His Contractual Mistress

Having a wonderful breakfast with everyone for the first time after a year, Hailey raised her head and looked at the boys. 

She honestly missed them badly, and she wanted to spend more time like before. But she can't stay that long. She has to go back to P Country before Vince does. And she doesn't know how to explain it to her dad. 

Hailey sighs inwardly. She needs a little more time before she confesses to her dad about the truth. 

Vincent isn't divorced yet. What will her dad's reaction once he learned that she had a relationship with a married man? 

It was inappropriate even to say that Vince's marriage is an arranged one and no physical nor love is involved in this marriage. Still, it's bound legally by a paper. 

And she doesn't want to see the disappointment in her dad's eyes. She already made him worried. And she's been a brat for a long time. Her dad isn't getting younger anymore, so she wanted him to be happy. 

Hailey glanced at her dad and mused, "Would dad be okay if I give him a grandkid?" 

Hailey bit her lower lip with this thought, suppressing the smile playing on her lips. She imagines how her dad faints once she suddenly announces the news. 

Bryan is keenly staring at her, and it didn't hide to him how Hailey's eyes flickered from joy and the smile on her lips. 

He doesn't understand, but he had this feeling that that smile belongs to someone else. A flash of sadness passed his eyes, and it was the moment when Hailey lifted her gaze, and their eyes met.

Hailey smiled faintly at him, then quickly withdrew her gaze. He is right. Her smile doesn't belong to him anymore. 

Hailey presses her lips. She doesn't understand, but it made her uncomfortable the way Bryan was staring at her. 

Why is he looking at her like that? Things are already over with them. He didn't need to fake it that he is in love with her.

Hailey tilted her head on the side to shrugged her thoughts regarding Bryan. Gladly, Geoffrey was talking to her, and her attention shifted toward him.

Then, James mentions something that made her burst out laughing. Everyone, including Bryan, stared at her with marvel. 

Seeing her bright smile made their eyes glimmer with delight. It made them happy that the Hailey they used to know was laughing once again. 

After her heartbreak, she rarely smiles, not see her laugh. It seemed that the year she's hiding from them helps her move on. If it's true, then it was good news. 

Nothing they wish but to see her angelic innocent smile once again. 

Watching Hailey earnestly, Geoffrey didn't leave his eyes on her. 

In these passing days, she always told him that she already gets over Bryan. And it looks like it was true. 

Hailey had to move on. Not only that, she deserves to be happy. She shouldn't have been hurt in the first place.

She is kind and sweet to everyone. Until now, he doesn't understand why Bryan cheats on Hailey. 

Among everyone, it was Bryan who dares! 

And he was always infuriated toward Bryan for the reason that he concealed his feelings for Hailey but gave up pursuing her just to let his two friends become happy. 

But then, Bryan betrayed them! He promised them not to make Hailey cry. But he ate what he said. 

Geoffrey has been shooting a dark glare across the table. Bryan lifted his head and met Geoffrey's sharp stares. They were clashing gaze for a brief moment; Bryan was first withdrawn and turned his attention back to his food. 

Meanwhile, Hailey caught their clashing gaze. Watching her two friends had this dispute made her sad. Although she could not put Geoffrey at fault, she's partly to blame too. 

Marrying Bryan, she is only half-hearted about it because her love for him is just for a brother, and she's guilty of it.

One year ago, she was stupid. After one year, she completely understands how stupid she is. 

Now, she could not imagine giving herself to Bryan. How if she married Bryan in the end? 

Now she could not imagine herself giving to him. Now she is certain; she could not give herself to him willingly, like how she was to Vince. 

She loves him. And the feelings she has for him are not like others. Only Vince could entice her. She longs for his kisses and embraces. 

And all of these, she never felt from others yet. Not even Bryan, even after they are engaged. It's only Vince she learns how to desire someone.

Ah! Thinking about Vince made her cheeks pink. Suddenly, a naked Vince on top of her kissing her flashes her mind. 

Shoot! This isn't the time to lust about Vince! 

"Princess, are you alright?" asked Jacob after noticing his daughter's cheeks are flushing red. 

Hailey knocks herself to come back to her sanity. She replied, "Yes, dad! I'm fine! I think the temperature is getting high." 

Jacob nodded and didn't ask further. His daughter was smiling a lot now. That's a relief for him. 

When Hailey said that she wanted to go somewhere to mend her broken heart, he could not protest and stop her from leaving. 

And in what he sees now, it does help her. His daughter's eyes are gleaming again. 

"I'm glad that you are back, Princess." sincerely Jacob said to his daughter.

Hailey smiled sweetly. She moves closer to her dad and places her arms around his waist. "I missed you so much, dad." 

"I do too, Princess." 

After a merry breakfast, they all move to her office, seated on the oval table to deliver a report to Hailey one by one. 

So far, no major problem happens except the accident that occurs in the South construction site. 

Bryan sat up from his seat and walked toward Hailey. He places two folders in front of her. 

"This is my report regarding the accident. If you have questions after you review my report, I will answer them." 

Hailey nodded at Bryan without casting a glance at him. She took one folder and flipped it open. She begins to read the documents when she notices that Bryan remains standing next to her. 

She lifted her head and smiled awkwardly at Bryan. She needs to say something. 

"I'll summon you after I reviewed your report." 

Bryan blinks twice before he understands what Hailey told him. She is dismissing him, and she didn't even say his name, which was the opposite in the past. 

Hailey would endlessly shriek his name up to a hundred times a day, either on the phone. 

Bryan pursed his lips into a bitter smile, hiding his emotion clouding his head. The rejection Hailey showing to him made his heart shattered into pieces. 

Right now, he is just a mere employee to her. The warm relationship they used to share isn't there anymore but replaced with a treatment for strangers. 

This is what he is feeling at the moment. The way Hailey treated him could compare to a stranger. 

How painful it is. He is only a stranger to her now. 

The scene that everyone witnessed made them speechless. 

They are keenly observing Hailey and Bryan. And the scene they saw made them have complex feelings. 

They weren't sure whether to feel pity or laugh at Bryan after Hailey only showed a casual treatment of him. 

But what to expect? If we're them to decide, Bryan shouldn't be here any longer. Each of them is willing to do more work to help Hailey run her company. 

Everyone was in their thoughts when a mobile phone chimed in. They strictly made a rule that no one should turn on their mobile phone while having a meeting. 

However, the phone that keeps ringing is from Hailey. Everyone shared a glance with the question on their heads. 

"Who's that?"