Free Web NovelChapter 97: Chapter 97: All Thanks to Brother-in-law
Damien Vaughn hadn’t expected her to add him on WeChat so quickly. He hesitated for a moment before accepting the request.
To his surprise, his sister-in-law immediately sent a voice message. Her tone was anxious, and the background was noisy.
"Brother-in-law, I’m so sorry to bother you again so soon. I really didn’t want to cause you any trouble, but..."
"Right after you left, your brother went out to make a delivery. But he’d had a little to drink today, and he scratched someone’s car with his scooter right at the entrance to our complex. Now the owner is demanding we pay them—over two thousand yuan! There’s no way it costs that much, right? We’re definitely being scammed. Could you come over and help take a look?"
Damien Vaughn’s brow furrowed. ’He scratched someone’s car? And she wants me to take a look?’
He soon arrived at the president’s office, where Ryan was waiting for him by the elevators, holding a file.
Damien Vaughn took it. "Have you checked it over?" freēwēbnovel.com
"I have. There are no issues."
He had always approved of Ryan’s work ethic, so he signed it without a second thought.
"Here’s an address. Go handle something for me—there was a minor scrape. If we’re at fault, just pay for the damages."
Ryan was taken aback. "We?"
"You don’t need the details. Just get it done."
Damien Vaughn turned and went back downstairs. Cecelia Archer hadn’t expected him to come back down so quickly.
"Did I interrupt your work?"
"No, there wasn’t much to take care of. Grandpa is still waiting for Candy at home. We should go back and keep him company."
Back home, the Old Master was indeed waiting for Candy. After a warm hug between the old man and the little girl, they ran off to play in the garden again.
Wanting to show her filial respect, Cecelia figured she could at least cook for the Old Master. She went into the kitchen to learn a few of his favorite dishes from Ms. King, hoping to prepare them for him that evening.
Damien Vaughn sat alone on the sofa.
Ryan called him. "President Vaughn, it’s all taken care of. It was our party’s fault, so I paid the two thousand yuan."
"Good. Anything else?"
"No. But, Miss Archer’s sister-in-law did mention that their home is currently being renovated and asked if I knew any designers I could recommend."
Damien Vaughn had already thought the renovation plan was inadequate when he heard Cecelia’s brother discussing it at their home. He gave Ryan a direct order.
"Find a renovation company and have them handle the entire project. Also, help them rent an apartment for a year. They can move back in after all the work is done."
Ryan hadn’t expected President Vaughn’s relationship with Miss Archer to progress to this extent so suddenly. He had not only brought her to the family estate but was now also handling her family’s affairs. Ryan, however, was quite happy about it.
He liked Cecelia Archer so much more than Claire Clark.
’Compared to the messes he used to clean up for Claire Clark’s family, this issue with the Archers was nothing.’
’His only hope was that Miss Archer wouldn’t take the favor for granted, grow arrogant, and ultimately let President Vaughn down. The president didn’t have another four years to waste.’
"Okay, I’ll contact them right away. I’ll hang up now, President Vaughn."
"Wait," Damien Vaughn said after a pause. "Are there any cars around the 200,000 yuan mark that you’d recommend? Pick one out, and when you’re done with the other tasks, go place an order for it."
’Order a car worth around 200,000 yuan? Could it be a gift for Cecelia Archer’s brother?’
Ryan paused for a moment. "But President Vaughn, Mr. Archer has some mobility issues with his leg."
"I know. But it’s not as if he’s completely unable to drive. The car can be modified later. Just coordinate it with the dealership."
After the call, Damien Vaughn went back to his study to work from home. He was busy for several hours, only stopping when Candy came upstairs to call him for dinner. The two then came downstairs, hand in hand. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
A sumptuous dinner was laid out on the table. Ms. King, smiling, introduced the dishes to the Old Master.
