His Contractual Mistress

Janise Lopez quietly followed her aunt, who remained silent the entire time as they walked toward the elevator. Her aunt seemed in deep thoughts, and the girl she mentioned earlier must be the reason that she is troubled right now.

Hilda and Janise went to the ground floor and rode a Rolls-Royce Phantom toward the Metro City Palace Hotel Hall main entrance door for a red carpet, where hundreds of media and reporters worldwide were waiting for this event. 

She is walking on the red carpet; Janise waves and poses while countless cameras take her pictures. After the grand entrance, Janise proceeds to the stairs, where her aunt is waiting impatiently.

Hilda walks the carpet without looking at the cameras, completely snubbing everyone. She only halted at the main backdrop of the event for a photoshoot to post at DV Gem's official website.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Hilda!" she apologized, hurried her steps, and followed the woman ascending the grand stairs toward the great hall of the hotel. 

Janise noticed her aunt seemed not to be by herself tonight. She simply nodded at her after apologizing, different from the usual attitude that quickly gets irritated and berates her immediately. 

'I am too curious about who this girl's aunt is talking about with Baron. But I can't ask my aunt about it; then I have to wait until later when she shows up at the party.' 

Well, Hilda was indeed in deep thoughts this entire time. It happens; she always recalled the conversations she has with her two daughters these past days. It started when Vincent got into an accident. 

"Mom? How was big brother?" Sheena immediately made an overseas call after she heard the news from Deena. 

"Your brother is fine. I'm glad he didn't have severe injuries. He only sprained his shoulder." 

"Thank God! Can I talk to him, mom? I can't contact his phone." 

"Um… Your brother is with his girlfriend in the patient room."

"Oh! I'm glad Hailey was there!" Sheena suddenly burst out, which confused her mom.

"What happened to you?" 

"Mom, I'm just happy that they reunited at last!" 

"What do you mean, reunited at last?" Hilda ponders. She's trying to mull over her memories of Vincent having an ex-girlfriend in the past.

All those years, she always investigates whether Vincent has a girlfriend or a girl he courted, especially have a one-night's stand. She just wanted to make sure that no woman can corner Vincent or trap him in a situation.

But Vincent didn't involve any women in the past. Could it be the person she assigned to follow Vincent around didn't report everything? But it's impossible. 

"Tell me, Sheena. Do you know something that I didn't know about your brother regarding his mistress?" she asked her daughter.

She remembers the time when they dined out at La Fleur Restaurant. Her son and that girl acted like they didn't know each other. So what then?

"Mom, I know you hated Hailey because you think she is only my brother's mistress. But mom, if only big brother has a choice not to marry Eva, he should be free to marry Hailey instead." 

"What are you talking about? We don't know where that girl came from! How if she's a gold digger or brings harm to your brother? Do you know that someone attempt to murder him the reason he got into an accident?" 

"But mom? I'm sure she is not after our wealth. And how can you say that Hailey is involved in my brother's accident? What could she earn to do that?" 

"Who knows? Maybe someone is paying her or whatever!" Hilda reasoned out stubbornly.

"Mom, stop!" 

Hilda got irritated that Sheena keeps arguing with her. Not only that, she is taking sides! Her daughter defended that mistress instead!

"Don't forget that we are talking about your brother's life, her Sheena," she warned her daughter. They were influencing their brother!

"And I am talking about my brother's happiness, mom! He's been suffering for many years! He has no love life at all!" 

"He has a wife! Why didn't he persuade her instead?" 

"But brother loves someone else all these years!" Sheena argued. "Why can't you let him be happy this time? Can you allow my brother to die a sad life?" 

"Why can you say that, Sheena? Your brother is one of the brilliant architects in the whole world. They recognized him abroad. What else he'll be sad about?" 

"Mom, you don't understand at all. When he meets Hailey once again after years, I just saw how his eyes spark, and he smiles genuinely. I've never seen my brother as happy as he is now." 

"What do you mean when he meets her again? Is that mistress his ex-girlfriend?" 

"No, mom. But brother gives her up to please you. He searches for her, but he gives up when you are bugging him about Eva. He did everything that you wanted. Brother didn't abandon you but sacrificed for your sake. Can't you see that, mom?" 

Hilda could not believe that her daughter chided her instead! It was the other way around?! She was supposed to scold her daughter for being rebellious and hard-headed.

But now, she has blamed her son's unhappiness! 

Even so, she takes a moment to ponder. Vincent is at the peak of his career. He just closed a massive deal with Davies Group. And this project is a hundred billion in US dollars. 

She admits she arranged his marriage, hoping that her son would begin to build his family. But he only neglected Eva, like she didn't exist in this world. 

She was indeed happy about his achievements. Her son even worked harder and brought the Shen Group into glory. But he never attempts to work on his marriage until one day, he lives with someone. 

Her son had a mistress! 

"Aunt Hilda, we're here." 

Hilda came back to reality when Janise patted her shoulder. They halted at the long table where their invitation needed to be verified.

Suddenly Hilda was stunned for a moment. She remembered she forced Vincent's girlfriend to attend the party. It worries her if that girl can enter the hall when all the invitation cards have QR codes to verify that it was valid. 

DV Gem's launching party was super tight and strict. There is a security protocol to follow; even though she is one of the major investors of this hotel, she has to go through it.

It felt ridiculous. But DV Inc. is not an ordinary company. Most of the foreign guests that were invited to this evening are famous people. So then, this security protocol is necessary. 

"Excuse me. I have a company. Can she still come in even if she has no invitation?" Hilda asked the personnel at the table, none other than Fraine Michaels. 

"I'm sorry, Madam Shen. Everyone must present the invitation we sent out," Frained replied. 

Displeasure is written on her face. Now she is worried if that girl can attend the event. 

"Ahem. May I know this girl's name, Madam Shen? Maybe we invited her." Frained queries.

"Ah. Hailey Hillson." 

It surprised Fraine for a bit, then she smiled. "We invited her." 

"Ah. I see. Thank you." said Hilda; she walked to the door now that she was cleared and good to enter the hall.

Left behind, Janise, still shocked that the girl her aunt dresses up as is Vincent's mistress. And she's even concerned if that girl can pass through the security protocol. 

Anyway, neither Hilda nor Janise knew they meant this security measure to protect Vincent's Mistress.

And the guests knew nothing about it as well, except for Gigi and Leticia, whereas Fraine and Dana do not know that there is danger just hoarding around. 

Meanwhile, Fraine shook her head. Why do they have to send an invitation to the owner of the store that is launching tonight? 

Is it ironic?