HIS CONTRACTUAL MISTRESS

Chapter 298 - A Glimpse Of His Future

Vincent put back his phone in his trench coat after the call. He went back to the bar counter; Shun poured a whisky on his glass this time.

"Thanks…" Vincent picks up the glass, toast in the air, and then says, "How honored I am to be served by Chairman Crow."

Shun chuckled. He shook his head after he emptied his glass. "The honor is mine, Vincent. As I've mentioned already, we are a family now… I need not say this… Nothing I want from you but to make my cousin happy."

Vincent smiled, then with a serious gaze, he told Shun. "Of course… She's my existence. I live until today because of her."

Shun was satisfied with his retort. He patted Vincent on the shoulder, poured another glass of whisky. They were discussing the projects he was working on in Dream City.

Crow Corporation is one of its major investors. According to Shun, the Davies Corporation can fund the city's construction without other investments. But it will be wise to get the giant corporation involved, gathering a solid foundation by having powerful business associates.

That is why Hailee built the Davies Group as a sister company of Davies Corporation. Davies Group is only focused on building the city, while Davies Corporation continued its operation to their investments worldwide, particularly as a leading company in Australia.

Hailee is the sole heiress of a multibillion telecommunication company in Australia. The Davies Corporation is a major investor in many real estates all over the Oceanic Continent, including hotels, modern apartments, high-end beach resorts, logistics, and international industries.

Where did the Davies get all of their wealth?

Hailee's forefathers are the first miners in Australia.

"I guess I need not mention what minerals and gemstones Hailee's great grandfather's dig in that land," said Shun. Vincent nodded in response.

He needed not say a word as he completely understood what Shun had been talking about. He doesn't want to think about the tons of gold under Hailee's name, or diamonds kept somewhere inside an underground facility somewhere in Australia.

He did not dare to imagine how many millions of tons of minerals they've dug already for in a hundred years.

He is aware of what kinds of gemstones are found in Australia. The Shen wealth is just tens of Hailee's inheritance. That is why the Elders disagree with their marriage.

Whoever marries Hailee can not compare to a king, but he could have the title of an Emperor.

However, he's never after Hailee's wealth. In fact, it was a great pressure on his part to prove himself to be clean and had pure intentions.

Then, Shun went on…

"Don't mind what everyone throws at you once the entire world knows you are the man Hailee will marry. It will be you and her and not them."

Vincent's eyes glimmer at Shun's advice. No wonder he's the one seated on that throne. He has a better judgment, knowing he is Hailee's family; he was delighted Shun did not misjudge him but trusted him—he could make Hailee happy.

After a few more glasses as their talk went on, Shun could read he had something in mind but was reluctant to fire away from his out of curiosity question.

"Just spill it out." Shun encouraged him.

Vincent chuckled, pondering whether to let out what was on his mind. Later on, he shared his thoughts.

"During our flight, dad shared with me many secrets regarding the Council of Elder and the High Royal Family history… And he mentioned that…." Vincent couldn't help but trail off his entire sentence.

Shun smiled, then continued the words Vincent left off… "—that Lady Isabella is my original wife in my first life?"

Vincent nodded.

Shun looked outside the window. After a few seconds, he turned his gaze back to Vincent and replied, "It was all in the past where I could remember nothing, whereas she had all the memories in the past three hundred years."

Vincent didn't leave his gaze but listened to Shun intently as the guy went on…

"All I have in my heart is one woman—I would follow whatever timeline she was reincarnated next..."

Vincent did all the means to ponder Shun's explanation. Their history is messy and beyond the ordinary person's ability to measure the depths of the mystery—the Elders have been hiding from the world.

If he didn't meet Hailee and fall in love with her, he would probably grow old and die in this world without learning these secrets.

But then, he realized one thing about this talk. There is something common between him and Shun—they wanted to be with the same woman even in their next life and the next life.

Also, he remembered what Hailee often says to him…

"I don't want to be part of Shun's worlds…."

He literally doesn't understand what that means, but now it is slowly sinking Hailee's quote into his head.

