My Child and I Married a Billionaire

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: A Blind Date in Front of Her

Annabelle Young was right on time. The words were barely out when the door to the hospital room was knocked upon.

Seeing that it was inconvenient for Damien Vaughn to get the door while holding Candy, Cecelia Archer hurried to open it.

Their eyes met. Annabelle Young was taken aback for a moment when she saw the young, beautiful woman who answered the door.

"I’m looking for Mr. Vaughn."

"He’s here. Please, come in."

Annabelle Young was a fairly well-known socialite in Veridia’s high society, with fair skin, beautiful features, and a noble bearing.

She entered the room, head held high. Her gaze swept around until she saw Damien Vaughn sitting by the sliding door to the balcony with a little girl in his arms. She froze for a second, then suppressed her surprise and called out in a sweet, delicate voice.

"Damien."

Damien Vaughn was a good friend of her cousin, Brandon Jacobs, so it was only natural for her to address him as an older brother.

Damien Vaughn didn’t get up. He merely lifted his gaze, gave her a once-over, and nodded, still holding Candy.

"Sit."

Annabelle Young didn’t sit down. Brandon Jacobs had told her not to bring a gift, so she hadn’t, but she hadn’t realized the patient was a little girl. And from the looks of it, one who was quite close to Damien Vaughn.

She placed her handbag on the coffee table and walked over, her face wreathed in smiles.

"What a beautiful little girl. What does she call you, Damien? I didn’t realize a child was staying here, so I didn’t bring a gift. That was so thoughtless of me."

As she said this, she reached out to playfully touch Candy, but Damien Vaughn abruptly stood up, still holding the girl.

"Candy, Uncle has some business to discuss. Why don’t you go play over there for a little while?"

Candy finally snapped out of her daze. Noticing the new woman in the room, she blinked her big eyes.

"Who is she, Uncle?"

Cecelia Archer hurried over to take Candy. "She’s a friend of Uncle’s. Uncle needs to speak with the lady for a bit, so you should stop clinging to him."

As Cecelia Archer carried Candy over to the hospital bed, Annabelle Young straightened up and gave Damien Vaughn a sugary smile. ƒrēewebnovel.com

"She calls you Uncle? Is she your friend’s child, or...?"

"That’s a lot of talking. You must be thirsty. Go drink some water."

Damien Vaughn walked around her, went to the sofa, and unceremoniously plopped down.

Annabelle Young’s expression soured. She had tried to initiate a conversation twice now, and he had shut her down both times.

But then she remembered what her cousin had told her. ’This is just his personality, and other women don’t even get the chance to see him.’ With that thought, she quickly composed herself.

"I’m fine, not very thirsty. Damien? Is there anything you’d like to drink? I know how to make coffee, and I can brew tea."

Annabelle Young wore exquisite makeup, her hair was beautifully styled, and her clothes were impeccably chosen.

Unfortunately, because it was all so perfectly crafted, so completely in line with mainstream aesthetics, in Damien Vaughn’s eyes she was just another cookie-cutter beauty. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

He was certain he wouldn’t remember what Annabelle Young looked like the moment he walked out of this room.

And her perfume was overpowering. He couldn’t stand it.

Damien Vaughn unconsciously rubbed his index finger under his nose.

"You’re quite versatile. But there’s no coffee or tea here."

Annabelle Young was speechless once again.

After settling Candy in, Cecelia Archer glanced their way. Damien Vaughn was sprawled on the sofa like he owned the place, while Annabelle Young stood rigidly beside him, watching him with a fixed smile.

’This doesn’t look like a blind date at all,’ she thought. ’It’s more like a job interview. This is absurd!’

’Annabelle Young seems so much better than Claire Clark. How could he have taken a liking to Claire, yet treat Annabelle like this?’

Feeling a little indignant on Annabelle Young’s behalf, Cecelia Archer walked over.

"Why don’t you sit down and talk? Have some fruit. Would you like some water? I can get you a glass. The room is a bit spartan, I’m afraid, so we don’t have any tea, just plain water."

