Chapter 297 - Different Woman
"Frederick!" Nicholas Crow called out to him.
With hurried steps, Fred climbed the staircase, spreading his arms to embrace the man. "Brother…"
"It's been a while, Frederick." Nicholas smiled and returned the embrace. He patted Fred's back before he let him go to look at the man walking behind Fred. Nicholas shifted his attention to Vincent.
Fred nodded. He introduced Vincent to Nicholas. "My oldest child and only son, Vincent..."
"It's an honor to meet you, Master Crow." Vincent politely greeted the man immediately, stretching his arm for a handshake.
Instead of accepting Vincent's hand, Nicholas embraced him tight. "You grow up well." He said in a cheerful tone. He even sounded proud. "You look just like your father when he is younger."
Vincent smiled, a little embarrassed. Everyone tells him how he looks like his dad and something he got used to already. But it was strange he felt shy to be said by someone like Nicholas Crow.
Probably, his presence intimidated him to feel this way.
"Mr. Shen, welcome back." Shun extends his hand toward Fred.
"Thank you, Chairman Crow." Fred takes Shun's hand for a handshake, then says, "I guess I don't need to introduce my son."
"Of course." Shun smiled. He shifted his gaze to Vincent. "I'm glad to see you once again, Vincent."
"It's my pleasure to meet you once again, Chairman…." Before he could finish, he was stopped by Shun.
"Shun… Just call me by name, okay? You and my cousin are getting married. We are a family now." Shun said that it gratified both Fred and Vincent with the warm welcome they've received.
"Shun…. It's been a while. Thank you for the assistance you sent to Metro Cities. The entrapment succeeded, and Liam apprehended smoothly."
Shun smiled at Vincent, then replied, "Small thing. Thanks for your cooperation. Liam was easily arrested."
Vincent somewhat felt awkward exchanging compliments from the Mafia Emperor. Gladly, Shun realized this as well.
"Why are we only standing here? Let's go inside and get something to drink. We have more hours for a chit-chat before the Elders arrive," said Shun; he led them into the Salon and offered some liquor when they got inside the room.
Nicholas and Fred choose to sit on the sofa in the corner of the room while Shun leads Vincent toward the bar and offers one of the stools to sit on.
"Any particular drinks?" He asked Vincent once he stood behind the counter.
Vincent replied shortly, "Anything is fine."
Shun turned around and stretched his arm to reach a bottle above his head from the shelves, then carefully poured the spirit into the two clean glasses and offered one to Vincent.
He gladly accepted the liquor, gulped the content in one go.
When Shun poured his glass once again, he also hurried to empty his glass for a second time.
Vincent sighs with satisfaction. The liquor washes away the tension he's only concealing all this time.
Honestly, he is terrified to think that he's going to die. He could still recall those sounds created by changing bullets.
Not this time… He thought.
He owed Hailee a wedding. He wanted to see his children. He wished to grow old with her and watch their children grow, marry, and meet his grandchildren before he died.
This realization is a prayer from the bottom of his heart. Vincent heaves a long sigh, then says to Shun.
"I wanted to make a call to Hailee to let her know we've arrived," Vincent told Shun after his thoughts pulled him away.
Shun nodded and patted his back. "Go ahead."
Vincent stood up, then walked toward the French window. He pulled out his phone from his trench coat pocket, then dialed Hailee's number.
His chest aches the moment he hears this sweet voice.
*
Perth, Australia
A few hours ago…
"Dad…" Hailee hugged her dad tightly.
"Don't worry, princess. Shun will allow no one to harm Vincent." Jacob did his best to comfort his daughter. He is worried it will affect her pregnancy. "Don't overthink, okay? Think of my grandchildren. Next week, we can confirm how many babies you have here! Dad will be there that day and Vincent as well."
Hailee nodded and smiled. She understood her dad says these to calm her down, and it's working.
After she nuzzled her dad, it was Alex she stuck into this time. Alex combed her hair and said comforting words like Jacob to soothe her.
Both men are worried that she will do something behind their back. Somehow, in this passing year, they notice Hailee becomes capable of many things using her very own strategies and connections.
At the window, Hailee watched the car leaving the mansion.
Just like that… Alex suddenly arrived in Australia. Just like that, Alex flew back to Hungary. And this time, her dad is with him.
Now that the car disappeared through the gate, Hailee sat down on a love seat near the window.
Andre, who remained silent the entire time, leaning on the wall in the corner, finally moved and walked closer to her. He received a firm order from his brother-in-law not to let Hailee leave the mansion until they returned.
Hailee remained silent even after he sat down next to her. Andre studied her face, and he could tell that there were few changes in her.
The energy emitting from her body is overwhelming. She was in deep thought, and it intrigued him what it was.
His brother-in-law is right. Hailee might do something behind their back, and so he has to watch this girl closely.
Andre stood up, walked toward the console table, and poured a glass of water for Hailee.
"Princess, drink this." Andre hands the glass to Hailee; she accepts the water in silence.
