His Contractual Mistress

At the library… 

Jacob and Alex sat down opposite each other. The butler served them coffee and left immediately to give them privacy. 

Jacob's fists remained tightly clenched. He was concealing his anger. All these years, he knew that few of the elders didn't fully support Shun, and they were on allegiance to bring him down from his seat. 

Shun is vocally telling him this. However, he couldn't see a bigger reason to step in to help Shun. He focused on ruling the Oceanic Continent to make it a better place for his daughter and her future family. 

However, until today…. He was wrong for not taking it seriously in expanding his territory further than Australia. His friendship with the rest of the lords is great. Many of them are his business partners. Several of them are indebted to him. 

But today, it proved that everything he invested in the past fifteen years is not enough. He needs a higher seat to sit in and oversee everyone. 

At this moment, his chest filled with fury, as his heart desired more power to destroy those who want to take advantage of his family, who are capable of influencing the world. 

The reason he works so hard all these years is to protect his only daughter, the real treasure he only cherished all his life. But to learn that his very own relatives are the ones who plan to harm his precious daughter, he would not forgive them. 

Whoever they are, he will bring the war to their doorsteps. 

"I will go to Hungary," Jacob announced afterward. 

"I'm coming with you, Uncle Jacob." 

Jacob shook his head. He uttered, "No. You will stay here. I'm worried Hailee would do something that puts her pregnancy in danger. The boys, even Andre, could not resist not giving in to her request. Watch them, please... especially your cousin. Someone should persuade her not to make a sudden decision like going to Hungary out of the blue. She wasn't advised to travel long distances." 

"I understand your concern, Uncle Jacob, but…." 

Jacob raised his left hand to cut Alex's words. 

"Alex, even though your uncle angered me so much, I know that he thinks of you as his own son. Seeing you betrayed him would lose his head and maybe even harm you in the end. It's better that he would not know it was you who revealed his plans." 

"But uncle Jacob… It is what I wanted Uncle Alessandro to see. He raised me like his own son. Still, it did not change the fact that we have different views and values in life. I set my eyes on another path, separate from his. I didn't share his wrong beliefs," Alex clarified himself. 

Jacob scrutinizes Alex for a moment, processing his words and weighing them… He smiled with satisfaction. Somehow, Alex impressed him. His nephew actually has a high IQ and graduated from university with flying colors. 

Alex may show as a timid prince who is less involved in royal duties and interests in the association. But no one truly knew what was running inside his head. He has his own methods of surviving in this world, along with the kingdom he's going to inherit. 

Seeing that Jacob fell into deep thoughts, Alex took this opportunity to convince him furthermore. 

"I disagree with Uncle Alessandro's method to help the Martini Royal family survive. I understand he wants the royal family to rise from where it was buried. The kingdom is sinking, and I sincerely need help, Uncle Jacob. But Hailee is not just a sweet cousin of mine… She is also like a sister to me." 

With what Alex had said, Jacob can not stop his nephew. Alex has the determination to show his Uncle Alessandro that there are better solutions to their problems in this world. 

Being too ambitious brings someone's downfall. 

He wanted his uncle to see this… That taking sides to people in JUST is a better plot than taking the path of being a villain. Honestly, that was a lonely journey, and he had no desire to live a sad life. He is a free-spirited man, so he only wanted to live where he has freedom. 

After careful thought, Jacob finally agreed that Alex would expose himself. 

Jacob honestly did not expect that his cousin wanted to cause his daughter to live with a grievance in this world. Somehow, he fears Hailee will use her influence to avenge the elders. 

He admitted that he has no full control over his daughter. She was too spoiled and pampered growing up. She witnesses less cruelty in the world if not for Liam, who teaches her how to resent someone. 

"I don't know what my daughter can do if Alessandro succeeds in assassinating her fiance. I think you've already heard the fight between Liam and my daughter in P Country." 

Alex nodded. "Yes, uncle." 

"My daughter, who really ends Liam's craziness. So I'm afraid Hailee would put justice in her hands one more time. What would she do this time? I don't know how far her anger will take her after seeking revenge." 

Jacob paused for a moment. He tilted his head to the side and looked at the sky past the French window. Lingering his eyes to the clouds above, Jacob went on.

"There is only one solution I am thinking of at this moment. I am more afraid of what damage my daughter can do to the association. Shun and Nicholas are working hard to unite every continent and take control of every territory. It's not a simple job to guide every lord. As you can see, Alex… There are still secret organizations that want to bring down the Alliance and High Royal Family. That includes yours, mine, and Shen." 

"You were planning something, Uncle Jacob." Alex couldn't wait for Jacob to finish his speech. He need not guess, but he wanted to hear it from Jacob's mouth. 

The older man nodded. "Yes. But I'm not doing this for her protection. I am doing this to protect the world from my daughter." 

Alex's head filled with confusion. He couldn't fully comprehend what Jacob meant about that. Jacob, on the other hand, understood that Alex was confused and curious. 

However, he couldn't share the information he learned from Lady Isabella. This morning, the lady made a phone call which she rarely would do. 

The call is a warning. 

A warning of the near future happenings. 

And an envisioned by someone from three hundred years ago. 

He would not believe it if Lady Isabella's predictions were wrong. But all of what she envisioned happened. And the people surrounding here could either travel to the past or the future… 

And his daughter's future is filled with blood. 

As a father who wishes only for his daughter's happiness, he would not allow that to happen. He would do anything to change his daughter's fate. 

Jacob pulled out his phone and dialed Shun's contact number. After ringing twice, the other line connected. 

* * * 

Extra: (This is a glimpse of one of many scenes I deleted and planned not to publish in the end...) 

"Uncle Jacob?" Shun answered the call. 

Jacob, who was nervous in the other line, could not wait to hear any updates regarding the plan of apprehending the assassin Alessandro hired to do the job. 

"How are things going?" he asked.

"Don't worry, Uncle Jacob. We still had ten hours before Vincent's plane landed in Hungary. My men are already on standby. However, I'm still waiting for Madison to come back. She went to the future, three months later, to investigate how Vincent died today." 

Listening from the other line, Jacob grew restless. Then, Shun added...

"I won't let anything happen to him." 

However, Jacob could not calm down. He could also sense the tense voice of Shun. He declared, "I'm going to attend the Council meeting. I am nominating myself to become an Elder." 

Shun remains silent on the other line, letting Jacob continue and explain further. 

"Shun, do you think the Davies Corporation, Davies Group, and Dream City will be in good hands if I resign and appoint my daughter as the Chairwoman?" 

At the other line of the call, Shun doesn't want to answer when he isn't sure of the perfect answer. 

"Uncle Jacob, I would be delighted if you become an Elder. I need your guidance and experience in the association. On the one hand, Hailee would go berserk and use Davies's power to raise a war against me. The only thing I could assure now is to save Vincent Shen's life for the third time. I hope after today, we have all the answers we were seeking all these years..." 

Shun trailed his last sentence… 

"Preventing Vincent's death leads us to a better future…." 

"I understand," Jacob answered, and Shun exchanged a few words before he ended the call. 

Jacob leaned on the couch and closed his eyes. Hopefully, Shun succeeded once again.