HIS CONTRACTUAL MISTRESS

After a couple of hours, Carmen finished cooking the chicken soup. She asked the servants to help her bring the soup to Jay's bedroom with the other dishes she prepared for John.

Even though her heart is breaking, every time she sees John being too sweet to another woman, she could not behave like a heartless person to hate Ivy and think ill of her.

Ivy is grieving right now. She is in pain from her loss. She loves Jay very much, but how unfortunate a life she had. Her husband died at such a young age, and Jay had no chance of meeting his child.

However, Ivy was too blessed to have John's affection in Carmen's eyes.

She and John may be in a relationship. But there is no certainty that John would stay by her side when his dream girl was a widow now—it is his chance to pursue Ivy while she is mourning and in a helpless state.

John is in love with Ivy. So she had no chance to win him over. But until John did not break up with her, she would stay by his side.

"John? I'm sorry if I take too long to finish cooking." Carmen knocked on the door that was already wide open. She stepped inside and walked toward the bed.

Carmen does not need to apologize. But her purpose is for John to spare a glance in her direction. John may lift his head, but he only cast a quick look at her as his attention fixed on Ivy.

"Food is here. Even though you have no appetite, you need to force yourself to eat even just a little." John persuaded Ivy, and his voice was full of concern.

Carmen ignored the pang in her heart, listening to John coaxing another woman. But when John picked up the bowl of soup and started feeding Ivy, that was her last straw.

"If you need anything else, just let me know. I'll go back to the hall to check if the guests needed something." Carmen did not wait for either John or Ivy to reply to her.

She left the room without looking back. Her excuse of going to the ballroom hall is only her alibi so that she could no longer watch the scene that is painful for her to see.

She wanted to convince herself that John's kindness toward Ivy was only out of pity. She knew very well that she was only fooling herself to think of that; however, it was her way of calming herself from breaking down so suddenly in front of John.

Carmen went to a guest room instead to hide from everyone. Her older brother is great at reading her emotions, so she doesn't want Rob to see her in that state as she has no strength to explain anything.

After half an hour, John exited Jay's bedroom to let Ivy get some rest.

'I'm sorry. I hope you will forgive me in the future.' Looking at Ivy, John mutters to himself as he heaves a deep sigh.? He then closed the door and headed back to the mourning hall.

John realized that more guests had arrived to show their sympathy. He looked around to search for someone.

"Where is Carmen?" When he didn't see Carmen, he approached a servant and queried him.? The servant thought they were together, so he didn't know what to answer.

John left the hall and searched for another servant to query. An older maid happens to descend the stairs with a tray in her hand.

"Do you know where Carmen is?"

"Miss Dawson went to the guestroom to take some rest, sir."

'Guess room? We've been sharing my room for the past few days. Why did she go to the guest room?'?

John's bedroom is in front of Jay's room. Obviously, Carmen does not want to see John spending time inside Jay's room where Ivy occupied the bedroom.

"John, accept our condolences."

Initially, he wanted to speak with Carmen. However, the guests noticed his presence, and they now crowded him.

'Carmen...'?

*

Dream City?

"I want to speak with Liam," said Hailee.

Lady Isabella had rendered speechless on the other line after hearing Hailee's request. It was apparent how Hailee wanted to do something with her own hands.

Although she had already expected this call, Isabella could still feel the goosebumps from this conversation. Because of this call, the war between Hailee and Shun will erupt.

After a moment of contemplating, Isabella replied to Hailee, "Dear, you know that we have to ask Shun's permission first."

"Why do we have to rely on Shun too much?"

Isabella contracted her pupils. These are the exact words from Hailee during that time.

And because of these words, she was challenged, and without second thoughts, she made the mistake of giving in and allowed Hailee to speak with Liam.

"Hail, please understand that Liam's case differs from most criminals that we keep in the Chateau. I could not just disregard the protocol."

She could actually do that, but it caused so much turmoil between the High Royal and Mafia Association because of what she did in that lifetime.

In that life, she tolerated Hailee to her request. Now that they had a chance to change the course of what happened back then, she must be cautious about what words would come out of her mouth. Otherwise, it was the end of everything she had tried to build in the past hundreds of years.

"Hail, Vincent is doing his best to protect you."

"But he was the one in danger! Please, Aunt Isabella…"

Isabella narrowed her gaze. She lifted her arm and kneaded her forehead. Every time Hailee would insist on something that she wanted, she would call her aunt—from formal to a casual approach.

"Hail, let your husband prove himself that he is worthy to stand by your side. If you don't trust Vincent that he will win this battle, then allow Shun and your dad to take care of Liam and his men."

Lady Isabella's words struck Hailee's heart. She believes and trusts Vincent, of course.

However, she hated that Vincent was not by her side every single day because he had to run around pinning those men in the corner.

She badly wanted to speak with Liam. She will try to help solve the matter regarding the organization Shun wanted to tear down all these years.

However, Lady Isabella deliberately refused her. The hope she has to speak with that guy disappears.

Aside from Shun, Lady Isabella had the full authority in the Alliance to contact a person locked up in the Chateau.

She was tempted to order Sandy to hack the system in the Chateau. But she is aware that it is difficult to infiltrate the security software Shun installed to the entire system of that underground prison.

Hailee sighs helplessly. She darkened her face as she clenched her palm into a fist with the thought.

If only she had the power and had equal authority as Shun and Lady Isabella, she would not need their permission.

Hailee regretted that she did not take her training seriously in the past. Shun wanted to train her to run the Alliance, but she did not show any interest.

'Maybe it is not too late yet….'?