Love Contract
Chapter 266 Substitute Love (Part Two)

If you didn't have his children, you would be nothing to him!"

Frank's words flashed through Mary's mind over and over again as she walked along the road aimlessly.

She couldn't believe it! Everything had been perfect ever since she came back. William had finally said he loved her and the kids were so ecstatic. All of it was like a fantasy! Was everything a disguise? Did William fool her?

Those thoughts began to fill her head, gradually eating her up. For some time, she was lost in a compound of emotions.

What dragged her back to her senses was the sudden ringing of her phone.

"Hello?"

"Mary, where are you? Why didn't you come to work? Are you sick?" Barry's anxious voice came from the phone. Even though Mary could not see him right now, she was certain that his face was painted with concern.

"What? What time is it right now?"

"It's already half-past nine." Barry frowned before continuing, "Your voice sounds different. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine," said Mary, biting her lips. Then, after taking a deep breath, she added, "I'm going to the company now!"

"Where are you? Let me pick you up."

"No, no. It's alright. I'll go to the company right away. I can do it myself."

To make sure that Barry would not insist, Mary hung up the phone in a hurry.

But the moment the call ended, her mind wandered back to the ebony box Frank mentioned.

Mary was evidently absent-minded for the entire day at work, while William seemed to have lost contact with her. She received no phone call or any message from him-something unusual about him. And seeing how Mary blankly stared at nothing almost the whole time she was at the office, Barry became even more concerned.

So, he insisted on driving her back home after work.

"Thank you for the ride, Barry," Mary said as soon as the car halted to a stop right outside the Kary Villa. She unfastened her seat belt and was about to open the door when Barry suddenly spoke. "Mary," he started, holding her hand with utmost care, "is there anything wrong between you and William? Did he do something to you?"

"No." Even though she shook her head firmly, Mary couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes.

Still, Barry didn't say anything. He had already known what had happened at the award ceremony, but he didn't understand why William had suddenly left. And seeing Mary act strangely, Barry realized that something must have happened!

"Mary, don't push yourself too hard," said Barry, feeling sorry for her. "You still have me. I'm always here for you."

"I..." For a while, Mary couldn't replace the right words to say. The corners of her mouth twitched, and after thinking for a few seconds, she finally let out a deep sigh. "I'm leaving,"

She uttered before opening the door and leaving in a hurry.

Meanwhile, Barry was left in his car, still worried as he stared at her receding figure. When he opened the door to chase after her, a car stopped at his feet.

The halt was so sudden that it created a squeaky blaring sound.

William, who was driving it, was obviously in a rush. He had spent the entire afternoon thinking about what happened that night and realized that it was all his fault. He left without saying anything, and his thoroughly planned proposal was also a failure. Therefore, as soon as he was done with his work, he rushed back home.

But he didn't expect to see Barry outside his house. And seeing him right there alerted William all of a sudden.

"Why are you here?" he asked in a cold tone after getting out of the car and facing his unexpected visitor.

"I drove Mary back." Barry glanced at him with an unfriendly look.

"Do not meddle with us. I'll handle Mary's matter."

"What did you say?" Barry sneered, "If a day passed without you making her sad, I would thank God for that mercy!"

The frankness and overflowing sarcasm in Barry 's tone made William flicker with so much anger. It seemed that the former had hit a nerve. "Find your way out. Goodbye!"

Instead of arguing further, William decided to send him away before storming inside the villa.

Last night, he didn't sleep well because Mary was not in his arms. He felt very uncomfortable all night. So tonight, he needed to do a lot of explaining so he could hold her in his sleep. Meanwhile, Barry turned around and went back to his car. He sat on the driver's seat and didn't move for a long time.

At the same time, inside the villa, Mary sneaked into the study like a thief. 'Where is the ebony box?'

Her heart pounded like a hammer as she carefully searched the entire room.

There was no such box on the bookshelf, nothing beside the computers, not even on the desk. How about the drawers?

Mary opened a drawer and looked through it. And after moving some documents on the right cabinet, she finally caught sight of a delicate ebony box.

She couldn't tell how she felt, but she knew prying into other people's privacy was not something good. However, at this point, she didn't have any choice.

So, with trembling hands, she took out the square box with exquisite copper lock and carved patterns, making it more mysterious.

Its lid was opened with a click, and inside were letters, a diary, photos, and some delicate toys.

On the photos were William and Frank, and a girl, whom she figured must be Sansa.

There were also a few photos with only William and Sansa alone, on which he always bore a sweet smile, something Mary had seldom seen in him. He seemed genuinely happy in those photographs. Suddenly, a lump found its way on her throat. With every second she dwelt deeper on the content of that box, Mary felt heavier. Then, she took out a letter dejectedly and found that William had written it for Sansa. Since there was no stamp, Mary figured that the letter was never sent.

"Someone wrote you a love letter today. I'm very angry, so I have to write it for you. Sansa, I like you."

"Why don't you accept my love? Sansa... It's okay. It doesn't matter. I still like you."

"I wonder if you can see my letter in heaven. I love you, and miss you so much. William."

"I didn't know you liked me until I read your diary. Why were you so silly to push me away?"

The handsome and elegant handwriting was sprinkled on the paper that yellowed with age. Every seal on each letter was evidently filled with so much care.

If that was all, Mary could accept it. But even in the four years when she was gone, William still kept writing to Sansa, the person who had been dead for so many years. It turned out that Frank was really telling the truth.

"I'm married. She is very silly, just like you. When I see her lively appearance, I can't help but think of you. If you didn't leave me, I would marry you only. I miss you. William."

"I went to see you today. I wanted to burn the letter for you, but I couldn't get myself to do it. This is the only memory between you and me."

Mary couldn't see anything else, but those repeated words "I miss you" and "I love you" etched on the letters.

Without noticing it, her eyes began to well up with tears. Suddenly, her visions became blurry as her heart ached in so much pain and betrayal. 'A substitute? Fake love? So, I am really nothing to him, huh?' she thought, feeling utterly defeated.

Then, the letter in her hand suddenly slipped through her fingers. And as the door clicked open, her tears rolled aggressively down her cheeks.

"Mary? What are you doing here?"

The familiar voice of the man she loved resounded from the door, but Mary was in too deep sorrow to react at that moment.

Candy GSmgB