His Contractual Mistress

The following day, Alex's suitcase was ready, as well as his flight was scheduled for tonight. 

Duke Martini made sure that Alex's arrival was on the day of Vincent and Fred's departure. 

"This is the perfect time you are by her side." Alessandro reminded his nephew. 

Alexander creases his forehead, gaping at his uncle with a suspicious look. "What do you mean by that, Uncle?" he asked with curiosity. 

Casting a glance at his nephew, the Duke turned his gaze back to his food. "Do what I am telling you. It is your chance to pursue Hailee." 

Duke Alessandro chose not to explain more details to his nephew. The less he knew, the better. Still, the duke wants Alex to appear that it has nothing to do with him. He only makes all the plans. 

That's right. He may work on something behind the association, but he would not let Alex be involved directly. He would ensure that Alex was innocent. Besides, he wasn't sure what his nephew was thinking. He was timid and less interested in involvement in the association or even in running the kingdom. 

Alex is such a carefree man. And because of that, it made him worry all the time if the kingdom had a future in his nephew's hands. To arrange his marriage to the royal daughters is the best he can do, which Alex is still nonchalant about. 

Weighing his uncle's words, Alex figured it out. "Are you plotting to assassinate Vincent Shen?" he asked the duke with a casual tone like they were discussing climate change. 

"You need not be concerned about this matter. I am doing this for the Martini Royal family and Fen Country. Our bloodline should continue. You must think about having an heir as soon as possible." 

Hearing that, Alex shook his head, then chuckled. He muttered, using his ridiculous tone. 

"And do you expect me to get the princess pregnant on my visit?" he then added, "You were copying Liam Huo's method of causing the princess to feel depressed and grieve, then I should be there to comfort her?"

"Why not? Jacob will be delighted to have an heir. Hailee is the sole heiress of incredible wealth. I know Jacob. He would not give up his wealth to anyone. However, his daughter chose someone else to marry. If the Shen family is out of the picture, it's your perfect time to win over the princess's heart." 

Alex contorted the corner of his mouth. It seems like his uncle would go on an all-out plan to eliminate Vincent Shen. 

"The Martini royal bloodline will continue in the next hundred years. There is nothing for you to worry about, Uncle Alessandro." Alex stated meaningfully. His gaze clouded with emotion his uncle failed to see as he concealed it immediately. 

Duke Alessandro was satisfied with his nephew's words. It is what he wanted to hear from him. 

* 

PERTH, AUSTRALIA 

That morning, the Shen private jet left for Hungary. 

Hailee remained in her bedroom hugging the pillow Vince had used in these passing three nights they'd stayed together in the Davies mansion. 

She already misses Vince badly. If only it weren't critical for her to travel that far; she wanted to come. But as usual this morning, her stomach churned up, and she spent it on the washbasin to throw up with nothing coming out. 

Vince changes his mind to leave as he could not bear to see her like this each morning. He would be so worried about being away, thinking that Hailee was alone in her massive bedroom. 

She may have a dozen maids; still, he worries he isn't by her side through her harrowing journey in pregnancy. 

But Hailee persuades him. Meeting the elders is significant at this moment, so they would stop meddling in their lives. They need their freedom from the elders' watch. 

Hailee breathes the scent Vince left in her bed. She wanted to close her eyes and take a nap, but she wanted Vince's warm arms to cuddle her. Only in that way could she have a peaceful sleep. 

With a knock on her bedroom door, Kelly entered her room. With light steps, Kelly strode toward the bed and sat down. "Hey, Hail! We had a food-taste today. Would you like to join us?" 

"Hmm… I felt like throwing up just thinking of tomato sauce." 

Kelly blinks three times, then encourages herself that her friend is pregnant, and she acts just pretty normal. 

"Hail, you are making me worry. Should I call Mrs. Brown to get you something?" 

Hailee shook her head as she replied to Kelly, "No. I just wanted to take a nap, not to think of Vince for an hour or two." 

Kelly blinks her eyes, and this time, she did it several times. Heaving a long sigh, she hugged Hailee. She understood this girl was sluggish because Vince wasn't here. 

So this is an effect of falling in love? It seems scary and exciting, so she must prepare herself to have these crazy moods once she meets the one! 

And when will it come? 

Kelly shrugs off her crazy thoughts at the moment. This is not her issue, but Hailee's. 

"Okay, Hail. Let me know if you have anything particular for lunch," she asked afterward, then patiently waited for Hailee to answer. 

On the other hand, Hailee fell into deep thoughts, observing her appetite for what food she wanted for lunch. She sat up and looked at Kelly. Hugging the pillow inside her arms, she lay down back on the bed, and this time, her head was resting on Kelly's lap. 

"Kell, your godchildren craving for stir-fry noodles with a lot of shrimps. Should I ask Pitt to fly to Melbourne and buy me a family meal set?" 

"Huh?" Kelly was dumbfounded at her request. She thinks it was ridiculous to cross that far. But she also understood it's no joke for a pregnant woman to have such cravings. 

Anyway, there is another reason for that. There is this Chinese restaurant Hailee loves so much. She would travel there to have food. That's why she often pestered the boys to accompany her from Sydney to Melbourne. 

And now that she is pregnant, her mood is getting worse. Ordering the food from Melbourne then traveling back to Perth was too weird! 

"Can't your chef make the dish?" 

Hailee shook her head, pouting at Kelly. "I want the food from there." 

Kelly stayed silent to ponder the situation if they can alter a plan to this. She would just imagine the distance and calculate the time consumed… 

"I have the best solution!" Kelly has finally figured out the best way. She told Hailee, "Why don't you ask Chester to come over and make your lunch?" 

Hailee's eyes glimmer at Kelly's suggestion. Chester's family owns the favorite restaurant she often visited in Melbourne. Later then, her dad decided to hire Chester to make her Chinese meal to prevent her from traveling to Melbourne all the time. 

Until then, Chester got close to the boys, and a few of them went to the same college, and he received a scholarship from Davies Foundation for making the princess a Chinese meal if she preferred it. 

She learned how to make Chinese food from Chester's family after she pestered her dad to work at Liang's Restaurant so that she could learn the secret of their recipes. Helpless, her dad is willing to pay the Liang family to teach her some Chinese recipes in the mansion. 

However, because of the kindness, Jacob and Hailee showed to Chester, the family delightedly taught Hailee their secret family recipes. 

With the thought of it, she agreed to Kelly's plan. Although Chester had many things to do, she needed to borrow him for a while.