Love Contract

Chapter 74 The Uninvited Guest

The guard took her to Adam's place. She then took a shower and changed her clothes.

Throughout the whole process, William kept on a straight face while Mary ignored him. The two of them kept silent, as if they were secretly in battle.

The situation lasted until the two of them returned to the beach party and even after their business trip while they were on the plane.

This was the so-called "cold war" right?

Sitting on the plane, Mary curled her lips. Seeing that William behaved as if it didn't bother him at all, Mary also acted unfazed. She then closed her eyes and took a nap. She didn't know how long this cold war would last.

There was a loud humming sound over the sky of Hainan. As the plane passed through the clouds, it whizzed and roared.

Goodbye, Hainan, goodbye, this beautiful city.

Once she had returned to the company, she felt as if it had been a lifetime.

Mary bought two gifts, one for Jane and the other for Kevin. "Wow, Mary, you are so cool!" Jane was so excited to receive a gift from Mary that she almost couldn't help but kiss her.

"Mary, thank you." Kevin received the gift and expressed his gratitude.

"You're welcome," Mary said with a smile.

"Oh, hey!" Jane said abruptly, "Mary, while you were gone, an old man came here and asked if he could see you. He visited multiple times."

"Did he tell you his name?" Mary frowned.

"Well, I heard from Anne at the reception desk that the man claimed to be your father."

Father? Her father! Mary was stunned, hatred surged in through her heart in an instant. Yes, it was hatred! Did he really have to come and see her?

"Was that man really your dad, Mary?" It seemed that Jane didn't notice Mary's disturbed expression. She continued to mutter, "I don't think so. Otherwise, why couldn't he just call you directly rather than coming to the company...?"

"Jane!" Kevin stood aside and patted Jane reproachfully. He pouted and asked her to look in Mary's direction.

She saw Mary's face turned pale. Mary gulped and said while stuttering, "Did he say anything?"

"Well." Jane scratched her head. "No, he didn't. Mary, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Mary patted her on the shoulder and smiled, "Go ahead and continue your work. I'm fine."

She then turned around and went back to her seat.

Kevin and Jane stood aside, blinking at each other.

"What's wrong with Mary?" Jane asked, "Was that man really her father?"

"I don't know." Kevin shrugged.

All morning, Mary was visibly upset. It was as if she was sitting on pins and needles and wasn't sure what to feel.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Father? What was he doing here? Was he here to apologize or just to show off? Well, that didn't matter now. She would do everything she could so that he would never hurt her mother's feelings again.

"Mary, Mary?"

"What? What's wrong?" Mary quickly raised her head.

"Mary, do you have anything on your mind? You seemed to be spacing out just now. Is everything okay?" Jane asked.

"Well... I'm just too tired." Mary forced a smile and asked, "What's up? Anything happened?"

"Well..." Jane pursed her lips and continued, "The receptionist said that the man who wanted to see you is here again. Mary, would you like to go downstairs and see him?"

'Here we go again. As expected, you won't give up, ' Mary thought.

"I... I'll go downstairs and have a look." Mary got up from her chair.

"Mary." Jane looked at the upset look on her face and asked with concern, "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, it's alright. I can handle myself." She then ran downstairs.

"Where is she going?" As soon as William came out of the bathroom, he saw from the corner of his eye, Mary running to the elevator.

"Someone wants to meet Mary downstairs," Jane replied.

"Who?" William was confused.

"That man said he was the father of Mary."

"Father..." After giving it a quick thought, William remembered Mary's past experience. His eyes grew wide and he rushed to the elevator as well.

Stunned, Jane looked at the two as they chased after the other. "Hmm... Should I follow them?" She tilted her head. "Well... It must be important." She then got up and followed suit.

Mary didn't know what to feel when she arrived at the hall on the first floor. When she saw a glimpse of the man's back in the hall, her heart sunk.

She hadn't seen her father for two years! That was two years!

"Mrs. Lan!" When Anne at the reception desk called her, Mary was brought back to her senses. "Mrs. Lan, this man said..."

"Yes, I can see that, Anne. You can continue on with your work." Mary nodded at her.

"Mary..." As soon as Mary's father, Jay Lu, heard her voice, he hurriedly turned around, as if the feelings he had built-up for so many years were coming back all-at-once.

Mary opened her mouth, but felt that there was something in her throat and no words could escape her mouth.

But she couldn't bring herself to say the word 'father' anyway.

"Mary? How have you been these past few years?" He took a few steps forward.

"It's been alright." Mary said, "Why did you come here to see me?"

"Well..." Jay Lu looked around and said, "I think this isn't the right place to talk. What do you say?"

