My Child and I Married a Billionaire novel Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: He’s Back

Oh my god!

Simone Vaughn’s knees went weak again.

’Wasn’t he out of town working on some big project? Wasn’t he going to be gone for the New Year? Why is he back all of a sudden?’

Simone Vaughn turned around, trembling. The crowd on the stairs automatically parted, and Damien Vaughn’s tall, imposing figure slowly emerged from the throng.

"You’ve brought utter shame to the Vaughn Family. If you remain unrepentant and continue this foolishness, I wouldn’t mind convincing Grandpa to have you disowned."

"B-Big Brother..."

"And you lot."

Damien Vaughn walked to the top of the stairs, looking down on the people below like a king.

"If you have nothing better to do than cause trouble for society all day, I have no problem sending all of you to prison."

Everyone: "!?!"

"Don’t doubt my words. I do what I say. Starting tomorrow, if I see any of you associating with Simone Vaughn again..."

Before he could finish, the crowd scattered as if they’d seen a ghost, scrambling over each other to flee downstairs.

Kay, lying shirtless on the floor, was now in an extremely awkward position. Unable to leave, he could only beg.

"I was wrong, I really know I was wrong! I shouldn’t have touched your woman! Zeke, please, be a good guy and give me a chance to turn over a new leaf! I’ll agree to any condition, I swear! Please, just don’t send me to jail!"

"Simone, I came here for you today, you have to help me! I really can’t go to jail, Simone."

’Simone Vaughn didn’t know why she was so afraid of Damien Vaughn. He wasn’t even her biological brother, and he usually paid her no mind.’

’If Kay went to jail, she’d inevitably be questioned too. Sooner or later, the truth would come out.’

She lowered her eyes meekly and looked at Damien Vaughn, trembling.

"Big Brother..."

"I’m not the one you should be begging. I can’t help you."

Like a cold and ruthless judge, Damien Vaughn cut her off.

"Besides, even if I could help, I wouldn’t. Simone Vaughn, you’re far too arrogant and domineering. It’s time you had a reality check."

Her heart sank. Simone Vaughn turned to plead with Zeke Walton. "Zeke..."

Zeke Walton turned his face away.

The wail of police sirens drifted up from downstairs. Soon, Simone Vaughn and Kay were being led into a car.

The house fell completely silent, leaving only Damien Vaughn, Zeke Walton, and Gwen Morgan, who was standing alone on the stairs.

Zeke Walton sighed and asked Damien Vaughn.

"Why are you back all of a sudden? I saw on the news that you were personally leading the post-disaster reconstruction effort over there. I thought you’d be gone for a while."

"Isn’t it obvious? It’s because of you."

Damien Vaughn’s voice was cold, but Zeke Walton couldn’t bring himself to be angry at his words.

"Gwen Morgan called me and said you and Simone Vaughn were causing a scandal all over the city. If I didn’t come back, you’d be crowned Veridia’s number one heartbreaker."

In that instant, Zeke Walton felt his friendship with Damien Vaughn had come full circle.

He was still the same old Damien Vaughn—the man whose actions betrayed his harsh words, who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, the upright and incorruptible Damien Vaughn.

’I was too shallow before. I never truly understood him.’

Zeke Walton suddenly leaned in close with a cheeky grin.

"You really are the best to me. I feel so much better now. Damien, you care about me so much, how about I give you a kiss?"

As if he had anticipated it, Damien Vaughn raised an arm to block him.

"I have no idea what Simone Vaughn sees in you."

"Alright. If there’s nothing else, everyone should go home. I’m tired."

Gwen Morgan followed him downstairs. His unexpected early return had eased her longing for him, and she watched him with a heart full of joy.

Sure enough, after checking with Miller, she received confirmation within minutes.

"Luna Linden did indeed return with President Vaughn. President Vaughn drove the car himself."

’Ah! Bitch! Bitch, bitch, bitch!’

Gwen Morgan wanted to grind her molars to dust.

"Before, you were in an unfamiliar place with no reliable help, so I understood why you couldn’t complete the task. But now that she’s back, you have no more excuses, right?"

Previously, Miller had hated Cecelia Archer for Gwen Morgan’s sake. But now, for the sake of his own future, he couldn’t possibly let Cecelia Archer off the hook either.

"Don’t worry, Miss Morgan. I’ve been thinking about this constantly. I already have a concrete plan in place. Just wait for the good news."

Damien Vaughn was in low spirits. Combined with how busy he’d been recently, he was utterly exhausted.

Arriving back at the Vaughn estate, he tossed the car keys by the door, planning to say a quick hello to his grandfather before going to his room to sleep.

But as soon as he walked in the door, his Second Uncle and Second Aunt rushed over, clamoring loudly.

"Damien! You’re finally back! And just in time! We were just about to call you! What is wrong with you, and during the New Year of all times?"

"No matter what, Simone is your sister! Even if she’s not your biological sister, she’s still a blood relative of the Vaughn Family living under the same roof! How could you side with an outsider to harm her? She’s a young, unmarried girl! By sending her to a place like that, how do you expect her to face anyone in the future?"

"I always thought you were a sensible boy who understood the bigger picture and knew how to act appropriately. How could you be so foolish when it comes to a matter where we should be working together to save face?"

"Damien... SIGH!"

Damien Vaughn knew his Second Uncle and Second Aunt would come to settle accounts with him, but he hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

’So tired. I really don’t want to talk.’

But looking at his Second Aunt’s loud, incessant nagging and his Second Uncle’s expression of wanting to speak but holding back...

He walked around them, sat down on the sofa next to his grandfather, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"It’s not the first time you’ve had a problem with me, is it? Whatever else you have to say, just say it all at once."