Chapter 420   - Beat Up

"I know you just wanted the best for me, mom. Without the advanced lessons and constantly nagging to focus on my study, I would not have become a competitive student, achieved academically, and succeeded as a businessman. Now my knowledge is going to be challenged. In this battle, I have to show everyone what I'm capable of without relying on you, dad and dad Jacob."

"So stay back, mom. Let me prove to my father-in-law that he is not mistaken in trusting me," Vincent added.

Hilda resigned, completely surrendered now her son had made up his mind.

"Alright. But you have to be careful. One thing I was infuriated about when they forced me to marry your dad is the kind of life that he is living in... I want a peaceful life, which I know is impossible for me to have since I have to take over the management of Lopez Corporation. But living like any time has some bullets flew toward us that will end our lives? It would certainly lose my sanity. Nicholas Crow asked your dad's help in transforming the association and leading it into a good path, but I didn't allow him to continue doing such things. Might one day, he will come back as a cold body, and it actually almost happens. Yeah, I am still grateful that there is that word ALMOST…."

Vincent understood what his mom was trying to convey to him. She feared for Hailee and their children.

"Mom, you managed to defeat those who killed grandpa. You are qualified to be a Mafia lady boss." A teasing smirk played at the corner of Vincent's mouth that made his mom shrink her pupils.

He just wanted to lighten the mood, and gladly his mom bought it. She is glaring at him now.

"Nonsense! I have no interest in chasing roguish men and wasting my time outside, other than raising my kids!"

Vincent curled his lips into a warm smile. Again, he realizes his mom thinks the same way as Hailee. She is keener to raise their children than run this world with her influence and wealth. She is capable of that, and he began having that fetish of imagining his wife clothed in a mafia attire and doing badass stuff.

'It's dangerous to think of this now.' Vincent muttered to himself. He shook his head and wore a grim face.

"Liam never stops messing around, mom. He once brought trouble to Theo's Hotel and Casino, where I have my investment and then Metro City. If it weren't for Hailee's smart knights, I'd be facing the same problem as Theo if Liam succeeded in bombing one of my establishments after he abducted Hailee." Vincent explains further for his mom to understand why he wanted to do this. Moreover, he wanted her to feel at ease. If she acted strangely in front of Hailee, then she would panic.

"Hailee must know, but in her current condition, she must avoid hearing this kind of news."

"I know, mom. We promised to be honest with each other, but she has been upset. So… Can you cover me until it's the perfect time for me to tell her? If I open this up now, I will only add to her worries." Vincent sighs helplessly.

"Don't worry. I will take care of Hailee. Maybe the tonic I learned to make from your great-grandma would help Hailee soothe her nerves and stop worrying a lot."

"Thank you, mom. I'll go check on Hailee, then arrange a room for you."

"Alright." Hilda nodded.

*

The following day, Hailee feels better, but she still has no energy to go home.

"I don't want to see anyone." Frowning, she told Vincent when Doctor Dave advised her to visit the hospital for further tests and ultrasound.

Vincent sighs helplessly as she has acted stubbornly lately. "Okay."

Brushing her hair, Vincent softened his gaze, then cuddled Hailee inside his arms until she fell asleep. Hailee still had no proper sleep, as she would wake up suddenly. It also made him awake all night to ensure he could attend to her needs, like accompanying her to the bathroom, giving her a glass of sparkling water, or getting her warm milk and something to eat at midnight.

As Vincent also worked up, he fell asleep and took a nap with Hailee all day.

When Vincent attended a conference meeting on the third day, he heard some gossip in the corridor.

"Does he think he could do as he pleases because Chairman Davies is his father-in-law?"

"He is actually so arrogant in threatening our partners," chimed in by the man standing near the floor-ceiling window.

"Who?" queried the man seated on a single couch.

"The J Group… We collaborated on many projects which Davies Corp benefited a lot. But he dares to challenge the new president."

"John Jackson? J Group is the leading company in Northern Australia. Vincent had the guts? How dare he act rude to the CEO," said the other.

"That's right. And now, he just comes to the office whenever he wants. I don't understand why the princess fell for him. It looks like she was blindly in love with a lazy man."

Tim, who was following behind Vincent, wanted to rush to these men to give a piece of his mind. But then another person spoke.

"What are you guys talking about? They are supposed to be traveling for a honeymoon until now. If I were him, I would have locked up the princess and never let her leave the bed!"

"What a lucky bastard!"

It was a joke, so typically, everyone cracked up, not knowing that someone darkened his face and threw a dagger look in their direction.

Vincent could ignore all criticism they would throw at him—but joking around about Hailee like she isn't their boss?

And above all, they were gossiping about his wife! It buzzed his ears, and he had the urge to destroy each and everyone's face with his fists right there, right now.

The group comprised seven men, the young directors, and deputy directors from different fields.

Vincent walked over, and the seven men were startled seeing him; they immediately kept silent, and a few of them lowered their gaze, avoiding to look at him, but some managed to compose themselves to greet him and smile.

"Mr. Shen, right on time! The meeting will begin soon."

One quickly pulls himself together and casually talks to Vincent. But Vincent didn't hide his displeasure. On the other hand, Tim is exasperating at how fake these men are!

Vincent lifted the right corner of his mouth and said,

"Yeah. It is so good to be on time. Suppose I were five minutes late. I would not know how the Davies Corp. directors love to gossip dirtily about their lady boss. Do her knights know about this? Perhaps my father-in-law?"

"I am certain they love to beat up anyone who had an ill intention or dirty thoughts at their princess. They usually do it at night…."

Vincent scoffs, then smirks.

"But as for me? I can do that in broad daylight."

'These men are not different from Howie Gu, who would only whine at their dad's afterward..' Vincent sneered in his heart upon remembering that futile guy.