Free Web NovelChapter 93: Chapter 93: Overwhelming Fortune
Cecelia Archer couldn’t quite believe her ears.
’Five kilograms of gold?’
Based on the current market price of gold, at 500 yuan a gram, this box was worth 2.5 million yuan.
’Just for calling him Grandpa, I got a bracelet and 2.5 million yuan on top of that? This...’
She didn’t dare to accept it. The housekeeper noticed her hesitation and said with a warm smile at her side,
"Young Madam, this is customary. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Vaughn Family, it’s expected for elders to give you gifts. It would be against custom to refuse. Please, take it."
"Don’t worry about the price; it’s a token of the master’s affection. If you truly feel uneasy, you can simply spend more time with the master, take good care of him, and have a few more children with the young master for him to dote on."
Cecelia Archer: "..."
Damien Vaughn took the box for her. Refusing any further would make her seem impolite, so Cecelia Archer could only say, "Thank you, Grandpa."
"Open it and take a look," Damien Vaughn said, placing it in front of her.
The box had three layers in total, with two drawers.
She pulled open the first drawer to reveal a pair of glittering gold bracelets and a longevity lock necklace.
The bracelets were 3 centimeters thick and 25 centimeters wide, carved with lifelike phoenixes. They were the height of luxury.
The longevity lock was small and exquisite, and the necklace chain was adjustable, making it both fashionable and auspicious. It was clear the old master had put a lot of thought into it.
Other than on television, this was the first time in her life Cecelia Archer had seen such luxurious gold jewelry with her own eyes. She couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized. freewebnoveℓ.com
Pulling open the second drawer revealed several sets of small earrings.
There were sets shaped like lanterns, phoenixes, fireworks, and the character for "happiness." Each set was beautiful and carried a wonderful meaning.
The main event was the third layer. She could feel its weight just by touching it. Sure enough, when she pulled open the drawer, she was stunned.
It was a brilliant gold phoenix crown. In the very center was a carved phoenix with its wings spread as if about to take flight, its beak holding a single, eye-catching emerald. She felt as if the old master’s doting had turned her into an empress.
As she gazed at it, Cecelia Archer’s nose began to tingle.
’He accepted me without even confirming Candy’s identity, not caring that my family has no power or influence, and gave me such a lavish welcome. What have I ever done to deserve this?’
"Grandpa..."
Cecelia Archer was, after all, just a 23-year-old girl. When at a loss, her instinct was to seek comfort.
She didn’t know how to express her gratitude, so she pushed back her chair, ran to the other side of the table, and hugged the old master.
"Thank you. I really, truly thank you."
She wasn’t thanking him for the wealth, but for his wholehearted acceptance.
Aside from being praised by teachers for good grades in school, she had never felt so accepted by anyone.
Seeing how moved she was, the old master smiled and patted her hand.
"Alright, alright, it’s nothing to get so worked up about. As long as you and Damien have a good life together and give me a few more grandchildren, everything the Vaughn Family has will be yours. Now, go back and eat. Your food is getting cold."
Just as the few of them were sharing a warm and harmonious moment, Second Aunt and Third Aunt suddenly walked in.
"Why is breakfast so late today? You’re still eating? Dad, we didn’t get a chance to clean up yesterday’s battlefield, so we came over to tidy up, afraid the sight would bother you. We didn’t expect you to still be eating. What’s going on here? What are you all doing? Why is Cecelia Archer crying?"
The two women, dressed in beautiful dresses with elaborate hairstyles and exquisite makeup, walked confidently to the dining table.
Seeing Cecelia Archer’s red-rimmed eyes, they were taken aback for a moment, but then their gazes fell upon the wooden box on the table.
Second Aunt walked towards the box. "I thought Damien had made her angry first thing in the morning and brought her to tears. Turns out they were tears of gratitude. Giving gifts before breakfast is even finished? Dad, did you give her this?"
When the two sisters-in-law married into the family, the old madam was still alive. She and the old master had naturally given them plenty of gifts as well, but that was over twenty years ago. The Vaughn Family back then couldn’t compare to its current status, so naturally, the gifts couldn’t compare either.
Seeing such a box full of glittering gold, the two of them were naturally displeased.
"You’re too thoughtful. You’re already 80 years old, yet you still go to such trouble for your descendants? Damien is just the first. There are still Carter, Jay, Simone, and Moe after him. Tell me, can you really handle giving this kind of reception to every single one of them?"
The old master knew that they were naming their own children one by one at this moment because they were afraid he would forget and leave them out when it was their turn to get married.
He glanced at his two daughters-in-law and said faintly,
"As long as I live to see that day for each of them, they will all receive the same treatment. It’s no trouble at all. What does a person live for, if not to be surrounded by children and grandchildren in a prosperous and harmonious family?"
Hearing the old master say this, the two women felt a bit better, but they still couldn’t resist reaching out to touch Cecelia Archer’s jewelry.
"It’s been so long since I’ve seen so much gold jewelry. Cecelia, you don’t mind if Third Aunt and I take a look, do you?"
"Dad, you’re really too kind. When did you have these made? They’re so beautiful."
Seeing the two of them arrive, Cecelia Archer felt it was no longer appropriate to lean against the old master. She turned away to wipe her eyes and returned to her seat.
’The two said they were looking at her jewelry, but they were actually memorizing the quantity and weight.’
’The old master promised in front of everyone that he would give their children the same gifts in the future. In that case, we have to remember the list and the weight, so we don’t get short-changed with some shoddy, cobbled-together set later on.’
After they were done looking, they pushed the drawers back in, closed the box, and shoved it to the middle of the table. Then, Third Aunt’s eyes scanned around and landed on the bracelet on Cecelia Archer’s wrist.
"Oh, Second Sister-in-law, I haven’t seen this treasure in years! So this is where it was. I thought Eldest Sister-in-law took it with her. Quick, look."
She took hold of Cecelia Archer’s wrist.
Second Aunt looked down. ’It really is!’
That bracelet was said to have been passed down from an Imperial Noble Consort of the Qing Dynasty. By a stroke of luck, it ended up with the old master’s mother. Later, an expert saw it and offered to trade three million for it, but the old madam staunchly refused.
And that was three million, fifty years ago. Its value today was immeasurable.
Back when Eldest Sister-in-law was around, they had no standing to compete for it and could only watch with longing, smacking their lips in envy.
’We thought that after Eldest Sister-in-law was gone, this thing would return to the Vaughn Family. Surely, whoever was most favored by the old master would get it. We never expected...’
Look at the two of them. Although they hadn’t worked since getting married, staying home to be wives and mothers, they were both young ladies from prominent Veridia families before their marriages. They had been married into the family with all the proper formalities and had managed household affairs for the Vaughns for so many years.
But in the end, the prize went to this nobody. Who wouldn’t be angry in their shoes!
Second Aunt and Third Aunt exchanged a look, their indignation plain to see.
Ms. King, afraid they would say something jealous and provoke the old master’s anger, quickly interjected.
"The master said this is an heirloom, to be passed down through the eldest branch of the family. The Eldest Madam left it behind when she went abroad a few years ago. Now that the Eldest Young Master is married, it should naturally be passed to the Young Madam. We’ve just told the Young Madam that she must take good care of it, not to scratch or damage it, as it must be passed down again in the future."
’Even though the bracelet doesn’t truly belong to anyone and is meant to be passed down through generations, whoever gets to wear it gets the glory!’
Still, Second Aunt and Third Aunt felt deeply dissatisfied.
