Love Contract

Chapter 211 Alone With Her (Part Two)

"What? What do you mean?" Startled, he gazed at her.

Mary slowly closed her eyes and uttered, "Beth, Andy, Alina..."

One after another, names of women popped out of Mary's mouth. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "I'm sorry. It's just--"

"Shhhh!" she shushed him and shook off his hands from her. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Do you remember the first time we met after I came back from abroad? In the elevator, I came face to face with you and Beth."

'Please stop," he begged, pulling her back to him. He felt a pang of guilt. Brushing it aside, he kissed her on the cheek. "Mary, I swear I was drunk then. I don't recollect anything that happened! Please forgive my stupidity."

"What about all the other women? The newspaper contained tidbits about your life." He winced at the disdain in her eyes. She wasn't done, she went on, "Checking in hotel with a girl and going to work with another. What was that? Did you do it with all of them? Tell me, did you have sex with all of them?"

William was unable to speak. "Why are you silent? Are you feeling guilty?"

"No, I am not." William feigned a smile and explained, "I was making a show in front of

media."

"Really?" Mary frowned, suspicion touching her voice and eyes. Four years ago, William wasn't the kind of man who slept with random women. But she assumed he had changed with time.

"Of course. Don't trust any of it," William

murmured, attempting a feeble smile.

"Well, sleep now." Mary patted him on his

shoulder and said, "It isn't good to stay up late.

Your head is wrapped with a thick gauze."

"Let's sleep together," he said, his playful smile returning.

"Stop it!" she said, shaking her head.

"I just want to hold you in my arms." William looked at her with his pleading eyes. "If you refuse, my head will start aching," he added sincerely.

Mary finally nodded her head and said, "If that's what you want."

"That's exactly what I want." After speaking, she leaned against him, nestling in as he put his arm around her.

They both felt eerily comfortable in the tiny sickbed. It had been a long day and she was in dire need of rest. As a result, she fell asleep in a matter of seconds.

With his chin against her head, William stroked her hair with his strong hand.

'Mary, I'm sorry that I lied. I did it only because I didn't want to lose you again. But trust me, there won't be any more women in my life. I will always be good to you and the kids. Please forgive me.'

He kissed her on the forehead. He prayed they wouldn't be separated ever again.

The next day, Lucas, Victor, and Archer woke up quite early. Wanting to know how William was doing, they decided to visit his ward. The door wasn't locked. When they entered, they saw two

people sleep calmly, clinging onto each other. William woke up, startled by the sound.

"William, what are you--" Lucas couldn't finish his sentence.

"Hush!" William gestured with his hand for him to stop Carefully, he placed Mary's head on the pillow. Lifting the quilt, he got off the bed.

"What's the matter?" William asked, stretching his body.

"Business," said Archer.

"Let's not talk here," William said and all of them went to the living room on the other side. "Even though you are sick, you can't behave well! Is your body strong enough for it?" Archer curled his lip as he spoke.

William's face darkened at the implication. "That is none of your business," he replied, not bothering to hide his indignation.

"OK! OK! It's none of my business." Archer rolled his eyes. Clearing his throat, he said, "Let me tell you why I am here. It is about the kidnapping."

"What about the kidnapping? Did you find something out?" He widened his eyes in anticipation.

"Not yet!" Archer shook his head and said, "When we rushed there, the area was cleared. They weren't any ordinary people. They had a mission."

William seemed confused. Noticing this, Lucas explained, "Those people were hired by someone and all of them are dead now."

"How could it be?" William said, a heavy frown creasing his face,

He racked his brain for answers. Suddenly, he recalled something. "Someone raised their guns at me, but they were instantly given the order to put them down. Also, they were after Mary. Has Mary ever offended anyone?" William asked, finding it hard to believe she could have hurt someone. "Bullshit! Who could be offended by Mary? Why would the person want to kill her?" Lucas retorted back.

"Alick told me yesterday," said Victor, who had been silent all this time, "that he had heard a woman's voice while they were locked in a dark room."

"A woman?" Archer was stunned. "We didn't find any woman when we went there."

This piece of information came as a shock. They remained silent, staring at each other.

"If that's the case then we will start with the women who are close to you," Archer said, looking at William.

