Love Contract

"I think we can sign the agreement after dealing with the company's affairs. We're still in the negotiation stage. I haven't made any official announcements within the company yet," said William. "Alright..." Adam nodded, "Then we'll follow your lead. We can't rush this."

"Okay."

"William, may I ask you a question?" After a short pause, Adam asked, "Why did you sell eighty percent of your company's shares to me?"

That was almost like selling the entire company. Adam felt weird about it.

"Well," said William, and he paused, sticking his hands in his pockets. He answered casually, "Because I'm moving out of the country next year. I don't know if I can work here after I do that."

"Makes sense." Adam nodded to show he understood. He was pretty sure William was hiding something from him, but he didn't press him. "Best of luck in the future, then!"

"Thank you, Mr. Chen." William raised his glass to Adam.

"Cheers!" The two of them raised their glasses leisurely and clinked them together. Then they shared pleasant conversation more appropriate for a festive occasion. That was, until a cry for help shattered the calm.

"Help! Help! Help!"

While everyone was having fun, a woman's cry for help rang out. It sounded like it might have come from the reef, or nearby, at least.

"Oh my God! Someone's drowning!"

"Someone get down here and save her!"

"Help! Help!"

Everyone was panicking, but panic wouldn't help save the victim.

Adam ran down to the shore, and William followed him. As he did that, he looked around and suddenly felt uneasy. 'Where is Mary? Where did she go?'

The sky quickly darkened, and the wind on the sea got stronger and stronger. The waves pummeled the reef one after another. And the din became unbearable, like the roar of the sea god.

"Hurry up! Get in there and save her!" With Adam's shouts ringing in their ears, the bodyguards jumped into the sea one by one.

Clenching his fists, William scanned the crowd, looking for one person in particular. "Mary! Where are you? Mary!"

No one answered.

With a frown, William looked at the figure struggling in the sea and his heart was conflicted.

He saw that she had long hair and wore a red and yellow dress. Mary? She couldn't swim.

Did she fall into the water like last time?

"Damn it!" With a curse, William strode into the water. He would never stand by and watch Mary drown like this. He was waiting for the water to get at least waist level before he started swimming. 'You can't be hurt, Mary!'

"Mr. Lan, what are you doing? Mr. Lan!" Adam waded in after him and tried to hold him back.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to save her!" William shook off Adam's hand, "Mary's in there. Let go of me!"

"Mr. Lan, Mr. Lan..."

William couldn't hear him. All he could see was the figure fighting to stay above the waves. The next instant he jumped into the water and swam there with all his might.

"Is that Mrs. Lan?" The onlookers began to discuss among themselves the victim's identity. "I don't know. I didn't see a thing."

"It's not Mrs. Lan, is it? I wonder."

"That's not Mrs. Lan. It's my friend!" A woman in blue said anxiously, "My friend's out there. She wanted to go swimming, but she ran into trouble!"

"Then Mr. Lan..."

"Mr. Lan, get back here!"

"Mr. Lan, that's not your wife!"

"It's too dangerous! Come back!"

The people on the shore shouted, trying to stop William from drowning, too, but William ignored them. His eyes could only see Mary, out there striving against the sea, and the sound of the waves drowned their cries.

'Mary, you can't be hurt! Damn it! Why did you do something so stupid! Why go in the water if you can't swim?' But the sea provided no answers.

At last, he was making progress. He was getting closer!

With his heart clenched, he swam towards a wave as it was about to break. Then he jumped, dolphin-like, out of the water and grabbed the struggling figure. He started back to shore, carrying the woman with him. The bodyguards around them waded in to help, and several people dragged the unconscious woman back to dry land.

"Mary, can you hear me?" While swimming, William tried to talk to "Mary", "Don't worry! I'll save you!"

The people on the shore stared at the sea intently.

"What's going on?" Victor asked. "What happened?" Seeing the crowd from afar, both Mary and Victor were afraid that something bad might have happened, so they came down to have a look.

"Someone fell in the water!"

"Oh my God! Who did? Please tell me!" Mary exclaimed.

"I don't know."

"Are you Mrs. Lan ?" Someone in the crowd shouted and suddenly all eyes were on her.

"What... What's wrong?" Mary asked. She stepped back, uncertain what was going on.

"Mr. Lan thought you fell into the water and jumped in to save you!"

"What?" That hit Mary like a ton of bricks. Startled, Mary looked out at the roiling sea. She couldn't see anything. "Mrs. Lan, please see if you can spot him. It's too dangerous out there!" "Yeah, I know. Too dangerous..." After a short pause, Mary pushed through the crowd and shouted, "William!! William!"

"Mary!" Victor pulled her back at once.

"Let me go!" Without looking back, Mary broke free of his grip and rushed forward.

Looking at his empty hands, Victor was speechless for a long time.

