Love Contract novel Chapter 80

Mary's mind went blank. She had said goodbye to Victor reflexively and watched as he turned around and left.

Her hair stood on end as she felt someone's gaze burning holes through the back of her head.

William was standing behind her. There was a tense silence.

Unable to bear it, she quickly faced him. "Boss, I'm sorry I..." she began. He didn't respond, hands still buried in his pockets. Slowly, he retreated back into his office.

"Oh my God, Mary!" Jane's eyes followed the boss as he entered his office. She whispered excitedly, "It was Victor, wasn't it? Why was he holding your bag? Is something going on?" Jane blinked excitedly at her coworker.

"It's nothing," Mary replied. Her head had finally stopped spinning. She smiled at Jane. "I ran into him outside, and we spoke briefly. I must've forgotten my bag, but he was kind enough to bring it in. That's all, really! We should get to work now." Mary hoped that would be enough to satisfy her.

"Oh, I see," Jane smiled. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to hide her disappointment. Curiosity still burning, she reluctantly returned to her seat.

Mary gathered her thoughts. She snuck a look at William in his office. It didn't seem like anything was off.

"Ahem..." William couldn't stop coughing at his desk. He tried not to overthink it, but it seemed like his cold was getting worse.

Leaning back in his chair, he looked at the bulky bag of medicine on the table.

He thought back to what happened earlier. Mary had tried giving it to him in the car, and his response was to angrily send it flying around the vehicle. She then ran out, lips trembling slightly. William had a sinking feeling he had gone too far.

William sighed to himself. He got out of the car and picked up the medicine boxes and bottles that were strewn in the back seat.

When he arrived at the office, Mary was nowhere to be found. He had gone out to look for her but didn't find her. It turned out she was with Victor.

His throat tightened at the thought, and he was met with sharp pain. Additionally, it seemed like he had lost his sense of smell. William groaned and rubbed his temples. He grabbed the bag on the table, tossing it into his drawer with a scowl.

'So what if you bought me medicine?' He clicked his tongue. 'Thoughtless woman!'

"Mary, I'll be leaving now." Her bag perched on her back, Jane waved goodbye to Mary with a smile.

"Okay," Mary nodded.

"I'll be off too, Mary," Kevin said, standing beside Jane.

"You two...leave together?" Mary asked. Her eyes darted between the two of them with a knowing twinkle.

"Well... Yes." Kevin scratched his head bashfully, avoiding eye contact.

"Are you two...?" Mary trailed off and waited for their response.

"Mary," Jane grumbled. "Our... Our relationship isn't steady yet!"

"What? Why do you say that? !" Kevin asked incredulously. "Didn't you agree to be my girlfriend? !"

"You — !" Jane was rapidly turning beet red. "I-I'm not talking to you!"

She huffed, making her way into the elevator.

"Jane! Hey, wait a minute! Jane!" he called. Kevin scrambled after her. "Mary, we'll be leaving now!" he yelled over his shoulder. "Okay! Go and chase her," Mary laughed.

When did those two start going out? She didn't even notice until now!

Mary looked down at her watch. It was time for her to get off work as well.

She peeked at the CEO's office. His light was still on. 'He must be working late again, ' she thought. Mary didn't know how he did it, working with a cold. Not for the first time that day, she wondered if he took his medication.

"Ah, well." Mary sighed and packed her things. As she was about to get up, the light in the boss's office was turned off.

The door clicked open, and out stepped William.

"Bo... boss." She stood up from her desk.

"Well..." William closed the door behind him. "Ahem... We are going back to the family house tonight," he said.

"The family house?" Mary was startled by his request. She asked, "Has Father come back?"

William shook his head. "No, not yet....ahem... We'll be there first."

"Okay," Mary nodded. She followed William downstairs quietly.

"Ahem..." He coughed again. She observed him from the corner of her eye. "Your cold seems to be getting worse," noted Mary. Chewing on the inside of her lip, she asked, "Do you want to see a doctor first?"

His eyes narrowed upon hearing her question. "No," he said coldly.

"Okay." Mary's shoulders sagged. She felt helpless. William hardly cared about his health, and, despite her efforts, it seemed pointless trying to say anything.

He walked next to her, glancing at her now stoic face. When Mary didn't say anything more about his sickness, he felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured on his head.

'Mary...you really... You really have gone too far! Just worry about Victor!'

Climbing into the driver's seat, William felt a wave of drowsiness. 'Do I have a fever?' he wondered, rapidly shaking the thought away. That was highly unlikely. He had always been in good health.

William blinked his sleepiness away and started the car.

The drive lasted nearly two hours. Night had fallen by the time they arrived at the house.

He parked the car, and they both got out.

"Well..." William had taken two steps away from the car when he felt his knees wobble. Vision spinning, he lost his balance and nearly fell to the ground.

Mary was quick to catch him. "William! What's the matter?" Her figure bent under his weight.

"I'm fine..." he croaked. "Ahem...it's nothing."

"Oh, my God!" Mary's one hand gripped his arm while the other flew to his warm forehead. "You have a fever! Let me help you in," she said, ushering him to the house.

William felt light and dizzy. He allowed Mary to support his body's weight. 'It turns out I really do have a fever!' he chided himself.