Love Contract
Chapter 49 Pregnancy Scare

His slender fingers danced across the piano's black and white keys and the corners of his mouth curved up in pleasure. William glanced up at Mary from time to time, with a gaze so gentle it could melt a heart. He played the song "River Flows in You".

This particular piece of music was her ringtone and so she was quite familiar with it.

She had not expected him to play it, let alone play it so well.

He looked so handsome and strong, like a prince.

Mary stood a few steps away, looking on at him with yearning, expectation and even surprise, but she did not make a move.

Everyone in the studio stopped what they were doing, quietly taking in the picturesque scene unfolding before them. Director Cui saw this as the perfect opportunity to start filming and took it. He got the camera ready and silently began shooting.

William shook slightly, his eyes half closed as he appeared deep in some sort of trance, right until he played the very last note. He turned his head to Mary and stood with a bright smile emerging on his face, "Mary, come here."

His voice was bewitching and enchanted Mary, who unconsciously walked up to him.

"Did that sound good?" William asked innocently.

"Yeah," Mary nodded. "It was great." Her voice was soft and tender and they spoke to each other as if they were the only ones in the universe.

William smiled happily, like a kid in a candy store, and took Mary in his arms. "As long as you like it," he said with his eyes closed as he pulled her into him, holding her tight.

Hugging him was still so intoxicating.

Mary wrapped her arms around his slim waist and indulged herself in his warm embrace, unwilling to wake up from this dream she was now in.

She had thought he was simply playing the piano, but then she noticed the camera out of the corner of her eye. It seemed the shooting had begun.

She was acting, being filmed and hated him, but she still could not resist his... temptation.

'Mary, you are hopeless,' she thought to herself sadly. "OK, cut!"

Director Cui suddenly broke the silence that had fallen over the studio. "Very good, very good, very good!"

That snapped William back to reality and he realized they were filming an advertisement. 'What has just happened, ' he wondered, recovering from his daze. Mary nodded blankly and an urge to hug her came over him. And he did!

Mary smiled, abashed, and congratulated William, "Well done!"

He frowned, wanting to explain but not knowing what to say. Did she say that thinking he was acting just then?

"To you too. You did a good job," he replied.

"You too," she said still slightly embarrassed.

Director Cui strutted over grinning, "The CEO and his wife have a really great relationship. The scene we just captured was so beautiful. I don't think we even need to edit it."

"I'm flattered, Director Cui," William smiled.

"The next scene will be a piece of cake," Director Cui responded, smiling back.

"Not necessarily," William said raising his eyebrows at Mary. "My wife seldom cooks at home. I'm afraid she won't know to act it out properly."

"Why would you say that?" Mary hated others exposing her shortcomings and flaws more than anything else. She stood up straight and puffed out her chest. "I promise not to make any mistakes, as long as you don't make any either, boss!"

"Let's wait and see."

"Let's wait and see!" Mary lifted her chin and turned to the dressing room to go change.

William watched her walk away, staring at her back, smiling and shaking his head at her arrogance. 'I'm a little relieved to see you still so full of energy, ' William confessed to himself.

"The actor and actress at the ready. Lights, camera, action!"

Mary was the picture of a typical housewife. She stood in a kitchen wearing an apron, her usually high coiled hair tied only loosely.

William came in, taking off his suit jacket, leaving only his white button-up shirt beneath.

He walked up to Mary slowly and put his arms around her from behind. He buried his head in her shoulder, breathing her in and asked, "Is dinner ready?"

"You'll have to wait a minute," Mary answered stiffly. "Okay," William groaned, still holding her close. He then whispered in her ear, "Mary, push me away if you can." Mary's face darkened and she looked around, clearly upset.

William had not expected her to even move, but to his surprise, she turned all the way around, grabbed a handful of flour off the table and threw it at him.

He retreated back in a hurry but the flour still sprinkled on his face and his clothes were all a mess. He stood dead still for a moment, utterly stunned and disbelieving. "Hahaha..." chuckled Mary giddily. She didn't care whether they were being filmed or not, seeing William embarrassed gave her joy.

"Mary!" William's eyebrows raised as his anger began boiling up as well. He was about to burst and let his rage out on her, when he saw the bright smile beaming on her face. How long had it been since she had smiled so happily?

She was having fun, so William played along, grabbing a handful of flour himself and sprinkling it all over her as well.

"Wait," the propman was about to stop them when Director Cui held him back. "This is a pure, real scene. Keep rolling!"

"Mary," William grinned devilishly, "Do you dare to laugh again?" "Don't push your luck, William!" Mary looked around at the flour spread all over them and the floor between where they stood.

The director just let them keep going until they had had enough.

Mary was a little confused. "Director, did you film that, just then?"

"Yes," Director Cui replied excitedly. "It was exactly what I wanted. Sweet and natural. It was great! Magnificent!"

"Ha ha." The corners of Mary's mouth twitched uncomfortably. "That's good, that's good."

"Thank you, Director," William said dusting the flour off himself with a towel.

