Chapter 283 - Photo Frames And Family Heirloom
Hailee smiled as she watched Vince's priceless reaction when he saw the photo frames hanging in the living room. His face was gloomy, twitching his mouth from shock.
One by one, Vince scrutinizes the photos. His pupils contracted after he tried to count how many frames were hanging on the wall.
He thinks there are more or less a hundred photo frames of Hailee with different men, in which the backgrounds of the photos are from different countries. Name it, from different states of America, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and her knights here in Oceania Continent.
Looking at these photos, Hailee seemed like someone collecting memories, along with her lovers around the world. But he knew that was not it. There must be a greater reason she keeps them in her apartment.
But to look at these photos, this room was like her harem.
They are now standing in the middle of the living room, two delicate arms wrapped around his waist and a soft body pressing on his back.
"Hubby, they are all my trusted knights around the world. I want you to see them before I take them down."
Vince remained silent. He glanced over his shoulder, where Hailee tilted her head. She moved her gaze from the wall toward his baffled face.
"What is in your mind, hubby? Can you share it?" she asked afterward. Her voice was mellow; he could not bring himself to show how jealous he was and wanted to throw these photo frames.
Ah, no. He will cut the photos first before throwing the other half to a drum where he lit a fire. He would keep the half because Hailee was on it…
He's thinking crazily, and he knew if Hailee would know his thoughts, undoubtedly she would laugh at him, amuse at his childish imagination.
Before he replied, Vince swept his eyes to the walls one more time. He could recognize several of them as he already met them, and some of them are known men in this world.
Her knights are not just ordinary men. Vince could see that they came from affluent families.
Vince heaves a long sigh to calm down his jealous heart. He must remember that they are just Hailee's knights; they are her good friends.
"You don't need to take them down," he said afterward. He turned around to face her, gripping her waist, pulling close to him. Among these photo frames, there is one knight that is missing. "Did you take Bryan's?"
Hailee pursed her lips, then smiled after. She nodded, then replied, "I asked Pitt. He is part of my past, and I don't want my present and future to be a complicated journey. So, I think… It is unnecessary to keep it."
He planted a warm kiss on her forehead. It made him happy that Hailee was thinking about his feelings. And so, he should not act as someone close-minded.
Vince pursed his lips, then smiled. He uttered, "You don't need to put them down. It's alright. There are reasons you hang them in here. Besides, I could recognize several of them, and one day, I want to meet the rest of them."
With what he said, Hailee lifted her chin to kiss Vince passionately. They are both gasping for air after the kiss.
Vince raised his hand to brush her cheek. He placed his forehead to hers and said, "So, Princess Hailee. I honestly was shocked to discover your harem. I am jealous because your consorts are all handsome and capable men. Then, when should I put ours?"
What he means is also to place a photo frame of his on that wall. However, Hailee did not reply to his query. Instead, she clasped his hand, intertwining their fingers, then pulled him toward a door.
"There is a sacred place to that," said Hailee before she pushed open the door of her bedroom.
His gaze softened after seeing those frames hanging on the wall across from her queen-sized bed. The photos are all taken in P Country.
One of them is from his Class Reunion, where Hailee wore a backless nude color dress. The photo is when they were dancing. And one photo frame is during the launch of her store branch. The rest of the pictures are taken randomly from his two penthouses and during their visit to Shen Mansion.
Vince looked at Hailee with tenderness in his eyes. Right now, his heart is beating so fast from joy.
This girl knows how to make his chest tremble, at the same time, fill it with warmth and love. She never fails to show him how special their relationship is compared to anything in this world.
"I love you, Mrs. Shen," Vince whispered to her ear.
Hailee lifted her chin, eyes gleaming at what he called her. She thought she heard it wrong, but Vince repeated it.
"Why aren't you replying, Mrs. Shen?"
Maybe her pregnancy truly messes up her emotions. She couldn't stop her tears from flooding her eyes. Now her vision becomes foggy. Vince leaned over to kiss her eyes to dry them.
"I love it," she said between her low sobs.
"Here…" Vince put a jade ring on her right middle finger.
"This is?" Hailee was dumbfounded. She could tell that the ring was an antique.
Vince explained, "It was a ring kept by my Shen ancestor to pass down to the next daughter-in-law who bore a Shen heir."
"Then, mom, Hilda is…." She stuttered.
