Love Contract novel Chapter 33

"Bella Su, this marriage is merely a perfunctory decision based on my parents' wishes. There is another girl that I love and if you were a smart woman, you would accept my proposition. You will be my nominal wife and once I succeed and achieve my goals, I will let you go back," stated Jimmy Duan callously.

"Since I married you, how can I go back?" Sitting elegantly in a wicker chair as if it was the most comfortable piece of furniture in the room, Bella inquired, although she looked a little

disappointed.

"Don't worry. I will make all the arrangements and make sure that you are well taken care of." Jimmy frowned in disgust. He always found old-fashioned women to be quite troublesome, he liked his women independent and self-reliant. "Rest assured I will find a good husband for you once we are done."

"General, if what you are saying is true then, I, Bella, would like to thank you," Bella said indifferently.

"Humph!" Jimmy snorted arrogantly and walked out of the yard, his coat tails flapping in the wind.

Bella looked at the lotus bag that she had embroidered. It had a pair of mandarin ducks playing in water, symbolizing a couple in love. Now it was no longer useful so she took out her scissors and tore it into tiny little pieces.

"OK, Cut!" The director ordered, "Let's wrap up this scene."

"Yes, everyone did a wonderful job!"

"Great work, everyone!"

There was a round of applause as the crew and acting team were all excited to finish and go for food.

Mary gave a small self-deprecating smile and contemplated, 'Bella's situation may be acting, but it really reminds me so much of my own situation'.

"Mary Lu!"

All of a sudden, someone shouted her name while approaching from behind. Mary turned around and saw that it was Victor rushing towards her, although it seemed he hadn't had time to change his clothes.

"Ah, why is the general here?" Mary blinked and teased.

"I traveled through time, ha ha. What do you think? I look good in this suit, don't I?" asked Victor with a smile.

"Yes you do. I must say that you look very handsome." Mary nodded in agreement. "I'm just not used to seeing you act as Jimmy Duan."

"Why do you find my acting strange?"

"He is supposed to be a faithful general while we both know that you are the total opposite. You are a playboy with a lot of scandals to your name," said Mary.

"Well, I behave like that because I haven't met someone I like yet," said Victor with a smile, staring at Mary. His eyes rested on her as if she was a hot platter of chicken ready to be devoured.

Mary was a little distracted by his gaze, but she suddenly heard someone calling Victor and asking him to go over there.

"Victor, we are ready, come and change your clothes. Haven't you had enough of wearing those filming clothes?"

"You better go and remove your makeup and change your clothes," said Mary. "It's also time for me to get off work, I am exhausted," Mary continued exhausted.

"Don't leave right now, I want to invite you to join me for dinner."

"No, thank you. Today is tricky for me." Mary shook her head vehemently.

"I insist," said Victor with a smile as he jogged away towards the changing rooms. "Don't go." Mary looked at Victor's receding back and sighed. She had no option but to wait for him since she didn't want to create a scene.

Meanwhile in William's apartment, Lucas gingerly put down his bag and looked around the house. "Where does Mary, your wife live? Why isn't she here? I haven't seen her since I came in.

Doesn't she live here with you?" William poured a glass of water for him and then explained, "I bought her a suite in the center of the city."

"You are such a cunning fox!" Lucas jumped from his seat while curling his lips as if he knew a secret. "I'm tired, I need to sleep off the jet lag. Call me later so that we can go for a drink," said Lucas.

"Just go ahead."

As soon as Lucas walked into the guest room he instantly fell asleep.

"Ring! Ring!"

William took out his phone. "Where are you?" It was a message from Frank.

William didn't have time to fiddle with buttons on his phone so he decided to call him directly.

"Hello? William."

"Yes, what do you need? I am at home right now. I have just arrived from the airport." "Were you picking up someone?"

"Yes, Lucas was scheduled to return today."

"He came back? Why is he back? Did something happen?"

"Not really, I asked him to come because I want him to do me a favor." Taking another sip of his water, William said, "I want him to check on Mary's mother."

"You invited a famous cancer expert... You seem to care about Mary."

"It wasn't anything extraordinary, don't put too much thought and significance into it."

"How can I?" Frank replied cheekily. He had a wide smile plastered on his face on the other end of the line. "I was just saying it casually. William, have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet, but I will be going for a drink with Lucas later in the evening." After a pause, William asked, "Would you like to join us?"

"Is that okay with everyone?"

"Why not?" With a smile on his face, William said, "Let's meet at the Love Bar, at eight o'clock. You know how to get there, right?"

"Okay, see you in the evening."

After hanging up the phone, William thought about Mary again for no reason. He felt as if she was a permanent fixture in his mind.

He hadn't seen her for the last few days. He wondered if she would be working at the convenience store tonight. If he went there, would he meet her?

Meanwhile in a restaurant near the shooting site, Mary and Victor were waiting for their food.

"I often come to this restaurant. It's not big and doesn't look elegant or fancy, but the dishes they make are always delicious," said Victor.

"Well, it's a very small and exquisite place with a warm ambience." Mary nodded and looked around. The place was packed with all the actors and actresses from the movie set.

"Seems like it's our dish coming!" The proprietress came all the way with their dish in her hands. "Your pickled fish is here, I hope you enjoy the meal."

"Thank you." "It smells really nice," Mary said, while sniffing the delicious aroma.

"Alright, let's dig in, I am famished." Victor handed her the chopsticks and took a pair for himself.

The dishes kept coming in one after the other. Mary was so engrossed in eating her meal, which she was basically absorbing like a vacuum cleaner due to immense hunger, and didn't notice the smile on Victor's face when he occasionally stopped eating to watch her. "Mary." Victor finally couldn't help himself and said, "I have really enjoyed watching you eat. Your appetite is contagious and makes me feel hungry too."

"Hmm, what are you talking about?" Mary looked up from the bowl filled with vegetables like a mountain and asked, "What do you mean?"