His Contractual Mistress

They placed the food on the long coffee table, and they all gathered around to savor the dishes Hailey prepared. 

Fred and Hilda sat on the sofa while Carl and Jake both occupied the two couches. Hailey and Vince took the love seat, and Tim sat on the dining table, which he preferred rather than sat across from Madame Shen.

Vincent was now eating on his own, but as he is only using his right hand, Hailey is attentive to put food on his plate. 

"Ah. This is top-class cooking! Bro, you are so lucky! Five-star restaurants will feel ashamed if they get to taste these!" Jake compliments Hailey. 

"These are indeed 10-stars dishes!" Carl echoed. "The faculty never stop praising the dishes you make for the Class Reunion, Miss Hailey," Carl added. Hailey looked at her with a bit confused on her face, and Carl understood that. He asked Hailey to call each other by name if they are not in the school. But knowing Vince, who immediately made a protest, Carl is playing safe. 

Hailey smiled. She replied, "I'm happy to help, Professor Carl."

She hides her amusement. Carl changed his mind to call her by the first name in front of Vince. He is cautious not to mess up with his cousin. 

"Bro, we should date a chef next time," Jake whispered at Carl. 

Carl muttered with a full mouth, "Not all chefs are beautiful." Jake burst out laughing that later he was coughing after choking on his food. "That's a sign that your idea is ridiculous." 

Carl mocked Jake. Tim, who eats in silence, scoffs. Both Carl and Jake glanced in his direction and said, "Look at someone who's loveless as well." 

Tim frowned. "Even though I wanted to date someone, my hands are full of errands left and right, not to mention in my back and front." 

Hearing this, Carl and Jake burst out laughing, and then they grinned at Vincent. He felt those burning stares, but he pretended that he heard nothing. 

"Damn! I pitied you, Tim. Your boss is heartless!" Jake laughed. 

Vincent got annoyed listening to them. He raised his head and roared at them. "At least make sure you gossip when I am not around!" 

Fred smiled, listening to these boys. He was already used to them joking around like this. That is why it gladdens him if these boys hang out in the mansion instead of going somewhere and coming home with brushes and black eyes.

Jake and Vincent are childhood friends while Carl was born and live in the US, only visiting P Country during Christmas and Summers. 

When Jake's family migrated to the US, he and Carl set a time to meet regularly. And in Tim's case, he is a few years older than Vince, and they have known him since high school. His father is one of his engineers. Tim has been Vince's good friend before they started working in the company.

Meanwhile, Hilda chooses to focus on eating her food. She could not deny that this girl can cook very well. And according to her friends and the Metro City News Headline, this girl is an international chef. She studied at a top culinary school and was mentored by a famous world-class French chef. 

But why was this girl in P Country? If she plans to build her restaurant, surely she could take Hotel and Restaurant Management courses in Paris or Australia. 

Why does she have to come to P Country? 

Hilda was occupied with her thoughts, and she didn't notice that Fred often glances at her. Fred could tell that she was enjoying the food. But knowing her attitude, she would never admit it. 

On the other hand, Hailey is eating quietly. Constantly she was smiling at the four men who didn't stop ridiculing each other over the meal. 

In the middle of this merry lunch, Vincent had a visitor arrive outside his ward. The couple knocks on the door, waiting for someone to open it. Every pair of eyes inside that ward fell on the door. It was Tim who rushed and opened it. 

Tim was surprised to see who they are. However, he didn't feel like greeting them. But it would be a bad image to his boss if he was rude to them. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ricky and Mrs. Lan." Tim politely greeted the couple. He bowed before he widened the door to let his boss's parents-in-law enter the ward. He assures that his voice was loud enough to inform his boss.

Everyone in that ward, except Vince and Hailey, the rest had a shock on their faces. Of course, Vincent's in-law's sudden visits without notice turn out awkward because his girlfriend was in the same room. 

Ricky Lan and Julia Lan frowned upon seeing Vincent's mistress. They didn't know that Hilda welcomes this girl. They knew how she scolded her son for having an affair but what's going on now? 