Vince nodded and smiled. He took her right hand and kissed the back of her palm. The ring was too perfect on her finger.
"Mom passed the ring to me to give it to you since you already bore my children before we even got married."
"Oh…" It made her speechless. The sun-like jade ring is exquisite. Now that it was on her finger, she could feel the warmth from it.
The ring is a family heirloom that symbolizes she is Mrs. Shen. "It was too beautiful!" she mumbled happily.
For the next half-minute, Hailee remains to stare at her beautiful ring. Then she lifted her gaze to meet Vince's eyes. He could see that something was bothering her but was hesitant to voice it out.
"Something is troubling you?" he asked.
She replied, "I'm just wondering. Mom didn't give it to Eva…."
Hailee doesn't want to continue, but it is enough for Vince to understand what was on her mind. He raises his right arm, then pokes her nose.
"She didn't bore my child, and I have no plan to make her the mother of my child. Mom just wanted her to be my wife as necessary."
Hailee felt somewhat assured, and a thought came to her mind that in the end, Vince's mom didn't pursue him to pregnant Eva, and she was against her because she thoughts she is an escort, a gold digger, and social climber.
But everything is perfect now. She could not ask for anything anymore. Although they still have one problem, and that to face the Elders, she has nothing to worry about.
Vince is from a noble bloodline. The Elders have no reason to oppose their union.
She also wanted to meet them, invite them personally to their wedding, and witness her and Vince's holy matrimony.
"All we have to do now is visit the elders," Hailee said. She saw that something had changed in Vince's expression. Now, she's looking at him with curiosity. "What is it?"
"There are changes about that," said Vince, who then clarified. "You are in a sensitive condition now. We are all worried about you, and so, dad and I are going to meet them."
"Oh. But…"
Vince didn't let her finish her words. "Dad hasn't seen the elders for almost three decades, and so, he wanted to pay a visit then introduce me to them to have formalities as a member of the High Royal Family."
"I see… Then, I must stay. And while you are away, I will take care of the preparation for our wedding to entertain myself not missing you."
She will miss him immensely, so she needs to busy herself not to feel bored while he is away.
Vince could see the melancholy in her eyes even if he didn't leave yet for Budapest. The same as her, he will miss her too badly.
Pursing his lips into a thin smile, he lowered his face to claim her lips one more time.
"I'll be back right away," he comforted her. He doesn't want to be apart from her that long, too.
Now that he had seen the photos of her knights, Hailee told him that there was another place she wanted to show him. He had a bad feeling, so he comforted himself that things were bearable. He won't get jealous, and he will befriend her knights instead.
Vincent followed Hailey toward the front door when his eyes caught a familiar figure in one of the photo frames.
"Kristian Keller?" He glanced at Hailee, who nodded at him. He could not believe it! One of his tenants is actually Hailee's knight?
Kristian Keller is the VP of a German Pharmaceutical Company based in P Country. Ever since he brought Hailee to the penthouse, he noticed that Kristian's pregnant wife was somewhat friendly because they actually knew each other.
Then the conclusion in his head was soon supported. Hailee explained that it was not a coincidence since she knew that Kristian was assigned to Metro City.
"Kristian's company has a business deal with mine. I chose their company to provide medicines and medical tools to Dream City. And so, we've started to discuss putting a laboratory here in Dream City. When you are out of the country, I often had a coffee meeting with him and his wife not to look suspicious. I am meeting another man when you are away. Now, we have business deals."
She added, "Originally, I chose Shen Group to design and construct the laboratory. But since the other construction firm has had complaints lately not giving them a chance to submit their project plan. I will open the bidding for everyone except the Shen Group. Is that okay?"
Vince smiled and patted her head. "Of course. My team also felt the tension from the other construction firm. I would love to compete with them in a fair fight. But I could not deny that truly you have given me more projects than the others."
"Your works in the past two years are enough to impress me compare to their decades of achievements," she said with her mouth pouting. Her expression is too cute for Vince.
But what she said made his heart dance with proudness.
Watching her frown, he could tell that this matter triggered her mood swing.
So Vince coaxed her, "Alright. You need not stress yourself about work. Let's enjoy each other's company, not thinking about anything instead, okay?"
Hailee could see that Vince was comforting her. It made her realize she wanted to be coaxed by him only.
She kissed Vince before pulling him out of her unit, then led him toward the stairs, headed to the rooftop.
Once again, the scene stunned him.
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