"These few dishes were all made by the Young Madam. She’s so clever, and a natural in the kitchen! I only had to give her a little guidance, and she understood everything perfectly. You’re in for a treat, sir. The Young Madam is so filial and diligent; you’ll get to enjoy her cooking often from now on."
The Old Master’s greatest wish in life was for his family to live in harmony and prosper. Cecelia Archer was quiet, calm, and diligent—she perfectly matched his expectations for a granddaughter-in-law.
He took a bite and was even more satisfied.
"Delicious. You’ve worked hard, Cecelia. It looks like you’ll be taking care of this old man from now on."
Cecelia quickly said, "It’s my honor to cook for you, Grandpa. Please don’t say that."
The family enjoyed a happy dinner together. Afterward, Candy went with the Old Master to the study to make traditional paper cuttings for the windows.
Cecelia was about to return to her room to wash up when, just as she walked through the door, her brother called.
"Cecelia, I’m so sorry. I’m useless. I’ve only just met my brother-in-law, and I’m already causing him trouble and embarrassing you."
Cecelia had no idea where this was coming from. "Brother, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly saying this?"
"You don’t know?" Her brother’s voice sounded dejected.
"After you left today, I went out and scratched someone’s car. Your brother-in-law sent someone to handle it and paid the two thousand yuan in damages. Then, he even hired a professional renovation company for our house. The designer just came by to take a look and said they’ll send a team over tomorrow. We’re supposed to move our things out as soon as possible. He’s already rented an apartment for us for a whole year. And it’s in Swan’s Bay! That place is so high-end; the rent for a year must be over a hundred thousand yuan! I mean... what am I supposed to say to all this..."
Cecelia was stunned. She never expected that far from looking down on her family, Damien Vaughn would be so kind to them—and so incredibly efficient.
In the time it took her to cook a single meal, he had accomplished all of this!
He had acted so nonchalant during dinner, giving no hint of what he had done. Cecelia’s face instantly flushed red.
"He didn’t pay for the renovation costs as well, did he? How much does it cost to hire a design team?"
Her brother replied, "I don’t know. I asked, but they wouldn’t tell me. Your brother-in-law must have instructed them not to, probably so we wouldn’t feel awkward about it. Cecelia, I’m so sorry. I’m dragging you down."
Cecelia found it hard to describe the mix of emotions she felt upon hearing his words.
’Her relationship with Damien Vaughn had barely even started, yet she was already indebted to him for so many favors. Would she even have the right to refuse him in the future?’
’But the renovation was exactly what her brother needed right now. Since everything was already arranged, she supposed they should just accept it.’
"We’re all family, don’t say things like that. You and your wife should hurry up and move."
"Okay, okay." After he said that, he was about to hang up, but Cecelia suddenly stopped him.
"In the future, if there are any problems, have your wife talk to me directly. Don’t call him again. I don’t mean anything bad by it, Brother... it’s just that he’s very busy."
"Okay, okay, I understand. I already told my wife the same thing. We’ll try our best not to bother him in the future. I’m sorry. Once we’re settled, I’ll treat you two to a meal. Please help me thank your brother-in-law properly."
Just as she hung up, Damien Vaughn walked in.
Their eyes met, and Cecelia, feeling a bit shy, took a step toward him.
"You spent money on my brother again?"
She had been on the phone when he first pushed the door open, so he had waited at the doorway for a moment to avoid disturbing her.
"Your brother called you?"
"Yes. He’s very grateful, and so is my sister-in-law... I’m sorry. My family has caused you so much trouble."
Damien Vaughn looked at her submissive, head-bowed posture and recalled the completely unimpressed attitude she’d had before she knew his true identity. He found he wasn’t quite used to this new version of her.
"Well, they call me ’brother-in-law,’ and Candy calls me ’Dad,’ don’t they? That’s enough. Don’t speak to me with that look on your face. If you’re truly grateful, just spend more time at home with Grandpa and coax him into living to a hundred."
