Love Contract

Chapter 53 Estrangement

It was dark outside when Mary and Victor arrived at the sidewalk snack booth. They quickly ordered their food and found a corner to eat.

It was a long time before they returned and had no idea how much time had passed. They only remembered that the two of them were drunk and staggered in their steps to call for a designated driver.

William was standing by the window of the apartment in the Kylin International Community. He watched cars entering the gates but didn't spot the brightly colored scooter. And by this point, he couldn't see any car.

It was so late. Where could she have gone?

William was about to give up and turn around when he saw a car slow down and park at the gate of the community.

It was far away from him but he knew he wasn't mistaken when he saw Mary get out of the car.

William's eyes tightened at this. It was late at night! Where had this woman gone to drink?

He had just begun to fume at these thoughts when he saw someone else emerge from the car. He squinted at this person, but quickly stiffened when he saw that it was Victor. Victor handed Mary a handbag and they laughed and chatted to each other for a long time.

William's eyes narrowed and his hands clenched into fists.

Mary hummed a tune as she walked towards the elevator.

She had barely touched the doorknob when the door opened with a click. Mary was so shocked, she almost became instantly sober.

Her face was red as she stared blankly at the open door. William stood there, dressed casually, his face stormy with anger.

"You-you're here!" Mary stuttered. They looked at each other for a long time, as if they were frozen to the ground. Then Mary mustered her courage, smiled awkwardly, and made to go in.

She had barely taken a step when William said her name in a low, dangerous voice.

"Mary," he said, grabbing her arm. She leaned away from him and against the wall as William stared at her, eyes afire. "Where have you been?"

"To have dinner," Mary said, avoiding his eyes as she felt panic rising within her. She hadn't yet figured out how to face him.

"You reek of alcohol after dinner?" William said sarcastically.

"I drank just a little," Mary muttered. "With whom?"

"A friend." Mary turned away from him.

"Friend?" William said, his eyebrows rising. He then leaned forward intimidatingly towards her and said, his voice low, "You really get along with Victor, don't you?" Mary sighed. "If you know everything, why do you even ask me?"

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?" William said, his voice severe.

"It's none of your business," Mary said defiantly.

"None of my business? I can't ignore you!" William said, cocking his head and looking at Mary.

"Why?" Mary asked, confused. She didn't know who or what gave her the courage to ask him this, but she stared at William as she asked, "Why do you keep asking me to stay away from him?"

"Didn't you do enough damage with your scandal?" William roared.

"But that's not the only reason, right?" Mary glared at him, coolness creeping into her gaze, and said, "Let go of me!"

"What do you mean by that question ?" However, instead of letting her go, William turned more demanding. His eyes seemed to swallow Mary. "What do I mean?" Mary smiled coldly at him before saying, "I know what you and Frank have done to Victor. I know everything! That's the real reason why you asked me not to become close to Victor, right?"

"Mary!" William's eyes narrowed. "Did Victor tell you everything ?"

"Yes!" Mary said. "So there's no point hiding anymore! I'm finally seeing you clearly, William!"

William suddenly let go of Mary and chuckled. "He told you everything? I thought he was too embarrassed to say such dirty things!"

"Dirty?" Mary exclaimed. "I think he is clean and noble. The one who caused him to become like this is you. You and Frank are dirty!"

William's smile froze at this. He was silent for a long moment before he said, "Dirty? If I am dirty and you've slept with me, what does that make you?"

Mary paled. "William, I know I'm dirty..."

William stared wordlessly at her.

"I haven't been so open because I care about my virginity," said Mary. "So I feel dirty. I wish I could change my skin."

Guilt rippled through William as he stared at her.

"Mary, the contract is not up yet. I advise you to behave yourself. You know my means, you should be able to predict the consequences." He then turned around and looked at Mary, eyes reflecting hurt. "Don't tell anyone about me and Frank. You are still my good wife in front of the outside world."

Mary's lips trembled as she watched him go towards his room.

Once he was out of Mary's sight, he took a deep breath, his eyes closing in pain.

