Chapter 197: Chapter 197: I’m Not Used to Being with Women
Damien Vaughn hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in two months.
Ever since his mother and Cecelia Archer had passed away and Candy had gone missing, he hadn’t been able to sleep. Though he forced himself into bed on schedule every night, sleep never came.
The moment he closed his eyes, his mind would be flooded with Cecelia Archer’s despairing expression and Candy’s heart-wrenching sobs.
As a highly educated adult, he knew his body would break down if this continued, so he had recently started seeing a doctor for medication.
When he first started the medication—whether due to a placebo effect or because his body hadn’t built up a tolerance yet—he was at least able to get a few hours of sleep each night, even if it was fitful.
But recently, even a single sleeping pill had no effect, and he was back to where he started.
Frustrated, Damien Vaughn asked the doctor to increase his dose to two or even three pills. The doctor didn’t dare and could only report the situation quietly to the Old Master.
"If this goes on, it won’t just cause significant damage to his kidneys; his mental state will also be affected. Sir, you should try to talk to President Vaughn. Besides medication, exercise and psychological relaxation are also effective treatments."
And so, after work that evening, the Old Master forced Damien Vaughn to bring Gwen Morgan to a hot spring resort.
He had heard this resort’s hot springs were especially effective for treating insomnia. He forbade them from returning that day and ordered Gwen Morgan to report Damien Vaughn’s status to him at all times. If Damien dared to disobey, she was to call him immediately.
Seeing Damien Vaughn’s poor mental state, Gwen Morgan refused to let him drive.
When they arrived at the hot spring resort, Gwen Morgan was backing the car into a VIP parking spot. Damien Vaughn got out first, intending to have a smoke.
He didn’t expect that just as he put the cigarette to his lips, a group of men would walk past him, escorting a woman.
The woman was dressed in a black business suit, her hair tied back in a low ponytail. She was slender and slim.
Surrounded by men taller than her, he couldn’t get a clear look at her face.
But just the sight of an ear, the curve of her jaw, and the back of her head made Damien Vaughn’s heart clench violently.
’Cecelia Archer?’
From this angle, it was a perfect match for the back of Cecelia Archer’s head!
The group ambled along, laughing and joking together. They were a scattered bunch, and the back of the woman’s head—Cecelia’s, he was sure of it—kept appearing and disappearing among them.
Damien Vaughn couldn’t believe his eyes. After two seconds of shock, he yanked the cigarette from his mouth and was about to break into a run to follow them when Gwen Morgan, having parked the car, trotted over and took his arm.
"All right, you didn’t have to wait long, did you? Let’s go. The rooms are already booked. I asked several friends, and they all said the therapeutic treatments here are excellent. You should try it first. If you like it, we can get an annual pass. We could bring Grandpa here in the future to try it out and for a change of scenery."
Damien Vaughn didn’t hear a single word.
He watched as the group entered the lobby. One of the men walked to the front desk, presented an ID, and took several key cards. Then, a staff member led them all inside.
’A single woman going for a massage with seven middle-aged-looking men?’
Damien Vaughn forcefully pushed Gwen Morgan’s hand off his arm. He pulled out his phone, preparing to call Ryan. Gwen was stunned by his series of actions.
"What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so pale? What happened? Who are you calling? What are you doing?"
"Something’s come up. You go in and wait. I’ll find you when I’m done."
’When he said ’something’s come up,’ it was always something major—the kind that meant he wouldn’t be coming home for the night.’
’He’d risk his life for work. Gwen Morgan had never met such a workaholic.’
Just as Damien Vaughn furrowed his brow and slid his phone open, Gwen Morgan’s delicate, pretty hand suddenly snatched it away.
"What’s so important that it’s worth more than your life? We finally squeeze out a little time to try this, and you’re completely distracted. Do you want me to tattle to Grandpa?"
She locked Damien Vaughn’s phone and hid it behind her back.
Damien Vaughn watched her, her face serious as if she were trying to discipline him, and his brows furrowed even tighter.
"Is it that serious? It’s not like this has only been going on for a day or two. Am I going to die if I don’t soak in this hot spring today? Stop fooling around. Give me the phone."
"No!"
Gwen Morgan simply took two steps back.
"I’m here on a mission from Grandpa! You know what he’ll do if I fail, don’t you? I can’t bear the consequences!"
"I don’t care how important your business is, in our eyes, nothing is more important than your health. Damien, just put work aside for now. We can talk about it after you’re well-rested, okay? Who even works like you, with no separation between your job and your life?"
Damien Vaughn couldn’t be bothered to listen to her lecture. He took two steps forward and held out his hand.
"Just give me the phone first. I never said I wasn’t going in."
"If I give you the phone, you definitely won’t go in. Don’t even think about fooling me!" Gwen Morgan retreated another two steps.
Damien Vaughn was growing impatient. His face turned cold. "Gwen Morgan, don’t make me use force."
"Use force? Great! I wish you would!"
At this, Gwen Morgan’s eyes suddenly reddened with grievance.
"Am I that ugly? Is my figure that bad? Or am I not gentle enough, not considerate enough? What part of me isn’t good enough for you? Damien Vaughn, I’ve liked you since we were kids. I’ve told you so many times, both overtly and subtly, but you either play dumb, turn a blind eye, or get together with someone else right in front of me. Have you ever once considered my feelings?"
"Fine, I guess I’m also to blame. I chose not to be by your side when you were going through the toughest time taking over the company, which gave someone else an opening. But the past is the past. I shouldn’t be getting angry with you."
"But starting now, I’m confessing to you seriously! Damien Vaughn, I like you! I want to marry you, I want to be your wife, I want to have your children! Even my parents and your grandfather say that we are the most compatible pair in the world. Please, consider me seriously, okay?"
"You have no idea how much I want you to touch me, to hold me. I wish you *would* use force on me. Go ahead. I won’t resist. Whether you’re gentle or rough, I’m willing to accept it. Come on."
Damien Vaughn: "..."
’We came here to enjoy the hot springs. How did the conversation end up here?’
’She had indeed hinted that she liked him many times, both overtly and subtly. But he had also told her, just as many times and just as clearly, that he didn’t like her. Did she not understand?’
Still, Damien Vaughn didn’t want to argue with her.
For one, they were in public, and it would look bad if they were seen.
For another, he really didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to say a single unnecessary word.
Speechless, he glanced up at the sky. After a few seconds of silence, Damien Vaughn took a step back.
"Let’s go. Let’s go inside."
Just as Gwen Morgan had said, she had already booked the rooms. They went to the front desk and directly received two key cards.
A staff member told them, "Guests staying at our resort can enjoy complimentary access to the sauna, hot springs, massages, foot soaks, and buffet. Just show your room key. I hope you both have a wonderful time."
Gwen Morgan happily took Damien Vaughn’s arm again.
As they entered the elevator, she said, "Let’s go to the hot springs first. I’ll go with you. I did my homework before we came. They have a really big..."
Damien Vaughn once again pulled his arm from her grasp.
"I’m not used to being with other people. Especially women."
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