Love and Lust in Contract Marriage

Chapter 10

That night, Kate couldn't sleep.

No. Not because of his father's request that kept him awake, but it was Liam's words that caused his eyes to refuse to close after midnight.

"Then marry me forever, Kathleen Jean Whitelaw."

Yes, one short sentence that has consumed all the focus of his mind.

Kate changed her sleeping position from lying on her back to her right side. He slipped one hand under the pillow. For the umpteenth time, he tried to close his eyes and hoped that sleep would soon hit him. However, nothing. His eyes opened again. Again, Liam rules his brain.

He exhaled, a little irritated why the man did not want to get out of his mind. But, is it true that Liam is the burden on his mind right now? Or was it the fear that gave birth to that uncomfortable feeling? Who knows.

Kate stretched her body again. Her hazel eyes occasionally flickered to the ceiling. Confusion radiated from there, faintly visible in the darkness of his bedroom. What should she do?

He decided to wake up from his fruitless sleep attempts. Kate had given up. His body was tired from lying too long without results. Now, he had got out of bed and started walking towards the balcony of his room.

A chill hit his skin as soon as Kate opened the glass door that separated the inside and outside of her room. The night air in late spring, although not as cold as in previous months, but still able to make the hair on the back of his neck prickle. Despite this, he still went ahead.

Kate's legs swung toward the balcony railing of her room, then sat herself there. He tilted his head upwards for wide access to the darkness of the night. Tonight, the sky looks bright with gray clouds hanging there, as well as small stars that keep twinkling. And don't forget the moon, which only appears in a half circle, but always manages to steal the spotlight amidst the dark night sky.

Black.

He's always loved that color. According to him, black is the most perfect color because it can overshadow other colors easily. And Kate wants to be just that. He wants to rule and dominate others, especially those who deserve to be humiliated. Oh, don't think he's arrogant and haughty too, although maybe, in fact he is.

His life experience taught him many things. Yes, yes. He was indeed born into a rich family which probably made him have these traits. However, it was precisely his family status that required him to maintain that behavior. Being weak is an unforgivable loophole. Many people wait for their weaknesses and then take advantage of them for personal gain without the slightest empathy. Cruel, isn't it?

After a long moment of gazing at the night sky, Kate shifted her gaze downwards. Instantly, his backyard became a scene that entered his senses of vision. The atmosphere there was dim because the available lights were not designed to illuminate the entire large yard. What for? Night is indeed a dark time to come. Just let the area radiate its darkness.

Then, his eyes moved to a small building that was in a shady corner there. It was his favorite place from then until now. It was there that he often used his leisure time, or just sat and contemplated, and often brought piles of work with him.

The building is similar to a gazebo, but wider, it is indeed designed as a place for families to relax. Several large sofas were intentionally placed there to support this goal, as well as a large table complete with chairs right in the middle of the room which could be a dining area or something else.

Kate gave a small smile remembering how much time she had spent in the building. In the past, he used to use the large sofa there as his bed when it was nap time. Then, his mother or father would come to cover him, or even move him into the room. Yes, that place is filled with happy memories with his father and mother.

Ah, he missed his mother so much. Is his mother happy there?

Kate took a deep breath. His sentimental side was really taking over his mind tonight. Starting from Liam and his words that caused him to have trouble sleeping, to the memories of his past that filled his mind. He was sure sleepiness would be increasingly difficult to appear.

A deep sigh escaped Kate's lips. Presumably, he needed to untangle what was blocking his mind. Starting with Liam. Yes, Liam. That man was the start of his sleep problems. So, if she wants to be calm, then she has to solve whatever is interfering with the performance of her brain and related to that man.

Kate rushed to grab her cell phone which she had put on her… briefly. Where are you? He was a little confused because the flat rectangular object was not where it should be, namely in on the nightstand near his bed. Then, he rummaged through the contents of his bed. And finally, he found it. Hidden under his pillowcase. So he wondered. How did the phone get there?

Kate's fingers swiftly scrolled across her black smartphone screen. Of course, to find Liam's contact number. And after finding it, without thinking he pressed the call button to make a telephone connection with the owner of the number.

The phone rang and he waited impatiently. But, until the ringing of the call ended, there was no answer from Liam. Where is that man?

Kate tried again. And luckily, this time Liam brought it up.

“Liam!” he cried in the first second their call was connected.

silence. There was no reply from Liam, but Kate could clearly hear the other person's breathing on the other end.

"God, Kate!" Liam shouted back. "You startled me," he protested angrily. Of course. Who wouldn't be annoyed to get a call after midnight—early morning—and get the shock effect of Kate's very unfriendly greeting?

"I'd like to ask." Without further ado, Kate states her goal of contacting Liam.

"About?"

"What you said last night."

Silence returned. Only for a moment because then Liam asks “What say?”

"Before you left, you had time to say something to me," Kate replied, still giving Liam another code. But at this rate, how could Liam immediately get the point?

"I do not understand. Tell me straight, Kate. Which saying?” True, isn't it, Liam doesn't know what Kate means? Indeed, being honest is better than conveying indirect codes.

Kate bit her lower lip lightly. He seemed to hesitate between satisfying his curiosity or repeating Liam's words, in fact he himself wasn't sure if his hearing senses caught it correctly. “Forget it,” he said, finally choosing to bury the matter. Let's just say he heard wrong.

"You mean, about the invitation to marry me forever?" Now, he understood the gist of Kate's convoluted sentence.

"You remember it!" Kate's response was swift. Apparently, his ears were not mistaken. The man actually said it. Liam asked her to marry him forever. And if it wasn't for the incoming call on her cell-work business, she would have already cursed the man before Liam ran away from her and went home without saying goodbye. How impolite!

“I do. And you called me last night just to ask about that?" Liam asks, half in disbelief. Oh, remind them of the late hour past one in the morning. Kate has been amazing at finding time to argue with him.

"So what do you mean by saying?" Kate heeds Liam's question and protests and asks another question instead.

Silence for a few seconds.

"Tomorrow we will have lunch together."

Kate's forehead creased. Liam's words didn't answer his question at all. "You have not answered my question!"

"Tomorrow I will answer. At lunch together." Liam added his explanation which still didn't answer Kate's curiosity. “And, please, Kate. Don't call me at this hour. I need to sleep," he complained before the call was ended unilaterally by Liam.