This shouldn't have happened! He had left Frank behind and returned just for Mary, to see if she was alright and to comfort her. But why couldn't he control himself when he watched her drunkenness and as he watched her return in Victor's car? 'What's wrong with you, William?'

"William..." Mary called softly.

He paused, one foot in the bedroom. "What is it?" he asked stiffly.

"Do you remember telling me that you owe me a favor?" Mary asked.

"Yes, I do." ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"You said you could do anything."

"Yes." William frowned, not sure where this was going.

"I want to get the videotapes of Victor's videos." William's hand on the doorknob went white with how hard he was gripping it. "Is that what you want?"

"Yes."

"Very well."

And then William went in and slammed the door shut, causing the floor to shake.

Mary leaned against the wall, her strength leaving her as she slid down the wall.

When did things between them become like this?

And it looked like William and Frank weren't hiding anymore. They stayed together every moment of every day, now that Mary knew their secret. Frank went to the office every day and William remained tolerant towards him,

something that Mary found very annoying.

Frank smiled meaningfully at Mary from

William's office and slowly closed the blinds.

No one knew what they were doing inside.

Mary tried to ignore them and concentrate on her work, but Jane couldn't bear it. She looked furious.

"Mary, aren't you curious about what they are doing? Do you think it's necessary for two men to close the windows like that? And one of them is your husband!" Mary's smile was wan as she said, "Maybe they are talking business secrets."

"Business secrets?" Jane's eyebrows rose. "I'll go and see what they are doing. Please don't stop me."

She picked up two documents and walked towards William's office.

Mary stared nervously at her and realized that she, herself, was also very curious about what they were doing in the office.

'I don't think they are doing that? They are in office after all!' she thought.

Jane knocked on the door of the office and went in before she could get a reply.

Mary wanted to find some hint - any hint - from the crack in the door, but the door closed too fast for her to find anything.

She waited anxiously for a while before she spotted Jane walking out of the office, her face dejected.

"What's wrong?" Mary asked, concerned.

Jane was indignant as she hissed, "My salary has been deducted because I entered his office without getting the go-ahead. Damn it! What an evil capitalist! "

Jane realized what she had said and hurried to apologize to Mary, "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I just meant... "

"It doesn't matter," Mary said, patting Jane's hand and trying to comfort her, "Why are you so nervous? He has always been like this. He even deducted my salary. I know you didn't mean to say that. You just need to be careful in the future."

"Oh my God! Boss is so cruel!" Jane said agitatedly.

"Yeah!" Mary just smiled lightly.

"He's really found the right friend," Jane continued, glancing at the office and lowering her voice. "Frank has such frightening eyes. He began to stare at me the moment I entered the office. He's just like boss. You don't know him, do you ?"

"No," Mary said, shaking her head.

"It's weird for a rich man to act like this. He has nothing else to do so he comes to our company to sleep. He is really not busy at all!" Jane complained. "He closes the blinds to block out the sun and just sleeps. "

"Frank is sleeping inside?" Mary said, shocked.

"Yes," Jane nodded seriously. "When I went in, boss was working quietly, and Frank was sleeping on the sofa beside him. It's really strange to do this with each other this way!"

"Yes, a little strange." Mary nodded. It was getting hotter and hotter with each passing day. The leaves on the street had curled up and shriveled. People were unwilling to move out, wanting to remain in office.

After wandering around William's office door for a long time, Mary finally knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Boss," said Mary, walking up to his desk.

"Yes, what is it?" William said, not looking up.

"I wanted to ask for leave. I haven't yet applied for this year's leave," Mary said.

"Where are you going?"

"Z City."

"Z City?" William said, his head snapping up and his grip on the pen tightening just a smidge.

"What are you going to do?"

"It's private," said Mary hesitantly. "Boss, you don't have to know so much about it, do you?"

"The one who is asking you now is your nominal husband."

Well... If he was putting it like that... Mary took a deep breath and said, "I need to go back to my hometown."