By the time Mary got there, William and the others had gotten the victim to safety.

William's designer suit had gotten completely soaked, and his face was wet, and his hair dripped all over him, making him look quite disheveled.

"Wi...William..." Mary ran to his side and said his name.

"Mary? Mary!" Seeing her, William was as shocked as he'd ever been. He raised his head, as if he could not believe his eyes. Hadn't he just rescued her?

"Hurry up!" Adam ordered the medical staff, as they grabbed their equipment and tended to the rescued girl.

"Mary!" All of a sudden, William stood up, like an angry beast. His eyes were red, and stung from the water. He shouted at Mary, "So where were you? Why didn't you answer me when I called you? I can't even..."

"I... I'm sorry..." Looking at him, Mary couldn't tell whether she was more frightened or moved.

"Did you know..." William suddenly stepped forward and pulled Mary into his arms. His voice trembled as he said, "I thought, I thought you..."

Mary was stunned by the sudden hug, and her clothes became sodden, too. William still hadn't toweled off.

"I should have let you stay with me, then this never would have..."

"I'm fine." Mary raised her arms and hugged him back. "I'm sorry I got you all worked up like that.

William sighed. When he was about to say something, he felt someone in the crowd staring at him with angry eyes. Who was it? He raised his sharp eyes, scanning the onlookers. It was Victor, glaring at him coldly in the crowd.

He hugged Mary even tighter. He wasn't sure why.

The people in the crowd began to whisper to one another.

"Mr. Lan is such a great husband."

"Yeah, I wish I had a love like that." "Mr. Lan and Mrs. Lan must really love each other."

All of a sudden, Mary realized that everyone was staring at them. "Not here. Let go of me," she reminded him in a quiet voice.

William squinted at Victor with a scornful smile and slowly let go of Mary.

"Oh, Mr. Lan." Adam came over. "Thank you for doing that, but leave it to the professionals, okay? That's why they're here. That was way too dangerous. Fortunately, everyone is fine." "Yes," nodded William. "Sorry to worry you."

"It's okay as long as you're fine." Adam waved his hand and said, "Your clothes are all wet. If you don't mind, you can go to my place to change your clothes. I'm afraid you will get sick. "Okay." William nodded.

Adam immediately waved his hand and summoned two bodyguards. They accompanied William and Mary to the hotel nearby.

"Mary..."

The two of them passed through the crowd and when they passed by Victor, he suddenly spoke.

"Victor, any problems?" Mary looked at him.

"No," he said. "But... I'd get out of those wet clothes. You don't want to catch a cold," said Victor with a smile.

"Okay." Mary nodded.

"Let's go." All of a sudden, William stretched out his hand, held Mary's left hand and guided her forward.

"Let-let me go." Mary struggled as she walked.

"Why? You don't want him to see it?" William frowned.

"It's not that." Lowering her head, Mary suddenly felt powerless. 'Hugging and holding hands, maybe you're doing that for show. How can I forget you like guys?'

"Then where did you go just now?" asked William.

"I didn't go anywhere." Mary replied in a low voice.

"Were you with Victor?"

Mary lowered her head and said nothing.

"So I guessed right." Glaring at her, William continued, "How many times have I told you? Stay away from him. Why won't you listen to me?"

"Why?" Mary looked up. "Why do you want me to stay away from him?" "Mary, you —

"I have my freedom. All I sold you is my marriage," Mary interrupted.

"Well, good for you!" William shook off her hand and snorted, "You finally grew a spine. Congratulations!"

After saying that, he left decisively. Biting her lips, Mary watched him walk off and sighed helplessly.

The two strong bodyguards behind them were at a loss.

"Mary? What's wrong?" It was Victor, coming up behind her.

"Hmm?" Mary turned and looked at Victor who was approaching. "Why are you here?"

"I'm not used to the noise over there." Victor shrugged.

"Why come to a party if you don't like the noise?" With a bitter smile on her face, Mary's eyes were still searching for William.

"If I said it was for you, would you believe me?" Victor said with a smile, "I received the invitation. But I didn't want to come. I heard you would be here, so I came."

"You..."

"I haven't seen you for so long. I miss you." "Victor..." Mary's face turned red like a tomato. Only a playboy like Victor could say those sweet words so smoothly. This was definitely not his first rodeo.

"William left you again?"

"Well..."

"Just spit it out. No fancy words, no weird ways of saying things, okay?" Victor leaned over and flicked Mary's head.

"What are you doing?" Mary angrily shook off his hand and sneezed. "Ah choo!"

"Ha ha," said Victor, hands in his pockets like usual. "I don't want you anywhere near William, but you probably should change into something warmer."

"Madam, this way please." The bodyguard beside them also stepped forward and gestured, indicating she should follow.

"Well, I'm going to change my clothes."

"Okay, go ahead."

Candy GSmgB