Chapter 170: Chapter 170: The Dignity of Male Chauvinism

Cecilia Vaughn’s exquisite face was left with complete indifference.

Tyson Law stared at her in a daze as she stepped forward towards the stage. Clearly, he shouldn’t care, but the stifling feeling nearly took his breath away.

—It seems like all along, Cecilia has been this stubbornly independent, unlike Fiona who needs protection in her fragility.

But after all, they grew up together, spending over ten years side by side, and Tyson knew that besides her brother, the person Cecilia cared about the most in the Vaughn family was her grandfather.

Today, Old Master Vaughn hurt Cecilia so deeply; is she really as unaffected as she seems on the surface?

Or is she bearing her pain alone, using feigned indifference to protect herself?

No matter how strong she is, she’s still just a girl.

When she was about ten, she accidentally fell off her bike and skinned her knee, and she would come crying to him for comfort...

...

When did the little Cecilia who used to act spoiled and wronged become the cold and strong woman she is now?

Tyson didn’t know which nerve was struck. He bit his lip and suddenly dashed forward, spreading his arms to block Cecilia Vaughn.

"Cecilia, don’t go. After all, it’s all because of me. I’ll explain to the media. Cecilia, trust me, I’m a man, and I’ll protect you—" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Tyson looked at her with concern, his expression sincere, even his breathing grew tense.

But inside, Cecilia Vaughn felt cold and hard. She lightly lifted her eyelids, a mix of mockery and sadness in her eyes as she glanced at the man in front of her.

If this were three years ago, at the brink of being pushed into prison, and Tyson could have said those words, her once naive and simple self might have believed them.

But now seeing Tyson in this posture, it felt like nothing more than a performance.

Cecilia Vaughn shook her head coldly.

"Too late."

Tyson’s words came exactly three years too late. Now, things have changed.

The Cecilia Vaughn who should have heard those words three years ago was already "killed" in that sunless prison in Stellerton.

...

Tyson Law was confused, standing stunned in front of Cecilia Vaughn, almost desperately trying to explain.

"It’s not too late, you’re not on stage yet; there’s still time."

He was enlightened and didn’t want a girl to take the blame and face so many journalists’ interrogations. Choosing to be with Fiona had already hurt her deeply; he couldn’t rub salt in others’ wounds.

Cecilia Vaughn narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Tyson. Just when Tyson was feeling a bit uneasy under her gaze, her chilling voice suddenly rang out.

"Tyson, why are you here pretending to want to protect me with your fake sincerity?"

Tyson’s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively defended himself.

"Cecilia, I really want to..."

However, Cecilia Vaughn’s words left him ultimately speechless...

"Really want what? You’re just concerned about your bit of masculine pride. If you truly didn’t want a weak girl in your eyes to take the fall, you would have rushed to the stage to explain instead of blocking me here."

"What you truly should apologize for, you know better than me. You crossed any line when you condoned Fiona’s smear of my mother during the interview on Lychee TV."

Tyson’s face turned pale repeatedly; every word, every sentence from Cecilia Vaughn pierced his eardrums like daggers, burning and painful.

"Cecilia, I’m very sorry..."

The man’s usually vibrant, glistening eyes dimmed, he stammered, his voice so weak it was unbelievable.

Sorry?

What he owed her was far beyond a simple apology!

Cecilia Vaughn looked at him indifferently, then turned her eyes to the Vaughn family heading towards them: Fiona Vaughn, her mother, and Old Master Vaughn.

Her voice turned icy.

"Tyson, your false pretenses are even more disgusting than Fiona Vaughn."

At least, Fiona Vaughn had already shown herself as a manipulative person.

As for Tyson, having abandoned Cecilia to choose Fiona right from the start, does he still want to pose as a devoted, unwavering lover today?

Ha, those two are truly a match made in heaven...

...

Tyson Law’s hypocritical mask was ripped off by Cecilia Vaughn; he clutched his chest in agony, quite unable to accept it.

And Fiona Vaughn worriedly supported Tyson.

"Tyson, are you alright?"

Tyson had just spread his arms to block Cecilia Vaughn; she was so scared her heart nearly leaped into her throat!

How could those sharp-eyed reporters not notice the commotion here?

Evan was determined to protect that little brat from going on stage?

Tears glistened in Fiona Vaughn’s eyes.

"Sister, if you don’t want to go, I can explain on stage, too. I’m involved and I’m a public figure; it’s me who wronged you..."

Cecilia Vaughn just watched Fiona Vaughn’s performance without saying a word, merely scoffing.

Seeing Fiona Vaughn’s pitiful pear-blossom appearance, Old Master Vaughn immediately assumed it was Cecilia bullying her. He instantly grew angry, stretching out his cane as if to drive Cecilia Vaughn onto the stage.

"How could you be a sister! Fiona is a star; don’t you want her reputation to be ruined?"

"The reporters are getting impatient! What are you waiting for!"

Before the cane could touch Cecilia Vaughn, she suddenly stomped on it.

With great force, Cecilia Vaughn pinned it down; the increasingly frail Old Master Vaughn was momentarily unable to pull back, instantly infuriated beyond belief.

"You—"

Cecilia Vaughn boldly met the elder’s gaze, her words firm and resolute.

"Grandpa, today I ask you one thing: Fiona Vaughn is your granddaughter; her reputation can’t be sullied, but what about mine?"

Confronted by the girl’s clear amber eyes, Old Master Vaughn seemed impacted, he averted his gaze somewhat guiltily and let out a low sigh.

"You’re naturally also my granddaughter. Grandpa didn’t mean to be biased; I also want to protect you. But Fiona has been gentle and kind since childhood, unlike you, causing so much trouble... Besides, Fiona has repeatedly shown weakness to you; why not help your own sister this time?"

He said so much, as if bias should be forgiven?

...

Old Master Vaughn pleaded sincerely.

"Cecilia, we’re all family, tearing faces apart like that is ugly. Peace is precious!"

"Family?"

Cecilia Vaughn coldly scanned Fiona Vaughn crying in Tyson’s arms and the smug-looking Florence Warner...

"That’s right, apart from Evan and me, you indeed are a family."

That’s why Fiona Vaughn can easily snuggle in Tyson’s embrace.

That’s why Florence Warner can unashamedly murder her mother and take over the family nest.

Old Master Vaughn’s face alternated between dark and pale, but Cecilia Vaughn had already ignored him, directly walking to the podium in the hall.

"Good evening, wedding guests. I apologize for taking up ten minutes of your time, but trust me, everyone will be interested in the people and matters I’m about to discuss..."

The woman’s voice was cold and aloof. The pitch wasn’t deliberately raised, yet it silenced the crowd...