Chapter 273: The Girlfriend Arrives
Miller’s hands were trembling with rage as he left the room. He quickly found a deserted corner and sent a message to Gwen Morgan.
"This is outrageous! Miss Morgan, that Luna Linden is absolutely vicious! She had me kicked off the team!"
"I’ve been looking for a chance to get rid of her these past two days, but she just kept pretending to be unconscious! President Vaughn must be completely hoodwinked, he actually can’t see that she’s faking. Not only does he refuse to leave her side, but just now, she even whispered in his ear right in front of everyone, insisting that I take a vacation immediately. Tell me, what is this if not her trying to hog all the credit? How can such a horrible woman exist in this world?"
Gwen Morgan had been keeping a close eye on the situation.
Before the rain started, she had planned to send someone over with drugs so Miller could get rid of Cecelia Archer deep in the remote mountains, but then the downpour began unexpectedly.
The downpour was bad enough, but then Damien Vaughn had to personally lead a team to rescue them, bringing reporters along and turning the whole thing into a media circus.
Watching the Vaughn Group’s reputation soar because of this, Gwen Morgan had mixed feelings.
She was happy that Damien Vaughn’s career would reach new heights, but she was worried that because of this incident, damn it, he would see Cecelia Archer in an even more favorable light.
She was already upset, but Miller’s message sent a fresh wave of fury through her. She immediately joined the helicopter crew heading to the hospital.
Back at the hospital, the crowd had dispersed. After comforting Grandma King, Cecelia Archer felt tired again and returned to her room to rest.
Damien Vaughn followed her back to the room.
Cecelia Archer was about to shut the door when she saw Damien Vaughn right behind her. Confused, she asked.
"I just ate, and I’m about to get some rest. If you don’t have anything to do, you should rest too. Why are you following me?"
Damien Vaughn: "..."
’This damn woman. Has a dog eaten her conscience?’
’Heartless, just as always. The second she’s full, she tries to kick me out!’
"This isn’t just your room; it’s mine, too. You’re trying to kick me out?"
"What? This is your room, too? You’re going to stay here?"
"What do you mean, ’too’? I’ve been staying here for two days already."
’If it weren’t for his meticulous care these past two days, would she have been able to sleep so soundly?’
Cecelia Archer was stunned.
’He’s been staying here for two days?’
’There’s only one bed and one pillow in here. So, he’s saying that he, Damien Vaughn, has been sharing a bed with her for two days—right in front of all their colleagues?’
Seeing the look on her face, as if she’d seen a ghost, Damien Vaughn snorted.
"It’s not the first time we’ve slept together. What’s the big fuss about? I haven’t complained about you, but you’re complaining about me?"
Good heavens! Cecelia Archer’s face instantly turned as red as a tomato.
’They had slept together before, but no one else was around then. Now he was brazenly...’
’Fortunately, she didn’t work for the Vaughn Group. Once this project was over, she wouldn’t have to see anyone from the engineering department again. Otherwise, she’d die of embarrassment.’
Just as they were talking, Gwen Morgan’s voice came from the hallway.
"Hello, excuse me, which room is Damien Vaughn in?"
Damien Vaughn’s eyebrow shot up. In two quick strides, he was in front of Cecelia Archer. He pulled her against him, spun around, and shoved her into the bathroom.
The world spun. Before Cecelia Archer could even begin to understand what he was doing, the bathroom door SLAMMED shut.
Damien Vaughn had just turned around when Gwen Morgan’s face, beaming a sweet smile, appeared in the doorway.
"Damien, I finally found you! So this is where you were!"
Damien Vaughn’s expression darkened as he looked at her, displeased. "Why are you here?"
"I missed you, of course, so I came to see you. A couple of days ago, Grandpa and I saw you on the livestream, hanging in midair rescuing people in that horrible storm. We were scared to death! You weren’t answering our messages, and we were so worried something had happened to you, so Grandpa sent me to check. You look thinner. And you have dark circles under your eyes. Haven’t you been eating or sleeping well? You..."
As she spoke, she walked toward Damien Vaughn, reaching out as if to touch him.
Afraid she would discover Cecelia Archer, Damien Vaughn met her halfway, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her out of the room.
"Let’s talk outside."
SLAM. The door to the room was shut, and inside the bathroom, Cecelia Archer let out a cold laugh.
’His girlfriend shows up, so he shoves me into the bathroom. But when she’s not around, he’s shameless enough to shack up with me. Figures. All men are the same—a bunch of scumbags!’
’She used to think that scumbags were usually men with little education from the lower classes, men with no moral compass. But ever since she met Damien Vaughn, she finally understood.’
’Whether or not a man is a scumbag has nothing to do with his background, social class, looks, or education. It’s just in their nature!’
’Pah! A fickle, two-timing, opportunistic bastard!’
Damien Vaughn walked so quickly and forcefully that he had dragged Gwen Morgan quite a distance down the hall before he finally stopped.
Seeing that he showed no hint of joy at her arrival—in fact, his expression was grim—Gwen Morgan felt a sharp pang in her heart.
"Am I that much of an embarrassment? Where are you dragging me? Gently! You’re hurting me!"
Only then did Damien Vaughn let her go, taking two steps back to put a safe distance between them.
"The situation here is serious, and a lot of people need help, as you’ve seen. Go back and tell Grandpa not to worry about me. I’ll return after I’ve handled the post-disaster reconstruction. Besides, hospitals are full of germs. You shouldn’t come here unless it’s necessary. You need to leave with the others now."
He was rushing her to leave when she hadn’t even been there for two minutes? Gwen Morgan’s eyes grew red.
"What do you mean, you’ll return after the reconstruction? And what’s this about me leaving with them? Damien, you’re not going back today? This isn’t Veridia. Does the reconstruction work really need your personal help? Even if it does, you’re the CEO of a major corporation... The New Year is almost here. Don’t tell me you’re planning to spend it here?"
In fact, Damien Vaughn was planning to spend the New Year here.
’It might be busier and more tiring, but it was far better than staying home, getting lectured by his grandfather every day and being pestered by her about marriage.’
"I have my reasons for everything I do. You may not understand, but Grandpa will. Just go back and tell him what I said. Okay, don’t keep them waiting. Hurry up and go."
"No, I’m not leaving! If I’m going, you’re coming with me! Damien!"
Gwen Morgan clung to Damien Vaughn’s arm, refusing to let go. Not wanting to make a scene, he had no choice but to grab her and drag her toward the rooftop.
A few colleagues who were heading home were already waiting by the helicopter. Damien Vaughn unceremoniously lifted Gwen Morgan with one arm, deposited her at the cabin entrance, then turned and headed back downstairs.
Gwen Morgan kicked her legs, crying, "Damien! Damien!"
He paid her no mind. As if afraid Gwen Morgan would follow him, he pulled the iron gate to the rooftop shut behind him.
Watching his figure disappear in an instant, Gwen Morgan almost fainted from rage.
The pilot, afraid that she might jump from the helicopter in her agitated state, quickly had someone pull her farther inside.
"Miss Morgan, our flight window is limited. We need to leave now. Please, take a seat."
When Damien Vaughn returned to the room, Cecelia Archer was still in the bathroom.
The small bathroom reeked of disinfectant. She was just leaning against the wall, staring blankly at the ceiling. Damien Vaughn thought she looked like a fool.
"Are you going to come out? Or do you enjoy it in there?"
Cecelia Archer paused for two seconds before turning her head to meet his gaze, her tone sharp.
"Am I allowed out now? Aren’t you afraid Miss Morgan will see me?"