This timely display of courtesy made Annabelle Young feel much more at ease. She took the opportunity and sat down beside Damien Vaughn.

"Thank you. But you don’t have to get me water, I’m not thirsty. I’m sorry, and you are...?"

"I’m..."

Just as Cecelia Archer was about to introduce herself, Damien Vaughn suddenly leaned forward, propped his elbows on his knees, and reached for a grape from the fruit bowl.

"I’m thirsty. Get me a glass of water."

Cecelia Archer was speechless.

’Well, he is good to Candy,’ she thought, ’and today is an important day for him. I’ll humor him.’

"You two talk, I’ll go get the water."

Annabelle Young looked at the expressionless, indifferent Damien Vaughn, composed herself yet again, and tried to start another conversation.

"Damien, what have you been busy with lately? Some time ago, I heard that the Vaughn Group..."

"I don’t like discussing work outside the company."

"...My cousin mentioned you studied finance in America for college. What a coincidence! I graduated from the same place, just two years behind you."

"What’s coincidental about that? Plenty of students graduate from there every year. Besides, you were two years after me."

"Damien, you like grapes, don’t you? A friend of mine has a private vineyard, he specially commissioned..."

Damien Vaughn, who had just eaten several grapes in a row, promptly picked up a strawberry.

"I’m just thirsty."

’This conversation is impossible!’

’Even though Annabelle Young had a secret crush on him and desperately wanted to marry him, this was their very first meeting, and he shot down every single thing she said. It was mortifying!’

’Annabelle Young had been doted on her entire life, the apple of her family’s and friends’ eyes. When had she ever been wronged like this?’

Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. "Damien, if you’re in a bad mood today, maybe we should just forget it and reschedule."

’Surely, after she’d said that much, Damien Vaughn would realize she was upset?’

But Damien Vaughn, acting as if nothing was amiss, simply picked up another strawberry.

"Mm."

Annabelle Young nearly rolled her eyes. She snatched her handbag and shot to her feet.

Cecelia Archer emerged with two glasses of water just in time to see her getting ready to leave.

"Leaving so soon?"

Annabelle Young, trying to be polite for Damien Vaughn’s sake, forced a smile at Cecelia Archer.

"Damien is busy, and he seems to be in a bit of a bad mood today. We’ll just have to talk another time."

’What does he have to do?’ Cecelia thought. ’Candy doesn’t need him right now!’

Cecelia Archer set the glasses down. "The check-up is over, so there’s nothing left to do here. You should leave together, Mr. Vaughn. It’s so hot out; you should walk..."

She trailed off, not knowing Annabelle Young’s name, so Annabelle Young quickly stated it.

Cecelia continued, "...Miss Young out. She made a special trip to see you; how rude would it be to let her leave on her own?"

’Finally, someone who gets it!’

Annabelle Young paused her departure, her eyes fixed on Damien Vaughn, full of hope.

But Damien Vaughn simply finished chewing his strawberry, slowly drew a napkin to wipe his hands, then leaned back against the sofa and looked at Cecelia Archer.

"You seem to like her so much. Why don’t you walk her out?"

"I haven’t finished what I promised Candy, so I can’t leave just yet."

Cecelia Archer and Annabelle Young: ...

’The rejection couldn’t have been more obvious. To stay any longer would be humiliating.’

"There’s no need. You two carry on. I’ll see myself out."

Annabelle Young strode quickly out of the hospital room.

Watching her dejected figure retreat, Cecelia Archer thought Damien Vaughn was unbelievably rude.

"How could you act like that? A girl came all this way for a blind date with you, and that’s the attitude you give her?"

Heh.

’Has she really lost her memory?’

’Does she not remember sleeping with him twice? That she only crawled out of his bed a few hours ago?’

’Is she really this eager to push him onto another woman? Is she that afraid that Damien Vaughn will get in the way of her little romance with Shane Grant?!’