My Child and I Married a Billionaire novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Like a Family of Four

Cecelia Archer hadn’t expected to go on a business trip with him on just her second day at their house.

But since she was getting paid, she had to follow orders. After dinner, she packed a suitcase of clothes.

Shane Grant took the suitcase from her, and the group got into the car, looking very much like a family of four.

After more than an hour of speeding down the highway, they arrived at their destination and checked into a mountain villa with beautiful scenery.

The men went to discuss business over tea, while Cecelia Archer took the children to play in the villa’s kids’ area.

It was past ten o’clock at night when Shane Grant finally returned to the room, looking exhausted.

"We talked all day, but it’s finally over. Go to sleep for now. Dad will take you somewhere different tomorrow."

Meanwhile, an exhausted Damien Vaughn returned to his room. He was leaning back on the sofa, resting with his eyes closed, when his uncle called.

"Damien, are you in a hurry to leave tomorrow?"

Damien Vaughn was no fool. He knew his uncle wasn’t calling him this late at night just because he was bored.

"I was worried you’d be tired, Uncle, and I was also afraid you might have things to attend to back home. I wanted to stay with you for another day, but I didn’t dare say it... If you don’t mind, Uncle, let me accompany you for another day tomorrow."

"Hahahaha, you clever boy. I heard there’s an ethnic minority group in a nearby town, one of the few remaining nomadic peoples who live on horseback. Their children’s coming-of-age ceremony has to be completed on horseback, and it just so happens there’s one tomorrow. I’m quite curious. Since you’re so thoughtful, you can accompany me to see it."

「Early the next morning.」

Damien Vaughn and his uncle left discreetly in two separate cars, one behind the other.

It was past eight o’clock by the time Cecelia Archer and the others finished breakfast. They also started driving toward the ethnic minority’s village.

Although the ethnic group lived in a rather remote area, the road conditions were quite good, and they arrived in about forty minutes.

The coming-of-age ceremony was about to begin. In an earthen field at the very center of the village, a sea of people had gathered, their voices a deafening roar. The atmosphere was so lively that anyone who didn’t know better would have thought it was New Year’s.

It was Aidan’s first time walking on a dirt road. Seeing nothing but mountains and trees around him, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

"Dad, what’s so fun about this place? What are we even here for?"

"We’re here to watch a show. You’ll see in a minute. Hold her hand, and don’t get lost."

Cecelia Archer and Shane Grant stood on either side of the children, and the four of them held hands as they squeezed into the crowd.

In the very center of the crowd stood ten horses, side by side, each with a large red flower tied around its neck.

Ten middle-aged men stood beside the horses, holding the reins, while ten boys who looked to be about ten years old stood behind them.

Shane Grant said to Aidan,

"Today is the coming-of-age ceremony for these ten boys. Their fathers have to teach them how to tame these wild horses and successfully ride them for ten laps around this field. Now *this* is a game for real men."

"Watch closely. If you’re interested, when you turn ten, Dad will bring you to participate too."

Cecelia Archer was speechless.

Boys will be boys; a competitive and aggressive spirit ran in their veins from a young age.

As soon as his father finished speaking, Aidan Grant’s face lit up with excitement and longing.

"Really? Dad, you have to keep your promise!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A thunderous roll of drums sounded. The time had come, and the coming-of-age ceremony officially began.

As the drumming stopped, the ten boys, as if shot full of adrenaline, leaped forward and sprinted toward their fathers.

The fathers scooped them up with one arm. With one hand, they wrestled the horse’s head down, pulling hard on the reins, while using the other to hoist the boys onto the horse’s back.

Some succeeded on the first try, scrambling up to hug the horse’s neck and steady themselves. Their fathers immediately let go of the reins, and they rode off alone.

Others struggled several times without managing to get on, but not a single one gave up. They tried again and again.

In that moment, they didn’t seem like ten-year-old boys, but like full-blooded, grown men—tall and powerful, their expressions determined and fierce. It was incredibly captivating.

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