It displeased them, and it was written all over their faces. Their gaze fell to Vincent's girlfriend, casting stern looks at her.

Fred, who was a little shocked, sat up and welcomed their visitors. He didn't permit any visitors but close friends like Jake. Even their relatives must ask permission first. It disappoints him, but he could not make a remark but entertain Vincent's in-laws.

"Ricky! Julia! Thank you for coming and visiting Vincent," Fred said.

"Of course, we are his in-laws." Ricky Lan replied.

"Legal in-laws..." Julia Lan chimed in and made sure to emphasize the last three words. 

Carl and Jake glanced at Vince, who acts like he didn't notice the couple who just arrived. On the other hand, Hilda was annoyed by how her son treated the Lan couple; he's parents-in-law. 

Although Vincent ignored them, it will not stop Ricky Lan from talking. "I'm glad to see you well, Vincent. Forgive our daughter if she wasn't here to take care of you. We are trying to contact her and inform her about your accident." 

Vincent is twitching the corner of his mouth upon hearing how lame excuses Ricky Lan has been babbling. He lifted his head and looked straight at Ricky Lan's eyes. He responded, "Don't feel obliged to explain anything as you owe me, Mr. Lan. That's not the reason why your daughter married me anyway." 

Ricky Lan and Julia Lan felt humiliated by Vincent's words. Fred, especially Hilda, dumbfounded the way their son talks to his in-laws. 

However, there's no other emotion they could see in Vincent's face. Instead of feeling irritated, the corner of his mouth contorting a smirk. 

Julia Lan couldn't control her annoyance that their son-in-law is rude toward them. "I hope you are not saying that to cover your infidelity, Vincent." 

"Mrs. Lan, I am sure that your daughter knew the meaning of this word." 

Julia Lan widened her eyes as she felt horror at the moment. It shocked her how dare Vincent treat them this bad. She glared at the girl that was seated next to Vincent. She could not stop herself infuriating to see this mistress. 

"Vincent, you must be careful of the people that you are with every day. You should not trust some stranger. Who knows what harm they bring to you," said Ricky Lan's advice. 

Everyone's eyes looked at Hailey when a low laugh came out from her lips. They got intrigued why she scoffs after Ricky made that speech. 

"It seems like the cause of your terrible behavior is from your Mistress, Vincent! How disrespectful!" Ricky Lan darkened his face looking at Hailey. This girl has just appeared, but Vincent has his eyes on her ever since! He is determined to gather some proof that she brought some wicked plan to the Shen family! 

Vincent sharpened his gaze toward Ricky Lan. He put down his chopsticks and leaned backward on the love seat, crossing his long legs. He spoke up, "Mr. Lan, leave my girlfriend alone. And don't worry. I know whom I should trust. Besides, my divorce from your daughter has been planned since the beginning. I hope your daughter remembered her conditions." 

Julia and Ricky exploded from anger. They didn't expect that their visit would turn out like this. They were here to show their concern for Vincent, but what happened instead, their son-in-law showed how badly he wanted to divorce their daughter for accusing Eva of such things. 

"Hilda, Fred, I never imagine that you will tolerate your son like this! He has no respect toward his in-laws!" Julia would give a shot of seeking Hilda's sympathy toward them. It's always like that. So they were hopeful that Hilda would do something. 

But before Hilda could open her mouth, Hailey suddenly spoke up. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Lan. With due respect, I am curious about your visit today." 

Hilda and Fred shared a glance while Jake and Carl stared at Hailey like idiots. Their mouth open, and amazement flashes to their eyes. 

"You bitch! You are not permitted to speak!" Julia Lan felt ridiculous. Hysterically, she shouted at Hailey. "Who are you, by the way? You are just a mistress!" 

* 

NEXT on HCM: 

"You are right, Mrs. Lan. I am only a mistress. If Vincent died, I would get nothing from the Shen. But your daughter Eva... Ah, no. The Lan family will somehow be rewarded and compensated as your daughter becomes a widow by a Shen at such a young age. Am I correct?"