Love Contract
Chapter 190 Back On Campus (Part One)

Not caring about the chaos that was happening outside, Mary stepped into the bedroom. Her thoughts were in a tumult.

She sat there for what felt like hours. However, she couldn't sleep without her children. Making up her mind to bring them in, she quietly opened the door and peeped outside.

Lucas had called the hotel manager, asking him to fetch a bottle of medicinal wine. Now, it was there on the table. Lucas was applying it on his wound rather clumsily. The kids, to her relief, were sound asleep in Barry's and William's arms.

"Mary!" Barry called out, being the first one to spot her.

"Shh!" she said. "Let me carry Alick to the bed."

"Don't bother yourself. I'll take him there." Barry stood up and walked towards the bedroom, carrying the little boy in his arms.

William stood up, followed him quietly into the room with Elissa in his arms.

"Mary, Mary," Lucas said as he grabbed hold of her hand. He looked at her with pleading eyes and went on, "Please help me with the medicine. My face is in a rotten state. I doubt if I can step out of the house tomorrow!"

As he spoke, Lucas hastily stuffed the medicinal wine into Mary's hand.

"You deserve it! Now sit still!" she ordered angrily.

Lucas obliged quickly, eager to have her apply the medicine. As Mary wiped his face with a cotton stick, she asked, "Why did you and William come here tonight? What was the emergency?"

"It's because... Well, I..." he stammered, his face turning red. Having put the kids on the bed, the two men returned. Lucas gathered his wits and said, "It was William who forced me to come here with him. He didn't even give me an explanation. You may ask him!"

Mary eyed William doubtfully. "Well," William blurted out, "I came here because I missed you terribly." She ignored him and turned her attention back to Lucas. 'I have a painful bump on my face,' William thought dejectedly and ran his hand over it. His face twisted in a grimace of pain.

Barry glanced at William and thought, 'This obstinate man thinks he can get whatever he wants. His dirty little tricks will never end.'

"Alright, I am finished," said Mary, standing up and looking at the three men. "Barry, take a shower and go to sleep. After all, you have to be at the university early in the morning."

"What about you?" Barry asked worriedly.

"Of course, I will go to sleep too!"

"What about me?" William asked, displaying a childlike sadness.

"That is none of my business," Mary answered in a cold voice. He almost winced at the rancor in her tone. Noticing this, she went on, "The medicinal wine is right here. You may ask Lucas to apply it for you. Also, it's quite late. I suggest you go back as soon as possible."

"No," William answered angrily, "Lucas is clumsy.

I don't trust him to do the job properly. Just now, you did it for him. Why can't you do the same for me?"

A look of disappointment was etched on his face. "If that's the case, forget it. I am quite sleepy so I am going back to my room," Mary said, putting down the bottle on the table.

"Well, I'll go take a shower. We have to get up early tomorrow morning," Barry said, his voice tinged with unmistakable pride. William felt like an outsider in front of him. "You two! Leave now!" Mary hollered.

"But Mary, why do you insist that we leave? We have had a long journey. Isn't it a little harsh to drive us away?" Lucas said, hoping she would let them stay. "That isn't my issue, Lucas. After all, I didn't invite either of you," Mary retorted back angrily. After a short pause, she continued, "Let me remind you that this is a hotel! You both are rich. Will it hurt to book another room?"

"No way! Money isn't the issue." William shook his head firmly. "I'm worried about you staying alone with Barry Gu. If we were a little late, you both might have..." He faltered, not daring to finish his sentence. "William Lan!" She bit her lip, writhing in suppressed fury. She turned around and walked towards her room.

William nudged Lucas, asking him to do something. "Mary, we'll sleep on the sofa. After all, it is only a matter of one night. If you want us out of this room, you have to send Barry with us. Otherwise, we won't leave!" Lucas announced and there was resolve in his voice.

"Whatever! Do whatever the hell you want!" Mary shouted as she entered her room and slammed the door shut.

In the morning, when Mary walked out of the bedroom with her kids, she caught sight of the three men, sitting on the sofa and gazing at each other with unfriendly eyes.

"Daddy Barry!" Alick threw himself into Barry's arms.

"Daddy Lan!" Elissa threw herself into William's arms. "Ouch! Looks like there is no one to hug me!" Lucas said feigning sadness. "Could you give me a hug and make me happy?" he said, turning towards Mary.

