Chapter 326 - Madam Hilda Shens Birthday Party (Six)
As the party continues…
Several from the Lopez family performed different presentations as the highlight of the night. One can not deny that they are from super-talented families.
They are not just excellent at running a business, but many family members have unique talents such as singing, dancing, and playing all kinds of instruments. And at the moment, Vince's thirteen-year-old niece is playing the piano.
Hailee, who just returned from the restroom, claps her hand loudly after the girl hits the last note. Vincent's niece is playing her piece well.
Listening to the beautiful melody, her heart filled with warmth and delight that Vince's family had all these talents. She couldn't help but imagine that her children would inherit these great genes!
Thinking about it, her hands unconsciously touch her belly. She lowered her gaze, and her lips played with a satisfying smile.
Vince, who was talking with Tyler Lopez and Allen Hillson, excused himself and walked toward Hailee.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable? Did your stomach hurt?" Instantly, Vince asked a series of questions. His face is full of worries and anticipation. He even lifted his arms to snuggle Hailee and stroked her back.
Hailee's eyes flickered at what he did. She looked at Vince tenderly and shook her head. She placed her arms around his neck, then kissed his lips.
After the kiss, she whispered, "I'm just too happy. I think the babies too."
Vince's face looked relaxed after she said that. He sighs with relief as he ponders about the possibilities of why she felt uncomfortable.
Hailee went to the restroom with Gigi, and so he did not accompany her. She was only in her first trimester, but he couldn't stop panicking now and then.
"We need your nannies to follow you around, especially when times I can't accompany you," Vince suggested to her.
Hailee nodded and didn't object, which surprised Vince a little.
Well, if it was said when she wasn't pregnant, it is just an ordinary day. She would throw a tantrum and persuade Vince she did not need them.
Ever since before, she doesn't like to have nannies following her around, and this is something her dad was helpless about because he could not assert if she said she didn't want anyone to follow her.
But this time, she will listen to Vince. She doesn't want to make him worry. She understood Vince was worried about her pregnancy, and he was only concerned about her condition, and that's why he's doing this.
Seeing that, she had no objection. Vince broadened his smile after she agreed. He actually thought Hailee would reject his suggestion because his father-in-law once shared with him how Hailee doesn't like being followed or accompanied by nannies when she goes out.
And so, he is a little worried she might be in a foul mood after he brought up the nannies thing……
Lately, her mood has been stubborn because of her pregnancy. And so, it needed a little patience. He considers that carrying three babies at the same time isn't easy, and he heard that even those only single fetuses could make someone have difficulties—then, more of Hailee conceiving three.
"Come on. My cousins will present more of their hidden talents. You should have taken a seat."
"Okay."
Vincent gently held her as they walked back to their table. But her eyes caught the woman seated in the corner, with only a nurse accompanying her.
"Hubby, can I join Aunt Sol's table instead?" she asked with a bit of worry.
Vincent takes a glance in the direction where Tyler's mom is seated. He smiled at Hailee and nodded. "Of course."
It made her happy that Vincent agreed. Hand in hand, they approached the older lady and greeted her warmly.
"Hello, Aunt Sol." Vincent greeted his first aunt, Sol Lopez, his mom Hilda's older sister.
"Vincent……" Sol smiled shyly at his nephew; her eyes gleamed after she recognized him. She is only a nearsighted person, and so she could distinguish no one from afar. Although Tyler can bring her to another country for advanced treatment, she chooses not to.
"Hi, Aunt Sol." Aware of the older lady's condition, Hailee greeted Sol with a warm smile.
Sol moved her gaze from Vince to Hailee. After she recognized her sweet voice, she returned with a warm smile. "Hello, Hailee."
"Can I sit next to you, Aunt Sol? Being pregnant made me too lazy to walk around and got me tired fast." It's only partly true as she didn't feel lazy at all to walk around, meeting Vince's entire family.
However, she wanted to accompany Vince's first aunt, who chose not to mingle with her relatives. It's not that she has had no good relationship with them, but because of her condition since Tyler was a kid.
Sol smiled timidly and said, "Of course. You need not ask permission. We are family……"
The older lady trailed her last word. And upon hearing this, Hailee felt the warmth from Sol's last words. It can sense that Sol was unsure if she should mention this, and so Hailee quickly added.
