His Contractual Mistress

The girls quickly dried the tears in their eyes. Although the men are curious to know what made them emotional, none ask a question from them. 

Hailee smiled at Vince. She stretched her hand to reach Vince's neck, pulled him close to place a sweet kiss on his lips. 

"I love you," she whispered after, tightening her hold on his neck. 

Vince chuckled. Hailee is choking him, but he ignores it. His chest was actually filled with warmth to be given a sweet embrace greeting like this. 

"I love you, too." He asked, "How are you feeling?" he rubbed her cheeks while he replied with his hoarse voice. 

"I feel great now," she replied. Vince sat next to her. She immediately cuddled into him, resting her head on his sturdy chest, rubbing her nose into his shirt. 

Vince smiled. She acted even more cutely now that she was pregnant. If only they were alone, he would have already pushed her on the sofa and covered those enticing lips until they were out of breath. 

Placing a light kiss on her hair, Vince uttered... "Your dad was worried, too. He wanted to have lunch with us, but he had a videoconference with the American investors." 

"Okay. I will send him a text message not to worry much. I already told him earlier that I am fine. I guess I have to appease him again, not to fuse too much of my pregnancy." 

Hailee could imagine her dad's face twitching from worries. Her dad has been so great to her. He's pampering and spoiling her so much. In fact, she's a little guilty that all these years, she's been a hard-headed daughter. 

She always insisted on what she liked to do because she knew her dad would not say no, as long as the boys were there... The reason she's pestering the boys. These men have been patiently and kindly enduring her capriciousness. 

Now it's time for them to have their own lives. And she is determined to let them take an extended vacation, and she will start with Bryan, then Geoffrey, then the rest of her executive knights… 

Hailee is beaming when she picks up her phone on the coffee table. She typed a quick text message, then sent it to her dad. Jacob replied immediately and said that he would come over soon after the conference meeting. 

"Okay, dad. I'll set aside some food for you. Muahh!" 

By lunchtime, Hilda and Fred came to visit Hailee in her apartment. Like Sheena and Deana, the couple was also shocked to see the photo frames hanging in the living room. 

Fred and Hilda shared a glance. And before their brains form the question on their heads, Sheena already explained what Kelly and Gigi told them earlier. 

Well, it was certainly shocking to see your daughter-in-law's house filled with photo frames of different men. However, Hailee didn't want to hide this from her in-laws. 

It will be more of a problem if, one day, her in-laws caught her being with different men anywhere in the world.

But Fred was only shocked for a moment. After a careful look at the frames, he could recognize several of them. 

"Some of them are our business partners from our International cooperation," said Vincent to his dad. 

Fred nodded. His son is right. Not only that, some of them are from the Royal Family. He told Vincent, "I personally know their dad's. I think their father would recognize you if one day you'll meet them." 

Fred pointed to the men he knew during the time he was active in the High Royal Family gatherings. Recalling the past, he told Vince a little story about those men.

Vince keenly listened to his dad. He thought his dad only focused on their business but was timid in many things. His dad has been his idol. But listening to his stories, he admires his dad even more. He is really a great man behind his mask as simply Frederick Shen. 

He could see those faint glints of excitement in his eyes. He believes his dad was actually interested in staying in the association. However, he chose a peaceful life, away from probable disputes between mafia lords and territories for the sake of his family. 

Vince stared at the photo frames for a long moment. Maybe it's not wrong to leave them displayed in Hailee's apartment. This will be for the time being only. Soon after he finishes building their castle, he will discuss with Hailee if she needs a secret room to hang them there. 

"Hailee plans to bring them down, but I think she has a reason she hangs them up here," he told his dad. 

"In the world, Jacob is living in. He needs all the protection and connection he could gather." Fred is actually praising his future daughter-in-law. He went on, "Hailee is pretty clever. She knew she had to do the same as this was for her future family's benefit. Your children's safety, my grandchildren's gain." 

Vince didn't hide the proudness in his eyes and a smile on his lips, listening to his dad praising his wife. Although he couldn't stop himself from getting jealous every time he saw these photos, he was not a totally close-minded person. He has an average EQ, and he could control his anger. 

He understood how important this was to Hailee. Besides, he knew he owned her heart. And so, he has nothing to fear but work even harder to be on the number one spot. 

Waiting for the food to get done, finally, it was served after an hour and a half. And in the middle of the meal, Jacob arrived along with Andre. 

"Is everyone ready?" 

Jacob asked Fred after they had a delicious lunch. While the girls were chatting in the living room, the men stayed at the dining table, discussing business. 

Fred nodded and replied, "Hilda and the girls are done packing. They were actually excited to visit Perth City." 

"They can drive around at night. My men will be there to accompany them. But hopefully, my daughter will avoid going out at night for the time being." Jacob is looking at Vincent when he says this, to which Vincent assured him he would not encourage Hailee to go out at night. 

"That's good!" Jacob sighs with relief, satisfied with his answer. He was confident that Hailee would listen to Vincent. He is happy that his son-in-law has the capability to reprimand his daughter. He needs a fully mature man who would not just spoil and pamper her but also has the power to say no. 

"Alright. Andre and Tom would fly the two helicopters. I have a few things to take care of, and so, I'll be there by dinnertime," Jacob explained about their setup going to his mansion.

He believes his daughter should spend her days fully recovering her health at the mansion to keep her away from insisting on work when Vincent is not around.