"Oh, you're welcome, Mr. Lan," said the director. "It's a pity you two haven't had a child yet. The image of a happy family of three is even more heartwarming!"

Child? Child?!

Mary was looking down at the floor, but the mention of a child reflexively shot her head up like a deer sensing danger. She looked up and caught sight of William's hand that had frozen, holding onto the towel uselessly.

"Director Cui, we're going to change I think," William said with a dismissive smile, "Are we all done?" "All done, all done," the director answered waving his hand. "You two can rest now."

William nodded and took Mary by the hand and led her to the dressing room.

Her fingers were cold and her body trembled.

"Mary, are you okay?" William asked, feigning his own calmness in an attempt to calm Mary.

"Child..." Mary suddenly lifted her head up to William, staring at him vacantly, as if looking straight through him, "Child... Do you think we... Will I get pregnant?"

Her words made no sense but William understood what she meant. After all, he was just as shocked as she was. He had been feeling guilty since that night but had forgotten about the possibility of a child. What should he do if she turned out to be pregnant?

"I don't think so," he replied weakly, as if he had not even convinced himself of the words he spoke. "You..." he continued hesitantly. "Haven't had your menstruation?"

Mary shook her head, "It's not yet that time. Is it... Too late for me to take the medicine now?"

"I... I don't know." William was embarrassed and frowned as there was nothing else he could do; he was just as clueless about this sort of thing. It was just one time. Could she be pregnant? "Let's go to the hospital to have them check," Mary said with her lips quivering.

"Is there a way to check?" she asked with hope sewn into her words. "There are home pregnancy tests we can get and try out now and we'll go to the hospital a few days later," William said, still frowning. "Okay," she said as if at least some speck of relief had entered her being. However, she was sent back into a daze at the thought of what would happen if she were pregnant. "If I am..." "Abort it," William blurted out.

"Okay," Mary nodded in agreement. "It must be aborted."

She let go of William's hand and forced a smile. "I'm going to change out of these clothes."

"Go ahead." William stared at her curiously, wondering if he had just hurt her with what he had said. But he had spoken true; she could not keep the baby.

Mary entered the change room, the door clicking closed behind her.

Her heart ached so much she did not know what to do but cover it with her hand. She knew she could not keep the baby but the reality hurt so bad she felt as though a knife was piercing into her chest. She knew this was how it would have to be but those definitive words that made it real gripped her heart and tore at it.

'Who on earth is the woman who has your heart?' wondered Mary.

The two of them sat in silence in the red Porsche. Perhaps it was fear or William's hurtful words, but Mary's face was now even paler than before.

"It's okay," William finally said awkwardly. He hesitated a long time, wanting to say something but on a second thought, decided against it. "I...

"I know," Mary interrupted. "It's not your fault," she said flatly.

William squeezed the steering wheel tighter when she spoke. Eventually, he said, "Mary, if you aren't pregnant, please don't hate me anymore, okay?"

Mary rarely looked him directly in the eye, but this time she did, her eyes calm as still water. "Okay," she said.

To love or hate someone is easy, but feeling nothing for someone is difficult. 'If I don't hate you anymore, it means I don't love you anymore,' she said to herself, staring at the passing scenery outside the window.

"Here we are," William announced as they pulled up to the pharmacy. "Wait for me," William said, "Let's go together." She followed behind him, nervous. "I want to know the result right away," she said. William nodded in agreement.

Mary took the pregnancy test stick and almost rushed right out of the pharmacy without paying. The shop assistant mistook their hurry for excitement and her smile grew bigger and bigger. Mary rushed into a nearby restroom with the pregnancy test stick in hand.

William waited, leaning against the car door and smoking. He had never imagined that just a few minutes could be so difficult to endure. He had burnt through three cigarettes already and still no Mary. Even if she didn't hate him for it, if she were pregnant, he'd feel guilty for the rest of his life.

When he lifted his head again, he saw Mary walking out of the restroom with an

indescribable expression on her face.

Even his cigarette hand trembled now. Was she actually pregnant?

"What does it say?" William asked through a hoarse voice.

"I'm not pregnant." Mary breathed a sigh of relief.

"Really?" William asked. "Yes."

"Okay..." William exhaled heavily and said, "That's great," through his breath.

"Yes, it is," Mary said, allowing herself a smile as well.

On the way back, William was noticeably more relaxed and Mary's faint smile still lingered.

"William," Mary said all of a sudden, a serious look in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" asked William with raised eyebrows.

"Who on earth is it you're holding in your heart? Why don't you marry her?" Mary had to ask the questions that had been bothering her all this time, she could no longer hold them in.

"Why do you..." William was a little surprised, he had not thought she had seen that in him.

"Yes, I'm a little careless," Mary admitted with a sweet smile. "But I'm not stupid. No matter how well you try to hide it, it still creeps through the cracks."

"So you can tell." William seemed to be sighing. "What sort of person is she?"

"A good woman, but I can't marry her."

"I guess so." Mary then closed her eyes and kept silent the rest of the way.

William squinted and smiled bitterly, staring at the road ahead.