"Yes, Aunt Sol. I am so happy I will be part of Vincent's big family soon, especially you." She sat on the dining chair that Vince pulled for her.
Sol gaped at the couple, who were sweet to each other. She could see Vincent doted on his wife, and it was evident that Hailee was in love with him the way she coquettishly thanked him while her eyes were twinkling looking at him.
Sadness flashes in Sol's eyes, but she quickly conceals it. Lately, she can finally control her emotions in crowded places like this. Besides, her time had already passed to find happy love life. But she already accepted the truth after she realized how blessed she was already to have a wonderful son like Tyler.
And so, she always prayed that Tyler would find a suitable wife soon, who would be kind to his mother. With that, she would feel relieved and happy.
Now that Hailee sat down comfortably, Vincent placed a kiss on Hailee's head as a habit then said, "I will get you some dessert."
Witnessing this, Sol cannot help but smile and bury the little envy that crept in her heart. It's just that she never receives this kind of affection, and so, she is happy to see a young couple as intimate as this.
Hailee caught Sol staring at her with intent. She smiled at the older lady. Before this party, Vince had shared a little story about his mom's siblings.
And so, she couldn't help feeling sympathy for them. That is why she is watching her emotions toward Sol.
"I'm happy that Vincent finally fell in love," Sol commented after a brief silence.
Hailee glanced at the buffet table, where it displayed all kinds of a dessert she could imagine. She could see that Vincent seemed frozen on the floor as he swept his gaze at the long table. She need not guess; he was having difficulty choosing what dessert he would bring over for her.
Looking at Vince's back, a heartfelt smile appears on her lips. "I'm madly in love with him too, Aunt Sol," she confessed from the bottom of her heart.
"I could see that…." Sol smiled. She extends her arm and reaches for Hailee's palm. "I hope you will have the patience to get along with Hilda. Please, understand her temperament."
Hailee already knew that her mother-in-law had a unique temperament. But hearing about it from the older sister surprised her a little bit, so she smiled at the older lady as she replied. "Mom, Hilda is kind to me. I could also feel that Sheena and Deana liked me a lot, not because of who I am."
Studying Sol's expression, Hailee sees how the older woman felt relieved.
Sol remained silent for a while as she tried to process what Hailee had mentioned just now. Tyler and Jessa used to tell her that Vincent's wife was from a super-wealthy family. She didn't learn how to use a gadget, and she did not see any news about Hailee.
However, she could tell that her nephew and Hailee genuinely love each other.
Hailee is wealthier than Vincent, so there is no way she is after his money. On the one hand, she knew Vincent very well, so she would never think that her nephew was only after Hailee's money.
"Hilda might be snobbish and behaving superior all the time. But she has to harden her heart. She is the second youngest, but Hilda acted more like our oldest siblings. However, she is very kind to us." Sol paused for a moment. Upon seeing Hailee that was listening keenly to her story, she continued.
"Her older sister and older brother are such weak people. If she does not teach herself to be strong, she might end up like me." When Sol mentioned an older sister, she was referring to herself.
Hailee softens her gaze after Sol says this. She only heard the story from Vince, which broke her heart. But listening to more of that story from his aunt Sol's very mouth, it feels more heartbreaking.
Seeing the emotion appear in Hailee's eyes, Sol squeezes a faint smile.
"Hilda is the one who is always there for us. Our parents were assigned to the US, so instead of me, who should watch over Hilda. It was her who was watching over me. HILDA WAS THERE FOR MY CHILDREN when I was lost in my own world for a long time. Tyler grew as an excellent man because of Hilda. My daughter Jessa has become an accomplished actress because Hilda is watching over her."
"Hilda is truly strict with the children. But she doesn't know how to express herself. The tragedy she witnessed pushed her to be an indifferent person. I know why she always puts up a wall around her. She is afraid she might end up like me, who becomes mentally unstable because of love. And her big brother, my younger brother, also lost sanity because of love. And because of us, Hilda closed her heart for love. But even if she never showed it. I am certain she loves Fred."
Hailee nodded. She believes it too!