My Child and I Married a Billionaire

’So he called me over to stick up for Gwen Morgan.’

Damien Vaughn sighed in resignation.

"I just got back to work. You know how busy things are at the Vaughn Group. If you want company, you could have asked Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Second Aunt, or Third Aunt to come over..."

The old man cut him off forcefully. "Don’t give me that corporate-speak! You had no problem sounding all high and mighty when you were complaining to me about your second and third uncles, but have you really been so diligent yourself? Have you been at the office every single moment? Can you guarantee that you’ve been ignoring me these past few days only because you were busy with company business?"

Damien Vaughn couldn’t make that guarantee. Because he hadn’t been at the office for the past few days.

’But aside from Ryan, no one else knows. Why would Grandpa suddenly say something like that?’

’Did Second and Third Uncle complain about me in retaliation, or is he just holding a grudge against me for some reason?’

Damien Vaughn didn’t want to guess. He couldn’t be bothered.

"Since when do we have to speak in riddles to each other? Grandpa, what are you so angry about today? Just tell me."

’Who’s the one speaking in riddles here?’

’Is this how he talks to me now?’ The old man grew even angrier.

"Why am I angry? You don’t know why I’m angry? Damien Vaughn, I should be asking you! What have you been sneaking around and doing behind my back? Do you think I’m at death’s door? That I’m useless, so you can pull the wool over my eyes however you please? Is that it?"

Damien Vaughn was completely baffled.

"I have no idea what you think I’ve deceived you about. I have a very important meeting this morning, Grandpa. If you still haven’t decided what you want to say to me, I’m going to my meeting. We can talk when you’re ready."

As he said this, he turned to leave. The old man, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, swept everything off the coffee table and onto the floor.

"What did I do in a past life to deserve such a wretched pack of sons and grandsons! Fine! You want me to be direct? I want a straight answer from you today! Damien Vaughn, when exactly do you plan to marry Gwen? Give me a date!"

’To be honest, back when Grandpa was younger and more robust, he’d often lose his temper over work or family matters, but he’d never gotten this furious.’

Now, with his health so frail... seeing the mess he’d made on the floor, his thin frame trembling with rage as he sat on the sofa, Damien Vaughn felt a pang in his heart.

"Didn’t Carter just get married before the end of the year? If you’re eager for a great-grandchild, you’ll have one soon enough. Why are you rushing me?"

"He is him, and you are you! Stop trying to change the subject! Answer me, when will you do it?"

Seeing his grandfather’s ultimatum, Damien Vaughn understood.

"So if I don’t give you a straight answer today, our relationship as grandfather and grandson is over?"

"That’s right! You don’t give me an answer, and we’re done! Now, speak!"

Damien Vaughn knew he shouldn’t provoke his grandfather. He cherished their thirty-year bond.

But his grandfather was completely disregarding his feelings, using the very thing Damien treasured most to emotionally blackmail him. Damien couldn’t accept that.

"Grandpa, we’ve never really sat down and had a serious talk about my love life, but you’re a sharp man. You know exactly how I feel, so why are you pushing me like this?"

The old man was so furious he was no longer thinking straight, saying the most hurtful things he could think of.

"Me, sharp? Compared to you, I’m just a fool you’ve kept in the dark! I have no idea what you’re thinking! Damien, I used to believe you were the only one in the Vaughn Family who understood what’s important, who knew how to act. But now I see you’re just like your father and your uncles—you don’t care about the bigger picture. You’re willful and selfish. I’m realizing I don’t know you at all anymore!"

He had his reasoning, and Damien Vaughn had his.

For the first time in his life, he was being completely open with his grandfather about his feelings, hoping for some understanding.

"Just because I won’t agree to marry Gwen Morgan, I’m willful and selfish? I don’t understand you either, Grandpa. The Vaughn Group is already at the top; we don’t need a marriage alliance to secure our position. I don’t have any romantic feelings for Gwen. Why are you forcing me to marry her? Don’t you think that’s unfair to her?"

But it was as if his grandfather hadn’t heard a single word.

"If you won’t marry her, then who will you marry? Cecelia Archer? Don’t you forget, she’s dead! And don’t you forget how your mother died! Are you telling me you plan to stay single your whole life for the woman who killed your mother?"

Damien Vaughn hadn’t expected him to suddenly bring her up. Cecelia Archer. A vein throbbed at his temple.

’Ever since what happened to his mother, he hadn’t dared to imagine a future with Cecelia whenever they were together.’

’He knew that even if he could move past it, his grandfather never would.’

But today, since his grandfather had brought it up himself, Damien Vaughn had to ask.

"What happened with my mother and Cecelia... maybe it wasn’t what it looked like. What if Cecelia didn’t do it..."

"So that woman isn’t dead after all? Even though she killed your mother, even with the facts laid bare, you still refuse to believe it? You still want to be with her? Damien Vaughn, at this point, I don’t know whether I should praise your loyalty or curse your foolishness. What is so great about that woman? What kind of spell has she cast on you? How can you still be so hung up on her?"

Damien Vaughn hated hearing his grandfather speak ill of Cecelia Archer.

’Cecelia had been part of the Vaughn Family for so long. Before what happened to his mother, his grandfather had been very fond of her.’

’How could he completely write off a person’s entire character over one muddled incident?’

But he didn’t want to argue with his grandfather any longer. The old man was set in his ways; it was a pointless debate.

And he didn’t want to actually be the death of him.

"In any case, you have my answer. If you insist on disowning me, then I have no choice but to accept it. I’ve said my piece. Grandpa, may I leave now?"

’He never expected Damien Vaughn to stand up to him so resolutely.’

The old man’s lifelong pride was shattered by Damien Vaughn in that instant.

He couldn’t bear it any longer. With a pained expression, he clutched his chest.

"You..."

"Grandpa? Grandpa!" Gwen Morgan rushed over to support him.

"Damien, stop it! Are you trying to kill Grandpa?"

Seeing his grandfather about to lose consciousness, Damien Vaughn also rushed to his side.

The old man’s mouth hung open, his expression vacant as he gasped for air for several seconds before finally catching his breath.

"Grandpa?"

"Don’t call me Grandpa. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. I never want to see you again."

Damien Vaughn: "Grandpa..."

"Get out. I don’t want you at my funeral. Get as far away from me as you possibly can."

His grandfather wouldn’t let Damien Vaughn touch him, or even call out to him. Helpless, Damien knew that if he stayed, he would eventually be browbeaten into agreeing to the old man’s unreasonable demands. So, he left the manor.

’Gwen Morgan is here, so he’ll be fine,’ he thought. ’We can talk again once he’s calmed down.’

The moment he was gone, the old man turned to Gwen Morgan, his tone grave.

"Gwen, you’re the only one I can trust to help me now. You have to do as I say."

"Of course, of course, Grandpa. I’ll do whatever you say."

"Go find Cecelia Archer and her bastard child for me. If no one else will collect the debt they owe the Vaughn Family, I’ll do it with my own two hands!"

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