My Child and I Married a Billionaire

Whether it was because she was exhausted, or because Damien Vaughn’s embrace was so firm and reassuring, Cecelia Archer inexplicably fell asleep as he carried her.

She slept very soundly and dreamt the entire time, the scenes shifting endlessly.

One moment, she was a child by her parents’ side; the next, she was a student arguing with Claire Clark.

One moment, the sweet and adorable Candy was by her side as she worked; the next, Damien Vaughn was speaking to her.

Cecelia Archer was exhausted. She desperately wanted to wake up, but her body felt as heavy as stone, and she simply couldn’t.

And so she slept on and on. When she finally woke up, it was already the evening of the third day.

The first thing she saw was a dazzling white, and a chaotic mix of sounds drifted in from outside.

But she was alone in the quiet hospital room.

Her mouth was parched, and she needed the bathroom. Cecelia Archer lay in bed for a moment before pushing herself up into a sitting position.

Just as she was about to look for the restroom, the door swung open, and Damien Vaughn, dressed all in black, walked in.

Seeing that she was finally awake, Damien Vaughn locked the door behind him and was in front of her in two long strides.

"You’re awake? Feeling any better? Has your fever broken?"

He was clean now, having regained his usual polished appearance.

He wore a black mock-neck wool sweater under a lightweight, short black down jacket.

On his lower half, he wore a pair of black casual sweatpants—a rare sight—and brown combat boots.

Though the colors were monotonous and somber, they didn’t detract from his looks in the slightest. Instead, they made him appear taller, more composed, and even more imposing.

His long, slender hand with its well-defined knuckles reached out to touch Cecelia Archer’s forehead, and she caught his familiar, clean scent.

’It’s exactly like in my dream.’

"Your forehead isn’t hot anymore."

Damien Vaughn let out a sigh of relief, took two steps back, and pulled a chair over to sit in front of her.

"Looks like you’re all right. It’s good that you’re awake. You sure slept for a long time."

’I really did sleep for a long time. So long my brain feels like mush.’

Cecelia Archer stretched her stiff neck and limbs, then asked him, a beat behind,

"How long was I asleep?"

"A full two days."

’She looks a little dazed and cute right after waking up, just like Candy.’

Damien Vaughn’s expression softened as he watched her.

"Are you hungry? If I hadn’t come in, where were you off to?"

His question reminded Cecelia Archer that she needed to use the bathroom.

"I’m not hungry, but I’m really thirsty. And I have to use the bathroom."

"Thirsty? And you’re going to the bathroom?"

Cecelia Archer: "..."

"I’m not stupid enough to look for drinking water in the toilet. I mean..."

A rare smile touched Damien Vaughn’s lips.

"I know what you mean. Go ahead. I’ll get you some water."

The hospital room was a suite with its own private bathroom.

Cecelia Archer used the restroom and washed her face. The moment she stepped out, a warm jacket was draped over her shoulders.

Damien Vaughn, now just in his wool sweater, looked down to meet her gaze.

"The rain has stopped and the floodwaters have receded quite a bit, but the power isn’t back on yet. The heat isn’t working in the room, and what you’re wearing is too thin. Don’t get cold."

With that, he took another step back, putting some distance between them.

"Don’t read too much into it. You were unconscious for two days, you just woke up, and you don’t have any warm clothes. I’m just lending you this for a bit out of common decency."

Cecelia Archer: "..."

Looking down at the jacket, she realized that she, too, had been cleaned up and was now wearing a hospital gown.

’It is thin, and I am a little cold.’

Cecelia Archer slid her arms into the sleeves, still warm with his body heat, and zipped up the jacket.

"I wasn’t. Thank you. Can I ask who bathed me and changed my clothes?"

’I didn’t think she’d still be concerned about things like that, considering how close we are now.’

At a loss for words, Damien Vaughn sat back down in his chair.

"It wasn’t me, anyway. Your water is ready."

’Even though he didn’t answer directly, I know it wouldn’t be possible for a man to bathe me in a public place like a hospital.’

She picked up the disposable cup and took a sip of water.

"How is everyone else? Did they all get sick? What about Grandma King? Is she all right?"

’She’s so quick to worry about others. Why doesn’t she show the same concern for herself?’

’Damien Vaughn had also been soaked in the rain for hours that day, was dead tired, and had even run a fever for two days himself.’

"If they were waiting for you to ask, they’d be long dead by now. Just take care of yourself."

’When she was unconscious, I couldn’t wait for her to wake up. Now that she’s awake, hearing her talk just makes me angry.’

Damien Vaughn urged her irritably.

"Take your water and get back under the covers to drink it. You just woke up, and I don’t want you getting sick again and wasting my money."

’He went to such great lengths this time, not only getting a plane from hundreds of kilometers away but also arranging for so many people to be hospitalized. It must have cost a fortune.’

At that thought, Cecelia Archer felt a flush of embarrassment and quickly got back under the covers.

Seeing that she was fully awake now, her eyes darting around as if she were plotting something, Damien Vaughn watched her with great interest.

"If you’re sure your fever is gone, you’re coming out with me in a bit."

"Out with you? Where are we going?"

"You’re not the only one who doesn’t have a change of clothes—nobody does. We can’t all just stay in bed, can we? Go find out everyone’s sizes, and we’ll go buy a few new outfits for them."

’I was just feeling guilty about how much money he’s already spent, and now he wants to go out and buy clothes for everyone?’

Cecelia Archer felt even more sheepish.

"Didn’t everyone have clothes on before we came to the hospital? We can just wash them and wear them again."

"Are you trying to save me money?"

’Or does she just really not want to go out with me?’

Damien Vaughn couldn’t help but frown.

"Fine. Since you’re so good at saving money, go get all their clothes later and wash them."

Cecelia Archer: "..."

"Have you no common sense? Floodwater from a storm like that is full of harmful bacteria. Not only are the clothes a lost cause, but so is anything else they touched. And you were a medical student? Do I really have to be the one to remind you of this?"

’I really have slept myself stupid. To forget something so basic.’

Cecelia Archer blushed and thought to herself,

’The man is the head of the magnificent Vaughn Group, worth hundreds of billions. Buying clothes for a dozen people is nothing to him; he could buy clothes for a hundred thousand people without batting an eye. How presumptuous of me, trying to save him money.’

"I understand. I’ll go get their sizes now."

Eager to see Grandma King, she threw back the covers as she spoke, slipped on the hospital slippers, and started to hurry out.

As she passed Damien Vaughn, he grabbed her wrist.

"What’s the rush? I said they’ll need clothes when they leave, not this very second. Is it so urgent you can’t even finish your water?"

Cecelia Archer: "I’m done. It’s too hot. I’ll drink it when I get back."

But Damien Vaughn didn’t let go. "You’re going out dressed like that?"

Cecelia Archer looked down at herself.

’It’s a ridiculous outfit, for sure, but it’s not like I have a choice.’

"Then what am I supposed to wear?"

"I’m seriously starting to doubt how you ever got into medical school. Did you have an imposter take your entrance exam? Or did you seduce your professors? Did you forget every single thing you learned?"

With a sharp tug, Damien Vaughn pulled Cecelia Archer down into his lap, leaving her slippers behind on the floor.

Damien Vaughn cupped her ice-cold feet in his large hands.

"Don’t you know that the cold seeps into your body through the soles of your feet? You were about to run out without even putting on socks?"

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