose and would surely seek him out afterward.
But he waited and waited, only for her to end up with Shane Grant.
Last night, it had happened again in a hazy stupor, but she had quietly slipped away once more. This woman was...
Damien Vaughn swore that a woman’s mind was truly the most unsolvable puzzle in the world, bar none.
Although the woman in the video was quite beautiful and had an innocent air about her, he couldn’t be sure if she was a good person.
Brandon Jacobs watched Damien Vaughn’s expression.
"I’ll have my men investigate her right away and bring her to you as soon as possible. But until we find her, Vaughn, you should let a doctor check you out first."
Damien Vaughn seemed not to have heard him, leaning back against the sofa with a lost expression.
"Brandon Jacobs."
"Yeah?"
"If a woman who’s already planning to marry someone else accidentally sleeps with you... what would you do?"
