My Child and I Married a Billionaire

The manager left, thanking him profusely.

Cecelia Archer hooked up his IV bag, draped a blanket over him, and was desperate to get back.

"The kids’ clothes are wet, and I came down to get them some dry ones. I’ve been gone for so long, they must be getting anxious. I’ll have a doctor come and keep an eye on you. If you’re not feeling well, just try to get some sleep. I’ll come see you again tomorrow morning."

Damien Vaughn thought he’d misheard and opened his eyes, displeased.

"Come see me again tomorrow morning? Why don’t you just wait until I’m dead to come back?"

Cecelia Archer: "..."

He irritably lifted his leg and kicked off the blanket.

"I don’t like being with strangers, and I especially don’t like being alone with a strange man. Have you known me for only a day? Why did I get injured? And after getting hurt, this is how you treat me? Cecelia Archer, where’s your conscience?"

’Cecelia Archer knew that if it weren’t for him, she would have been in serious trouble tonight.’

’But I’ve already explained to him that the children are still waiting for me...’

Damien Vaughn was suddenly acting like a petulant child.

"I don’t care. I am not staying in the same room as a strange man. I got this injury for you, so you have to take responsibility for me. Figure it out. And I haven’t even eaten."

He hadn’t had any appetite at all for the past few days, with no desire to eat anything.

But who knew that after a few stitches, he’d suddenly feel famished.

’Cecelia Archer was out of options. She couldn’t just leave him here all alone, could she?’

She adjusted the IV drip to its slowest rate.

"How about this? I’ll go back and show my face, put the kids to sleep, and then I’ll come back to check on you. I’ll bring you something to eat, too, okay? I have to go back, no matter what. Otherwise, Shane Grant will come looking for me."

’Shane Grant! Shane Grant! Always Shane Grant! Why doesn’t he just worry himself to death?’

Frustrated, Damien Vaughn kicked the blanket even farther away.

Seeing that he was impossible to persuade, Cecelia Archer sighed. She picked up the blanket, covered him with it again, and soothed him gently.

"Be good. Don’t play games with your health. You’re very weak right now, and it would be bad if you developed a fever. I promise, I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. What do you want to eat?"

She rarely spoke to him in such a gentle, caring tone, and Damien Vaughn loved hearing it.

But he still turned his face away. "As if you could get me whatever I wanted."

Cecelia Archer said, "And why not? Didn’t the manager just say he owes you a favor? Forget a simple meal—he’d probably give you his company shares if you asked. Go on, just say what you want. I’ll have him get it ready for you in advance."

As long as Cecelia Archer was talking to him and running errands for him, Damien Vaughn was happy.

After he named a few dishes, Damien finally let Cecelia Archer go.

When she returned to the room, she was surprised to find that Shane Grant had already put the children to sleep.

"They ran wild all day. Once they ate their fill, had a bath, and relaxed, they got sleepy. It’s good, though. They’re in bed early, so you can get some rest, too. What took you so long just to grab some clothes?"

Cecelia Archer didn’t dare tell him the truth.

’Shane Grant was still very weak, and his company wasn’t doing well. Since even Damien Vaughn didn’t plan on pursuing the matter with that gang, telling Shane would only make him worry for nothing.’

"The sunset was gorgeous today. I haven’t seen a view that lovely in a long time, and I lost track of time. Since the children are asleep, you should get some rest, too. You’ve been exhausted these past few days."

Shane Grant looked at her, feeling that something was strange, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

"All right. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night."

About forty minutes later, Cecelia Archer returned to Damien Vaughn’s room carrying containers of food.

This was the first time she had ever seen him so relaxed. He was sunk into the sofa, his big, bare feet dangling in the air.

One arm, with the IV line taped to it, rested on the blanket. With his other hand, he held the remote, idly searching for a TV show.

He didn’t look like someone who had just gotten stitches and was on an IV drip; he looked as if he were on vacation.

’Cecelia Archer had to admit, he was truly impressive.’

’There was no anesthetic here; he had just endured being cut open and then sewn up with over a dozen stitches, yet he was still this calm. Was he the reincarnation of Lord Luck, who could have his bone scraped to the quick without flinching?’

Hearing the door open and seeing that she had actually returned, an almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of Damien Vaughn’s lips.

Cecelia Archer walked to the coffee table, set down the food, and then crouched in front of him to check on him.

The needle was secure and hadn’t shifted. She increased the drip rate a little, then felt his forehead. He had broken out in a light sweat, but his temperature wasn’t high.

"Does it hurt?"

Her palm felt comforting on his forehead, but Damien Vaughn couldn’t help but snap at her.

"What a stupid question. Does it hurt? I’m hungry and in pain. I feel like I’m dying."

"..."

’And here I was just thinking he was the reincarnation of Lord Luck, and he immediately starts acting weak.’

"All right, all right. I’ll feed you now. It won’t hurt anymore once you’ve eaten and fallen asleep."

Cecelia Archer took out the food, arranging the dishes one by one in front of him.

As he watched TV, she fed him. Anyone witnessing the scene would have called it comfortable. Where was the man who looked like he was at death’s door?

She quickly fed him until he was full. Then, Cecelia Archer started to clear away the leftovers.

"You can take the anti-inflammatory and pain medication in half an hour. Watching TV while lying down like this is bad for your eyes. Do you want to rest for a bit? I’ll wake you in half an hour."

Damien Vaughn’s attention wasn’t on the TV at all. The shows were all mind-numbingly boring.

It was just that if he wasn’t watching TV, he wouldn’t know what expression to wear in front of Cecelia Archer.

’Well, since Cecelia Archer said so, I might as well turn it off.’

’But he was lying down while Cecelia Archer was sitting on the other side of the sofa. If he closed his eyes, he wouldn’t even be able to sense her presence. What was the point of making her come over then?’

"Do we really have to wait that long? Can’t I take them now? It hurts so much."

"Taking medicine right after a meal is bad for your stomach, and it’ll also be much less effective. I know you’re in a lot of pain. How about I get some ice to put on the wound?"

"Will ice even help?"

"It should at least help calm it down and reduce the swelling."

"Then why didn’t you say so earlier!"

Cecelia Archer hurried to the refrigerator, put some ice cubes in a paper cup, and came back to crouch in front of him and press the cup to his arm.

Her hand was touching his skin again, but for Damien Vaughn, it still wasn’t enough.

"My head feels like it’s going to explode from the pain. It’s unbearable. Help me up."

Cecelia Archer didn’t understand how an arm injury could cause a headache, but she owed the man a favor, so she did as he asked and helped him to his feet.

She thought Damien Vaughn wanted to walk around, maybe get some cool air to feel better. Instead, once he was standing, he ordered Cecelia Archer to sit in the spot he had just been.

"You, sit here."

"?"

"I told you to sit, so just sit."

Cecelia Archer sat down. Damien Vaughn immediately sat beside her, tilted his body, and rested his head on her stomach.

"Massage my head while you’re at it. It really hurts."

Cecelia Archer: "..."

While Cecelia Archer massaged his head, she also had to keep an eye on the IV’s flow rate. Before she knew it, the first bag was empty.

Damien Vaughn remained motionless the entire time, his face pressed against her lower stomach. She couldn’t tell if he was asleep or not.

Cecelia Archer gently pinched his ear.

"Are you asleep? Lift your head for a second. I need to get up and change the bag."

As soon as she finished speaking, Damien Vaughn lifted his head.

Cecelia Archer quickly swapped in the second IV bag and sat back down. Damien Vaughn immediately rested his head on her stomach again, closed his eyes, and gave a contented nuzzle.

"That feels much better. All right, you can watch TV now."