He would also choose a peaceful and ordinary life with his entire family. He would surely pamper and spoil his children but not risk their safety because of the silent dispute among powerful lords and royal blood.

*

(A supposed to delete scenes)

Rendering his silence, Shun understood that Vincent did not fully accept the reality of the world he was living in. With the fact, he was weighing whether he shared the truth or hid what Lady Isabella predicted from Vincent's future, why he was doing everything to save his life.

As he could not decide, Shun was relieved when someone joined them.

"Hey, Vincent Shen!"

Vincent turned his head to check out the guy calling out to him. He didn't know him personally, but he is very familiar with him as one of Shun's most trusted right hands.

Daichi Isagawa throws a knuckle on him, which he gladly nudges back while expressing his gratitude. "Thanks for the help."

"No problem!" Daichi replied. He raises a thumb before he pours himself a glass of whiskey, then makes a toast with him. "It's my honor to protect Shun's future great-grandfather."

Vincent was choked with the liquor he was drinking. His eyes widened from shock, unable to comment on that.

'Great, what!?' Vincent screamed in his head. 'What is going on here? Is this a prank?' He shifted his gaze from Daichi and Shun. However, the latter is dead serious while Daichi said it casually like tomorrow is a sunny day.

On the one hand, Shun, who was still pondering whether to share the truth with Vincent, rolled his eyes. Now that Daichi mentioned it, it's no use to hide it any longer.

"Don't worry about that… Think that you never heard it," Shun told Vincent as he smiled afterward. Then he added as he patted his back, "I guess it's about time to change appearance. Once in a while… I have had this face in these past three hundred years. It's good to be different next time."

Staring at Shun, Vincent blinks his eyes while trying to process everything.

'Is that a joke? Is this even true? Then, it appears I was drinking with my future great-grandson? Is this some kind like in the movies? Whose future self came to the past to warn his younger self what will happen in the future? Or someone in the future came to the past to help himself make things right so that the future is in a better flow?'

His face didn't hide how he had a perplexed facial expression, thinking it over. And he could not care much about it furthermore when, after Daichi emptied his glass, he resumed chatting with him, and this time it was about Hailee.

"So, how was the princess? Congrats! I heard she's pregnant with more babies?" Daichi had a big smile on his face while his two thumbs raised as a gesture of, "You are great, Vincent!"

Vincent finally loosens up from his messy thought. He smiled and replied to Daichi's queries. It seemed like the news of Hailee conceiving not only one child spread rapidly among her circle of friends.

Now it would not be surprising if her knights also heard about it. Then, would they be happy for her, or are they going to roast him like how her executives did to him?

Vincent heaves a long sigh inwardly. His battle isn't finished yet.

Evening...

At the top floor of the Chateau, known as the Tower Hall, the Council of Elders gathered inside. Since they were waiting for the rest of the elders, they greeted each other, then formed into small groups to discuss secret information among themselves, including the assassination attempt of Frederick and his son.

Not long after, everyone had arrived. Shun and Nicholas entered the Hall, then took their seats below the platform facing the door; both sides were long rows of chairs, and single tables served tea and pastries.

Soon after, Lady Isabella entered the hall. As usual, she is wearing a red dress, hat, and gloves up to her elbows.

The Elders who came from all over the world couldn't help but gasp to have a glimpse of this lady who is already a couple of hundred years old.

They would always be awed as she stayed young, beautiful, and never got old since the day they first met her.

As their grandfather once told them—the lady never thinks that her immortality is a blessing. Instead, it was a curse after the crime she committed against her sister.

Living for hundreds of years is punishment for living in this world where she could never be together with her true love but witness his death over again. Her curse was never to be with him but to watch him from a distance, where he never remembered her.

No one knows when she is going to die or how to end this curse. No one had the answer. But to carry out her lifetime task to watch over this world and look after her sister in her next reincarnation all over again to take care of her to pay for her sin.

Lady Isabella is now seated on the platform, silently observing the council. She elegantly held the fragile porcelain teapot and poured on the porcelain teacup placed in front of her.

Now that everyone is seated, Shun begins his speech…