Andre blinks his eyes. Honestly, he is not used to seeing her solemn facial expression and quietness. He missed that sweet little girl who wouldn't stop bothering him and the other men.
Now, she's becoming mysterious in his eyes.
"Andre…"
Andre sat upright on the sofa after hearing Hailee's crisp voice. It was like a bucket of ice poured down his back. Now a cold ran down his spine.
He didn't blink but waited for Hailee to finish her words.
"I will hunt down every person who is involved in Vincent's assassination. I know uncle Alessandro is not alone in planning this out. He will not have the guts to fight, dad, if he's alone."
Andre was dumbfounded listening to Hailee's speech. In fact, he could not recognize the woman seated next to him. At this very moment, he sees a different woman.
'Who is she?'
There is no trace of that little girl crying in the corner and is reluctant to share her sadness, but she keeps silent and takes the pain to herself… Or that girl who looks pitiful after being rejected to ride a skateboard.
Now he is seeing a grown-up woman… a woman he never heard talking viciously before.
Hailee is looking outside the window. He didn't see the grim looming in her eyes.
For the first time, Andre is hesitant to touch her head and brush her hair. When Hailee was feeling down, he would immediately coax her. But this time, a wavering feeling crept into his chest.
A year ago, he only saw a helpless girl, feeling down after being betrayed by someone so close to her. This time, he sees a woman who is ready to avenge even against her own blood, who's planning to harm the man so dear to her.
"Princess, it's time for lunch!"
Gratefully, the door in the Tea Room was pushed open by Pitt. The tension that Andre felt finally washed away. But Hailee's behavior truly made him speechless.
Hailee made an abrupt stand from the sofa and cheerfully walked toward Pitt. "Are they adding a lot of shrimps?"
She excitedly asked Pitt, who raised a thumb as a positive response. She turned around and looked at Andre.
"What are you doing, Andre? Come on! Let's eat!"
Andre blinks his eyes several times. He would like to make sure that there's only one woman he talked to in this room. That woman is now smiling at him enormously, which is different from the woman seated next to him just a few seconds ago.
Now he knows well that Hailee learned how to conceal her emotions in front of everyone. Not only that, a shadow is hiding inside her heart.
She was now looking at him with sparks in her eyes and a warm smile on her lips. It differed from the woman a while ago.
"Andre?" Hailee gives him a questioning stare after he remains seated on the sofa.
Seeing the meaningful look she is given to him, Andre forces himself to curl his thin lips into a smile, then says, "Coming!"
Hailee appeared in the dining hall, hooking her arms on Andre and Pitt's elbows.
"Hailee, try this! Hope you like our cooking!" Sheena was confident that the dishes they prepared were tasty. However, she is slightly nervous if Hailee would like it when she is pregnant and is picky about her meals now.
"Hmm… Smells great!" she said, then excitedly tasted the stir-fry noodle. Hilda placed a plate of it in front of her. "Thanks, mom!"
Hilda's heart skipped a beat when Hailee thanked her with a sweet smile on her face. "You're welcome. I'm hoping you will like it. Vincent would like it a lot if I added more shrimp."
Hailee's eyes glimmered with what Hilda had said.
"I love it too! I noticed that Vincent and I had the same dishes."
"That's good then…." Hilda smiled before she lowered her gaze and watched Hailee eat. When Hailee didn't stop stuffing her mouth, she hurriedly poured her a glass of water. "Just eat slowly; you might choke."
"I'm really starving, mom. Your grandbabies like the food too!"
Hilda's heart dances with Hailee's compliments. She sighs with relief inwardly that Hailee had eaten everything they've prepared.
Meanwhile, Andre was eating silently while observing Hailee's behavior throughout lunch. He could not believe that Hailee could act like this.
He understood Hailee chose not to tell her future in-laws that Vicent and his dad's life were in danger. It won't help if they learn about it. They will only be in a panic and will worry a lot.
As the girls stayed in the kitchen all morning, no one noticed Alexander's arrival. Even Gigi and Kelly didn't hear the news, and it's best that way.
Only he, Tom, and Pitt knew what was going on. And so, they tried their best as well to pretend that everything was pretty normal.
Hailee cried after receiving the phone call she's been eagerly waiting for all day by the evening.
"Hubby…" She didn't stop her eyes from streaming with fresh tears.
"Shhh… Hush now… I'm fine. We've arrived safely. Dad and I were in the Chateau, and I am talking with Shun now."
"I'm glad." Hailee didn't hide when she sighed with relief. She breathes in and releases the air from her lungs. "I missed you already."
Vincent's heart ached to listen to her sweet voice. He already misses her flirty voice, purring against her chest while playing on the buttons or collar of his clothes.
"I missed you too, so badly. I'll come back very soon."
"Hurry, please…." she begged.
Vincent chuckled. They're not separated yet for twenty-four hours. But yes, he wanted to return to her arms as soon as possible. He already misses the taste of her lips and the sound of her laughs. It gives him heartache to hear her cry.
"I'll be home soon..."
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