"Stop talking nonsense early in the morning," Mary said, dodging his hug. "If there is something you need, I think it is a punch.

Go away!" Mary shouted.

"Mary, it is time for breakfast. We will head to Z University as soon as we are done eating," said Barry.

"Okay." Mary nodded. Taking a quick look at Lucas and William, Mary added, "Fortunately, your face is free from wounds. Otherwise, you will feel embarrassed walking in the university." "Yes." Barry glanced at William. "They look terrible, don't they?"

Elissa circled her fingers around William's face and said, "Look! Daddy Lan has dark circles around his eyes!" She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "He doesn't look even a little handsome today," she announced sadly.

"What! Am I not handsome anymore?" William asked worriedly. He touched his face and frowned. Looks had always been his biggest advantage!

Mary saw his reaction and burst into laughter. William's eyes were surrounded with black-and- blue bruises. The scratch on his cheek had become more visible today. His lips were swollen. All in all, he looked disastrous.

William glanced up as he heard Mary's delighted laugher. He realized he was willing to get beaten up a million times just to see her like this.

"Daddy Lan, will you play with Elissa today?" Sitting at the dining table, Elissa tilted her head and asked.

"Of course, I will! Not just today, every day!" he assured her.

"What the hell do you want, William Lan?" His words had aroused Mary's indignation. Gazing at him, she asked, "Can you be more mature?"

"Mature? I am mature, Mary." He felt an overwhelming amount of sadness.

"Enough!" Mary rubbed her face with a frustrated growl.

"Well, Mary," Barry filled a bowl with soup for her and said, "don't spoil your mood. Let's have breakfast."

"Okay."

After breakfast, William and Lucas followed them to Z University.

Mary's spirits were lifted as she glanced at the beautiful banners and balloons donning the university entrance. "100th Anniversary of Z University" was written on the biggest banner.

"I miss my school days so much!" Her eyes began to fill with tears as nostalgia swept through her. She vividly remembered her first day at the campus. It had been almost ten years!

"Me too," Barry said, nodding his head. If he could turn back time, he would. "Let's not waste time and enter the hall, Mary."

"Yes, of course," Mary agreed.

"By the way," said Barry as he walked, "William and Lucas, let me give you a brief introduction of our university."

"No, that won't be required!" William said instantly. 'Why is he showing off? Asshole!' William thought to himself.

Barry pretended like he didn't hear William's objection and went on, "We are making our way to the boulevard now. This is the place where I first met Mary. Back then, I had volunteered to pick up freshmen. And guess who was the student I first received? Mary!"

Lucas narrowed his eyes and pleaded, "Barry, could you please shut up? William and I have no interest in your story."

"In that case, I am narrating our story to Alick. You are interested in listening, aren't you?" Alick nodded his head, very much interested in the story. Caressing his hair, Barry continued, "Alick, look over there. That's the place where Daddy Barry and Mommy studied together. Your mother would fall asleep in those self-study sessions. Let me reveal a secret, she wasn't that fond of studying."

"Really?" It was Elissa who spoke this time. "Mommy doesn't like reading. Was she like Elissa?" she asked.

"Yes, she was. But Mommy was naturally smart. She didn't have to study to get good grades." After saying this, Barry glanced at Mary, respect and admiration evident in his eyes.

As they continued to walk forward, Alick suddenly pointed at a hillside and announced, "Look! I can see several boys and girls kissing over there. What is that place?"

"Eh..." Mary blushed and said, "Hurry up. Let's go!"

Barry turned and took a look at Lucas and William. They both noticed a smile playing on his lips. "My love, that place is famously known as the lovers' spot. This is where your Mommy and I went for dates in the beginning."

"Barry, please stop!" Mary blushed red and hit him lightly.

Seeing the scene in front of him, William clenched his jaw in irritation. Mary's crimson red face indicated that the two of them had some romantic moments in the so-called lovers' spot!

"Did Mommy and Daddy Barry kiss?" As expected, Elissa asked this question.

"Of course we did!" Barry nodded in smug satisfaction.

"Barry Gu, you better shut up, or else I will beat you up!" Lucas said, rushing forward and standing in between Mary and Barry.

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