"Okay." William nodded and lapsed into silence. He didn't believe that women around him could be this vicious. However, Mary's life was involved. He couldn't take a chance.

Moreover, the kidnappers hadn't asked for money. Their target was Mary. 'Something about it doesn't sound right,' he thought.

"William!"

While they were talking, a man entered the ward and walked towards William. The conversation came to a halt.

"Frank?" William asked, turning around. "Why are you here?" "When I heard you were injured, I couldn't help but come here." As Frank's gaze fell on the gauze that was wrapped around William's head, a pained expression flitted across his face.

He couldn't believe that William had risked his life for Mary Lu! None of it went as per his plans. He was compelled to leave with the members of Shadow Organization. He never thought William would end up being injured. In the past two days, he had been restless, worrying about William. Finally, he decided to show up.

"William, are you all right?"

"I might need to rest for a few more days. After that, I will be fine," William replied flatly.

"How did you know he was injured?" Archer asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

He had sent someone to investigate the relationship between Frank and Victor. The things he learnt had astonished him. Archer wasn't aware William had such a history. 'Interesting! Very interesting!' he thought.

"I..." Frank stammered. Composing himself, he said, "I actually went to visit AJ Group yesterday and learnt about this from William's assistant. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I should be leaving," Archer said.

He flashed William a knowing smile, then turned away and moved to the door. Victor didn't bother to say anything. Ever since Frank had entered the ward, he was waiting for an excuse to leave. Making use of this opportunity, he followed Archer.

"Well, I don't think I am needed here. I'll go out too!" Lucas said with a bold and slightly sarcastic smile. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

'Damn it!' William cursed them silently.

'What were they implying? Why did they think we need some privacy?' William thought angrily. He had noticed the look in Archer's eyes. He suspected Archer knew about their history.

With an annoyed shake of his head, he continued to brood over it.

"William, you don't look well," Frank said, trying to gain William's attention.

"Really?" William made a feeble attempt to smile and said, "Perhaps I didn't get enough rest."

"Did you find any lead? Have you discovered who was behind the kidnapping?" Frank asked.

"No." Shaking his head, William continued, "But we have gathered that it might be a woman."

"A woman? Really?" Frank stiffened, his voice gaining an edge.

"William, are you inside? Why are..."

Mary's words trailed off when she saw the man who stood next to William. She continued to stare at them, mouth agape.

"Mary!" William called her name.

"You...Long time no see," Mary said when she finally found her voice.

"Yeah." Frank nodded his head, shoving his hands in his pockets

"Why are you up so early? I was hoping you would get more sleep," William said as he walked towards her. "Or did we wake you up?" he asked.

"No, you didn't." She shook her head awkwardly, avoiding Frank's gaze.

"Then let's have breakfast in a while," William said, trying to soothe her. He tried to hold her hand but she didn't allow him to.

"Okay," Mary said in a low voice.

"I just came here to see how you were doing. I am glad you are fine. In that case, I should be leaving," Frank said.

"Bye! Take care." William nodded his head and smiled politely, as if he was speaking to a stranger.

"Okay." When Frank passed by them, Mary felt a cold chill wash over her.

With Frank gone, it was just the two of them. She breathed a sigh of relief when he left. Looking up, she saw that William's gaze was on her.

"What are you looking at?" Mary glared at him, her tone curt and unfriendly.

"Why didn't you let me hold your hand?" William demanded. His face was gloomy and his lips compressed.

"I just didn't want to!" she said flatly and turned her head away.

"Mary, I love you and only you. Let bygones be bygones!" William was anxious. "Are you jealous?" he asked.

"Jealous?" A mirthless smile crossed her face. "Of course, I'm so jealous! You are so awesome that I don't deserve you. Let me go now." Her tone hung somewhere between sarcastic and annoyed.

"Please don't talk like this," William said sincerely.

"I can't help it. It's too late!"

"Don't, Mary! Ouch, my head hurts!"

Mary shook her head at his lousy acting skills.

As Frank walked out of the hospital, he fished out his phone and dialed Andy's number. "Andy, it's an emergency. Let's meet." She hadn't been helpful to him. And now, if he didn't do anything, she would draw suspicion towards him.

Candy Q