Free Web NovelChapter 92: Chapter 92: Eldest Grandson’s Wife
Candy was so moved by this unwavering support that tears began to stream down her face.
"I’ll study hard, eat all my food, grow up as fast as I can, and earn lots of money to pay you back. I promise I won’t be a burden. Mister, you should marry my mommy. She’s a really, really good person. You’ll be very happy if you marry her."
’Why is she acting like this? Begging a man to marry me? Acting so meek at such a young age!’ Cecelia tried to stop Candy again, but Damien Vaughn held her hand down under the covers.
"You’re absolutely right. Your mom is a wonderful person, and I’d be very happy if I married her, so I’ll give your words some serious thought. Don’t cry now. Hurry up and get some sleep. If you wake up tomorrow and can’t find me, tell your great-grandpa to call the police."
Laughing through her tears, Candy was truly exhausted. As Damien Vaughn gently patted her back, she quickly drifted off to sleep.
Gazing at her peaceful, adorable little face in the faint yellow light from the courtyard, Damien Vaughn felt completely enveloped by a sense of fatherly love.
Even though he wasn’t her biological father, he truly wanted to take care of Candy.
He wanted to say something to Cecelia, but when he looked over, her eyes were shut tight. Her face was as serene as Candy’s, and she appeared to be asleep.
’Oh, well. She’s had a long day, too. I should just let her rest.’
The three of them, nestled together, slept soundly through the night.
When they woke up the next morning, the housekeeper had already made breakfast, and the old master was already sitting at the dining table.
As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, Candy joyfully pounced on the old master, and the two of them became engrossed in their affectionate exchange.
Cecelia felt a headache coming on as she watched the scene.
’Candy so clearly doesn’t want to leave, and the old master seems to genuinely adore her. How am I supposed to bring up our departure?’
The housekeeper brought out the tableware, and everyone began to eat. The old master fed Candy a few bites before suddenly looking at Cecelia.
"Yesterday, you were unwilling to call me Grandpa. I wonder, is it because Damien has been discourteous and failed to give you a proper title after all these years, leaving you with some resentment?"
"His father passed away early, and his mother is always abroad. I raised Damien by myself. If his manners are lacking, it’s because I didn’t teach him well, and for that, I apologize to you. Since we’re already family, I’ll have him arrange a wedding for you as soon as possible. Cecelia, isn’t it about time you called me Grandpa?"
Cecelia was so startled she almost dropped her chopsticks.
’The founder of the Vaughn Group, a renowned business tycoon in Veridia, is apologizing to me? I’m not worthy of such an honor!’
"No, no, no, Grandpa. The reason I didn’t call you that was because... I didn’t mean anything by it, please don’t misunderstand."
Seeing her flustered yet sincere expression, the old master smiled.
"I didn’t mean anything by it either. I’m just very fond of Candy, and I like you as well. I truly want to hear you call me Grandpa, so don’t be nervous. You’re new here, so it’s natural to feel a bit awkward. If you can’t get used to it right away, we can take our time."
The old master’s kind attitude made Cecelia feel utterly ashamed.
’I’m really being too petty. It’s not like it would cost me anything to call him Grandpa. Why did I hold back for so long?’
"My parents also passed away early, so I’m not very familiar with etiquette. Please don’t take offense at any of my shortcomings."
"Oh? Your parents passed away early, too? Do you have any other family? Where are you from?"
Cecelia briefly explained her parents’ deaths and her brother’s situation, and the old master’s heart went out to her.
"You poor child. You’ve suffered a great deal."
Then, his brow shot up, and he turned a stern gaze on Damien Vaughn.
"Don’t tell me you’ve been taking advantage of the fact that her parents are gone and her brother isn’t powerful to bully her, dragging your feet all these years without bringing her home? Damien Vaughn, if you can’t take responsibility, then don’t get involved with people! The men of the Vaughn Family have backbone and passion! You are a disgrace to me!"
Even though his grandfather was wrongly accusing him, Damien Vaughn found it strangely satisfying to be scolded by the old master on Cecelia’s behalf.
He admitted his fault with a compliant attitude. "You’re right. I handled this poorly. I apologize. I’ll make it up to her."
The old master continued, "Cecelia, you can’t be too nice, either. Don’t just let him have his way with everything. If I hadn’t run into you yesterday, this damn rascal..."
He grew angrier as he spoke. "Today, Grandpa will make this right for you. After we eat, I’ll call someone to pick an auspicious date. You two will get your marriage license and hold the wedding as soon as possible."
’What? Pick a date and get married right after breakfast?’
Cecelia was clearly panicking.
’This was a turn of events she had never dared to imagine.’
’Damien Vaughn just broke up with Claire Clark. He doesn’t have those kinds of feelings for me; you can’t force something like this!’
"Grandpa..."
"What? You don’t want to marry him? Has this old man overstepped his bounds?"
Watching Cecelia avoid his gaze, Damien Vaughn felt a knot of displeasure form in his chest.
’A few days ago at the hospital, she didn’t have this reaction when Shane Grant claimed to be her man.’
But in front of the old master, appearances had to be maintained.
"It’s not that, Grandpa. I did some things in the past that hurt her, and she hasn’t forgiven me yet. Let me coax her a little, and then I’ll give you an answer. In short, it’s all my fault."
The old master shot him another dissatisfied glare, thought for a moment, then suddenly said to the housekeeper,
"Go get that thing for me."
The housekeeper quickly came downstairs and handed him a box.
The old master opened the box and pushed it toward Cecelia.
"This bracelet was worn by my mother when she was alive. It’s not valuable, but it’s a token of an old woman’s sentiment, and her hope that it would be passed down through the generations of the Vaughn Family. His grandmother wore it, and his mother wore it. Since you’re my eldest grandson’s wife, it’s time to pass it on to you. Take it."
Cecelia glanced down and saw a bracelet, lustrous and white as milk, lying in the box. A single streak of blood-red adorned the middle, the clash of colors creating a breathtaking beauty.
’It was clearly top-grade mutton-fat jade, and the old master actually said it wasn’t valuable?’
’Something this precious was going to be hers?’
"Grandpa..."
"It’s what you deserve. There’s no reason to refuse. No more nonsense. Take it. Damien, put it on for her."
Damien Vaughn remembered seeing his mother wear this bracelet as a child. Every socialite who saw it would grab her hand to admire it at length.
’He never expected his mother to have left it behind.’ ƒreewebɳovel.com
He picked it up, gave it a look, then held out his hand to Cecelia.
"Grandpa wants you to wear it, so just put it on. Don’t make him unhappy."
With no way to back down, Cecelia steeled herself and let Damien Vaughn slide the bracelet onto her wrist.
It was stunningly beautiful. The bracelet instantly gave her hand an air of grace and nobility.
The old master looked on, immensely satisfied. "Now that you’re wearing the bracelet, you’re one of the Vaughn Family. And since you’ve changed how you address me, I can’t be stingy."
As he said this, Ms. King handed him another box.
It was a large pearwood box, seemingly with two or three tiers, carved with flowers and exuding a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Cecelia didn’t dare to imagine what other treasures might be inside.
"Some time ago when I was in Glimmerdeep, I visited a friend whose family specializes in goldwork. To urge Damien to get married, I had a set of jewelry custom-made."
"It’s five kilograms in total—not worth much, but it’s a gesture from your grandpa. See if you like it. If you don’t like the style, we can have it remade to your liking."
