She wasn’t the only one who was annoyed. Second Uncle and Aunt, along with Third Uncle and Aunt, were all equally displeased.
Damien Vaughn’s sudden stunt had captured all of the old man’s attention. Everyone had gone to great lengths to prepare gifts, hoping to cheer up their grandfather and perhaps make a few requests. Now, all their efforts were for nothing.
"Damien, you’re usually the most well-mannered. Tonight, your Second Uncle has to criticize you. You haven’t handled this situation tactfully."
"It was one thing when you didn’t bring her home before. But now that you have, why haven’t you formally introduced her to us so she can greet us? Your Third Uncle and I aren’t so old and senile that you can just disregard us, are we?"
If their grandfather hadn’t been present, Second Uncle would have lashed out at Damien long ago.
And Damien, of course, knew exactly what his uncle was thinking.
But the more his uncle cared about something, the less Damien wanted to give it to him.
Second Uncle was keeping another family on the side. For that woman and her child, he had actually embezzled company funds and had the finance department cook the books.
If Damien hadn’t audited the accounts so carefully, who knows what state these parasites would have left the company in.
He didn’t think Second Uncle was even worthy of being one of the Vaughns.
"I’ve been ’impolite’ for over three years now; this isn’t the first day. Grandpa hasn’t said a word, so Second Uncle, you shouldn’t worry about it. I’ve never been one for perfect etiquette. I often just do whatever I feel like on a whim. You’ll just have to forgive me."
Second Uncle had laid it all out, yet Damien still didn’t have Cecelia Archer get up to toast them or greet them. On top of that, he’d said such things. The arrogance was infuriating!
Second Uncle’s brows furrowed, his anger flaring. He wanted to erupt, but with an outsider present, he suppressed it.
He let out a sarcastic snort. "It seems we really are old and useless now... In that case, I’ll take my leave. You all have fun."
Seeing her husband lose face and storm off, Second Aunt also left in a huff.
Although Third Uncle and Third Aunt said nothing, they had witnessed Damien’s arrogant behavior and were also quite angry. After sitting for a little while longer, they left too.
With only the younger generation left in the room, the atmosphere was suddenly much more lively.
"It’s rare for all of us to be together like this, and on Big Bro’s big day, too! It’s boring to just sit around and chat. Who wants to sing? Who wants to dance?"
Carter Vaughn, that heartless kid. His parents had just been angered into leaving, and he was still in the mood to party.
He suggested with cheerful enthusiasm, "You won’t believe this, but in all these years, I’ve never seen Big Bro sing or dance. Let’s get him to perform for us, what do you say?"
Everyone applauded.
It wasn’t just him; no one had ever seen it.
"Go, Big Bro! Go, Big Bro!"
Damien Vaughn wasn’t some stuffy traditionalist who would die before singing or dancing in front of a crowd. On the contrary, his dancing skills were excellent.
As they spoke, someone had already run over to turn on the stereo, and melodious music began to play.
He pushed back his chair, stood up, and stretched his long limbs.
"Since you all want to see it so badly, I’ll show you how it’s done."
He extended a hand to Cecelia Archer. "May I have this dance?"
Cecelia Archer had never danced in front of a crowd before. To be precise, she had never danced at all.
To start by dancing with Damien Vaughn, with so many people watching... just the thought of it made her blush.
"I..."
It was just for fun. Seeing her flushed cheeks, evasive eyes, and shyness like a schoolgirl’s, Damien felt a sudden stir in his heart and simply lifted her out of her chair.
He took a few steps to the center of the living room and set her down.
He took one of Cecelia’s hands, his other arm encircling her waist. He guided her free hand to his shoulder and whispered softly in her ear.
’I’m so sick of this situation I can’t even call out,’ Zeke thought as he gently pulled his arm away.
"It’s not like you don’t know I hate dancing."
"Oh, come on, we’ll just mess around. Just this once, for me? It won’t kill you. Everyone else is out there. People will talk if we’re the only two just standing here like idiots. Zeke, please? Just dance with me."
Zeke couldn’t do it.
’I’ve been lukewarm toward her for years, yet she still clings to me like glue. If I’m nice to her now, will we be getting married tomorrow?’
"My leg hurts. I can’t dance today. Maybe some other time."
Simone Vaughn didn’t believe him. "Your leg hurts? Out of nowhere? How did you suddenly hurt your leg?"
"It’s not just my leg. My head hurts, my whole body hurts. If I wasn’t doing you a favor, I wouldn’t have even come tonight. That’s enough. Go find someone else to dance with. I need to go home and rest."
With that, he pushed Simone aside and left.
On the dance floor, everyone was in pairs. She was the only one left alone—and she had just been physically pushed away by her own fiancé!
Humiliated and heartbroken, Simone Vaughn burst into tears on the spot.
Through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, she looked at Cecelia Archer in the center of the crowd and felt a surge of pure hatred for the woman.
’I, Simone Vaughn, am the premier young lady of the Vaughn family! Before tonight, when have I ever not been the center of attention? But tonight, *she* had to show up!’
’My big brother is over thirty years old; when has he ever been so intimate and gentle with anyone?’
’Not only is he gentle with her, he even has a child with her!’
AHHHH! It’s infuriating!

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