My Child and I Married a Billionaire

As they left the apartment building, Cecelia Archer was about to ask for the full story on Claire Clark when an exhausted-looking Damien Vaughn cut her off.

"I transferred the money to your account. From now on, all my money will go to you."

"I never imagined a woman could be so malicious. This is a stain on my life. Please, spare me some dignity. Can we just... never bring this up again?"

Cecelia Archer wasn’t a tactless person.

’If I were in his shoes...’ She had misjudged people before, too. If someone kept reminding her of it, she’d be annoyed as well.

"You’ve been up all night, haven’t you? Go get some rest."

Seeing her give him the cold shoulder, Damien Vaughn asked anxiously.

"Where are you headed?"

"I haven’t talked to Shane Grant in a while. I’m going to see him today."

Men and women really are different.

Even though Damien Vaughn knew he was in the wrong and deserved to be punished, hearing Cecelia Archer say she was going to see Shane Grant still made him uncomfortable.

"I’m not tired. I’m heading to the office for a meeting. Why don’t you come with me?"

"No," Cecelia Archer said without a second thought. "I’m not going to your company ever again."

Damien Vaughn patiently tried to persuade her.

"How can you call it *my* company? You’re Candy’s mother, and I’m her father. We should run it together. It’ll all be Candy’s someday. Are you telling me you don’t plan on building a legacy for our daughter? That you’d rather go work for someone else?"

Once in the car, Cecelia Archer had to admit he had a point.

Still, she didn’t want to share an office with him every day.

"Fine, I’ll go. But I want to be in the technology department."

"As long as you come to the company, you can go to any department you want."

The two of them went to the office together. Damien Vaughn called his second and third uncles, telling them to come attend a meeting with all the senior executives.

In truth, he was holding this meeting entirely for the benefit of his second and third uncles.

The only reason that uncle had made a move against Cecelia Archer was because they had instigated it. They despised Cecelia from the bottom of their hearts, and that was something Damien Vaughn would not tolerate.

The meeting was scheduled for ten o’clock, but Damien Vaughn deliberately entered ten minutes late.

Everyone was sitting together, murmuring amongst themselves. When they saw him enter with Cecelia Archer by his side, they instantly fell silent, exchanging meaningful glances.

Damien Vaughn hadn’t arranged a seat for Cecelia Archer; they stood together at the head of the conference table.

He scanned the conference room.

"Is everyone here? Let’s begin."

"I’ve called you all here today to make an announcement. You all know her, I presume?"

No one spoke, which was a silent confirmation.

Damien Vaughn continued.

"Previously, at the Grant Group, she went by the name Luna Linden. Due to some personal matters, she has recently changed her name to Cecelia Archer. From now on, you will all address her as President Archer."

"..."

’An adult has the right to change their name. It’s not that unusual. Did President Vaughn really call a meeting just for this?’

Everyone was baffled. As they puzzled over it, the second and third uncles exchanged a look and let out a derisive snort.

"Damien..."

"Address me as President Vaughn!" Damien Vaughn’s cold gaze shot toward them.

"This is the company, not your home. I shouldn’t need to remind two Vaughn executives what is and is not appropriate to say here, should I?"

The second uncle had been about to expose him in front of everyone, but after that threat, he swallowed his words.

’Fine, fine. If he wants to be a spineless coward and ignore the cause of his own mother’s death, that’s his business. It has nothing to do with us. We’ll just pretend we don’t see a thing.’

"Okay. Is that all? If President Vaughn has nothing else to add, we’re very busy. We’ll be on our way."

As the second uncle started to rise, Damien Vaughn spoke again, his tone severe.

"I will dismiss you when I am finished."

"..."

He retracted his cold gaze and addressed the room again.

"As I’m sure you all know, President Archer worked with me on the Windmount project and made an indelible contribution to the Vaughn Group’s growth. Therefore, I have officially hired her to join us. She may be young, but she is practical, diligent, and hardworking. I am confident she will lead our company to new heights."

Everyone, except for the second and third uncles, politely applauded.

The Windmount project required little investment for a high return, and no one could deny that Cecelia Archer deserved a great deal of the credit for that.

Damien Vaughn continued, "While I was away on business a few days ago, President Archer acted in my stead and handled a great deal of official business. I have complete faith in her abilities, and it was a pleasure to cooperate with her. But now that I have returned, it’s time for her to move into her own role. I am now officially appointing President Archer as the Vice President of Technology. She will work with President King to lead our technological innovation."

The executives looked at one another, stunned.

It was true she had contributed to the company, but for a girl so young to be made Vice President of Technology...

Sales, planning, finance—any of those would have been a suitable fit. Why, of all things, technology?

"What is it? You all seem to have reservations. That’s fine. The reason I called this meeting was to hear your opinions. Feel free to speak your mind."

Damien Vaughn studied their faces, finally pointing to the director of the technology department, President King.

"President King. Why don’t you share your thoughts?"

President King had spent the better part of his life in technology. Even though he was over fifty, he wasn’t one for office politics, deceit, or backstabbing.

"I have no objections. If she’s someone President Vaughn personally selected, she must have her merits. The only way to know for sure is to see her in action. I can’t offer an opinion prematurely."

Since the Director of Technology himself had said as much, the others had to keep their opinions to themselves, even if they disagreed.

One by one, they all shook their heads and said they had no objections either.

Damien Vaughn was about to say, "Good, then this meeting is adjourned," when his second uncle, unable to bear it any longer, spoke up.

"President Vaughn, what I’m about to say may displease you, but I am your elder, and my name is also Vaughn. Others may see your misguided actions and not dare to speak up, but I can’t just stand by and do nothing, can I?"

"If I’m not mistaken, this Miss Archer studied medicine, and she doesn’t even have a degree. You’re letting a medical school dropout in her early twenties become the Vice President of Technology at the great Vaughn Group. Just listen to how that sounds. Isn’t it ridiculous? If word of this gets out, it will be front-page news! A man giving a woman the company’s most critical department as a plaything just to make her happy... How is that any different from the foolish king who lit the war beacons just to see his favorite concubine smile?"

He spoke with such conviction that he sounded completely reasonable, perfectly voicing what the others were thinking.

Yet, Damien Vaughn’s expression remained unchanged.

"Does age, a high-level degree, or a so-called relevant field of study guarantee results? By that logic, President Vaughn," he said, looking at his uncle, "you and the other President Vaughn beside you shouldn’t have your current track records."

"..."

After his impassioned speech, the second uncle was effortlessly shut down by a single sentence. His face instantly flushed red with anger.

"You! Damien Vaughn, I am trying to have a serious discussion about the future of this company, and you’re mocking me?"

Damien Vaughn retorted coolly.

"Whether I’m mocking you or not, everyone here can be the judge. President Vaughn, don’t be so articulate when pointing out others’ flaws, only to become evasive when the topic turns to you. Instead of spending your time here questioning others’ abilities and finding fault, you’d be better off returning to your post to focus on your work and properly lead your own team."

SNAP! The second uncle slammed his pen on the table and shot to his feet, fuming.

"I bet you’ve been waiting to say that for a long time, haven’t you? Well, since we’re on the subject, Damien Vaughn, let’s get everything out in the open!"