"I think it's convenient." Mary's face turned cold. She knew that the tone in his voice meant bad news.

"Mary..." Jay Lu walked forward and said, "I'm so proud of you. You have grown up and even become the wife of a CEO... Indeed, as your father, I'm so proud of you!"

"We haven't seen each other for two years. Don't you think I'm a complete stranger to you?" Mary sneered.

"You are my daughter and I watched you grow up to be the woman you are now. How could I be a stranger to you?"

"All right." Mary sighed, "If there's nothing else, I need to head back. It's work time."

"No, no, wait." Jay Lu grabbed Mary's arm. His immediate reaction and loud voice attracted the attention of passers-by in the hall.

"Let me go." Mary frowned and scolded him in a low voice.

"Mary!"

All of a sudden, William showed up from behind them. On reflex, Mary turned around and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Oh, is he your husband?" Before William could say anything, Jay Lu rushed over to him. "He looks so excellent... Mary, you are so lucky."

Hearing that, William walked over. He felt a bit uncomfortable with such a scene of "meeting his wife's father". He didn't know what to say to the old man in front of him, so he turned his head to Mary. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

"Nothing." Mary looked down. She was flustered.

The people coming in and out of the hall were curious to see the CEO and his wife together there. Some of them stopped walking and huddled to whisper together.

"This is..." Although he knew who the man was, he still asked politely.

"I don't know him. Let's go back." Mary was about to drag William towards the elevator.

"You don't know me? Mary!" Jay Lu suddenly raised his voice. "I'm your father, Mary. How could you say something like that? Mary, answer me!"

"Oh my God! He is the father of Mrs. Lan!" "Yeah, why does he look so shabby?"

"Who knows!"

"It's the affairs of a rich family and it's none of our business!"

The chattering around them grew louder and louder. Mary's face turned grim. She shouted, "Father? Who is my father? My father died two years ago!"

"Mary!" Jay Lu frowned and was furious. "What are you talking about? Do you look down on me as your father after you became the wife of the CEO? Mary! When did you start acting like this? Answer me!"

"Ha ha." Mary jeered at him. "Who left first? Who abandoned his wife and daughter? Left them to fend for themselves? Tell me! And now, you show up and start acting like my father again?"

"No matter what I do, I'll always be your father!" Jay Lu turned aggressive. "Now that you're rich, you don't care about me anymore? You have to take care of me. Pay me alimony, or I'll stay here forever!"

"So... You came here to ask me for money." Mary's heart was as cold as ice. "Then you came in vain. I have no money."

"No money? You liar!" Jay Lu was raging with anger. He clenched his fists and shouted, "How could you, the wife of the CEO, have no money?"

"The money is his. He earned it himself. It's none of my business. I have no right to take his money!" Mary's fury burst in an instant. She was unaware that she raised her voice.

Standing aside, William didn't say anything and watched on. He had already quietly raised his hand and called the security guards to ask the onlookers in the hall to leave.

"If you don't give me the money, I will sue you! We will go to the court!" Jay Lu claimed.

"The twenty-first term of the marriage law stipulated that children have the obligation to support their parents. When a child does not fulfill his or her alimony obligation, parents who are incompetent or have difficulty in living have the right to ask their children to pay alimony," said Mary. The corners of her mouth formed a bitter grin. "You're going to use this law to get money out of me, right?"

"Mary, you..."

"This rule clearly states that a child should fulfill his or her duty to support his or her parents." Mary paused. "However, it also states that there are two conditions when parents should require their children to pay for alimony. One is old and weak, unable to work, and the other is living in difficulty. Parents who don't meet one of the two requirements have no right to ask their children to pay alimony."

"I'm your father... How can you threaten me with the legal documents? Threatening your own father!"

"You used that against me first. You said you were going to sue me, remember?" All of a sudden, Mary felt powerless.

Before all this, she had a glimmer of hope. She thought that her father came to see her because he missed her. She thought that he wanted to see her mother because he felt guilty. But the truth was, all he wanted was money! Reality is cruel!

"Mary, let's... Let's talk about it inside." William looked around and saw the crowd gathering again.

"No." Mary waved her hand dismissively. "Let him go. I have nothing else to say to him. If you want to sue me, then do it."

She then turned around and walked back.

"Mary! Mary Lu!" Jay Lu shouted to her as she turned her back, "I know you don't care about me. But what about your brother? Don't you have a heart! He's only one year old. He's diagnosed with leukemia. Please save him! Please..."

Boom!

Mary's eyes widened as she let out a small laugh. Brother? When did she have a brother? What was he talking about!

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