Love Contract novel Chapter 188

Evenings in Z City were chilly. People were unconsciously pulling their clothes around themselves a little tighter. The moon hung in the sky and gently bathed the ground below in soft light.

After dinner, Barry, Mary and the two kids sat happily around the room, exchanging laughs and smiles. Eventually, bedtime rolled around, and the four of them nestled under the covers of the king-sized bed.

The children made themselves comfortable in the middle of the bed. The boy curled up next to Mary, and the girl tucked herself into Barry's embrace.

"Mommy, is this your hometown?" Alick blinked up at Mary. "Why didn't we sleep at your house? Why are we staying at a hotel?"

Mary felt a familiar pang of sadness. She smiled gently at her son and patted his head. "Mommy has no parents now, honey. I’m afraid there isn’t a house we could have stayed at. But this is still my hometown. I grew up here and made lovely memories," Mary said softly.

"Is this your hometown too, Daddy Barry? Did you live here?" Elissa tilted her head towards Barry, curiously. "Yes, it is," Barry said from the other side of the bed. "We'll visit Mommy and Daddy's university tomorrow," he said. A fond smile tugged at his lips.

"Really? Yes, please! That’d be so fun!" Elissa stretched her arms out and squirmed in excitement.

"Mommy, look! The full moon is enormous! It's so beautiful!" Alick’s eyes glittered as he stared in wonder. "It's prettier than the moon in the US.

"Of course, the moon is always the most beautiful in one's hometown!" Mary laughed.

She kissed him on the top of his head and looked out the window. Watching the moonshine, she was struck with a sudden wave of nostalgia. Mary's thoughts wandered back to that night from many years ago.

People and places change, yet the moon remains the same. Back then, she had been with William.

"William, I can give you half of the moon in my hometown! And you won't have to be sad anymore."

"Would you do that?"

"I would do it for you."

Her stomach churned at the unpleasant memory. The glow of the moon had gotten uncomfortably bright. Mary couldn't help but feel like it was a giant eye that was inspecting her closely. She grimaced at the thought, looking away, and tried to clear her mind.

In Kylin International of A City.

William was restless. He lay on his bed and fiddled with his phone.

The sun had long set, and moonlight enveloped his room in a soft white glow. He turned his head towards the source cautiously, as if any sudden movements would chase it away. He hazily wondered if the moon in Z City was as bright as he remembered it to be. Regret settled in his chest as he thought of the woman who had promised to share half of her moon with him, the woman who was no longer by his side.

"Mary!" William shouted, bolting up in bed. He hurriedly unlocked his phone and dialed a number.

"Ring... Ring..."

Lucas had started the day with a long surgery, followed by stacks of paperwork. By the time he got home, he was drained and immediately went to bed. It was midnight when the doctor's phone rang. Its incessant ringing scratched at his ears, waking him up from his needed sleep.

"Ah! Darn it!" Lucas threw the covers off in irritation. He snatched his phone up and checked the caller ID. Answering the call, he yelled, "If you called me for something stupid, I'm going to kill you!" "What's up with you? You don't have to get so mad!" William said rudely. "No, look, I have something important to tell you."

"Fine, what is it then? Ah..." Lucas yawned. He blinked his eyes drearily, waiting for William's news.

"Barry has taken Mary away."

"What? Seriously?" Lucas was wide awake now. "Where did they go? Back to America? How dare Barry lie to me? Shit!" He ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"No, they didn't go back to the US. They went to Z City, Mary's hometown," William said. "Also, Mary could be in danger tonight."

"Danger? What kind of danger?"

"A man and woman staying in a room together, just the two of them. What do you think will happen?"

"Damn it! He wouldn't, would he? Humph!" Lucas straightened his back, trying to figure out a solution. "So, what are we going to do? You called because you have a plan in mind, right?"

"Yes, of course. I'm going to Z City now. Are you coming with me?"

"Yes, I'll go! Of course, I’d go with you," Lucas said seriously. "Barry told me he was going to visit Z University to attend the school’s anniversary. I guess he must've gone with Mary. We need to leave right now!"

"Okay," nodded William. "Let's meet on People's Road."

"Alright, then. I'll be there in half an hour," Lucas said. He was out of bed now, rushing to change out of his sleepwear.

After confirming the meeting place, William ended the call and got ready to leave, grabbing his car keys.

"If a little man appears who laughs, who has golden hair and who refuses to answer questions, you will know who he is."

Mary was calmly reading "The Little Prince" storybook out loud to the children. She was leaning sideways slightly, a tender smile gracing her face. The woman had grown up a lot, being a mother of two. Despite this, she was still as innocent-looking and dainty as she was in university.

Barry gazed at her longingly, entranced by her gentle and unchanging manner.