Love Beyond the Contract

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom; Lucas was taking a shower. Nancy, wrapped in a blanket, got up from the bed, her cheeks flushed as she recalled the events of the previous night. Although they were already married, she still felt extremely shy after every intimate moment. The sound of water stopped, and Lucas walked out, wrapped in a towel. She handed him his clothes: "Breakfast is ready. I'll wait for you downstairs." "Mm." Downstairs, Nancy carefully took a cake out of the refrigerator and placed it in the center of the dining table. In her hand, she clutched a pregnancy test report, her heart pounding with nervousness. Today was their second wedding anniversary, and she was both anxious and excited to tell him about the pregnancy. Lucas had already changed and came downstairs, dressed in a custom-made black suit that made him look elegant and irresistibly handsome. After breakfast, Nancy tightened her grip on the report, took a deep breath, and nervously said, "Lucas, I have something to tell you." "Actually, I have something to tell you too." "You go first." Lucas stood up, took a document from the drawer, and slowly handed it to Nancy with his long, slender fingers. "This is the divorce agreement. Take your time to look it over." Nancy was caught off guard, struggling to keep herself from collapsing. She inhaled sharply, the air cutting through her like a knife. He said divorce agreement? Her mind went blank. After a while, she finally found her voice and asked in confusion, "You want to divorce me?" "Mm." His voice was soft and almost inaudible. Nancy, clutching the pregnancy test report, wanted to ask if there was no room for reconsideration. What if we have a baby? Would you think twice? The next moment, his voice came again: "Fiona is back. I want to end our marriage early. We originally agreed on three years, but circumstances have changed, so let's end it a year early." "I know it's a bit sudden. This is a draft agreement. Take your time to look it over. If you have any requests, as long as they're not too unreasonable, I'll accommodate them." Nancy responded blankly, "Okay, I'll look at it later." She hid her hands behind her back, the pregnancy test report tightly gripped in her palm, damp with sweat. She knew there was no need to bring it up now. "There's one more thing I need to ask of you," Lucas said. Nancy clenched her hands tightly, forcing herself to look up at him with a smile: "Sure, what is it? As long as I can help." "You should be the one to bring up the divorce with Grandpa. If I do it, he won't agree." "Okay, I understand." She was just an ordinary girl from an ordinary family—a nurse for a mother and a gambler for a father. Such a family could never have matched the Lu family. The only reason they came together was because, years ago, Grandpa Lu and Mr. Lu were involved in a car accident orchestrated by a business rival, which triggered their heart conditions. Her mother happened to pass by and kindly saved the two elderly men. Years later, her mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away, leaving her with a gambling-addicted father. Worried about her, her mother reached out to the Lu family after many years, asking them to take care of her, the orphan. Grandpa Lu took charge and arranged for her to marry Lucas right after she graduated. At that time, Lucas had said, "I can marry you, but my heart belongs to someone else. Our marriage will last for three years, and after that, you will propose the divorce to Grandpa. We'll both move on." She had suppressed her bitterness, hiding all her love. She had replied nonchalantly, "I know. My heart belongs to someone else too. When the time comes, I'll keep my promise and leave." After their marriage, he had fulfilled all the duties of a husband; He loved her, doted on her, and protected her, treating her exceptionally well. All their friends knew that she was Lucas's treasure, his heart. If anyone made her unhappy, they would fall from heaven to hell in an instant. Everyone envied her for marrying such a good man, a good husband. But only Nancy knew that their marriage wasn't based on love; it was just a contract. All the kindness he showed her had nothing to do with love; it was merely fulfilling an obligation. If there was any love at all, it was only for her body, an almost obsessive affection. Originally, they had agreed on three years, but now the woman he had hidden in his heart had returned, and it was time for her to step aside. Nancy bent down and picked up the "Divorce Agreement" from the table. She had lost her appetite and was about to return to her room when Lucas, seemingly troubled, tugged at his tie and called out to her. "When you bring up the divorce, Grandpa will definitely ask for a reason. Didn't you say when we got married that there was someone you had liked for many years? Now that I'm setting you free, you can go find him and pursue your own happiness. With this answer, even if Grandpa doesn't agree, he won't be able to refuse." Nancy nodded: "Yes, I'll tell Grandpa that." After speaking, she was eager to leave. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she might regret it and tell him: "Lucas, I don't want a divorce." Suddenly, Lucas reached out, and Nancy, afraid he would discover what she was holding, quickly stepped back. Lucas grew more concerned and insisted on taking her hand: "Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?" "No," Nancy quickly pulled her hand away. "After two years of marriage, do you think I can't tell when you're lying?" Lucas's gaze was deep. Nancy finally gave in: "It's nothing serious, just my period." "Rest well later." Then, Lucas suddenly noticed her tightly clenched right hand and asked softly, "What are you holding? You're gripping it so tightly." Nancy immediately threw it into the trash like a hot potato, forcing a smile: "It's nothing, just some trash I forgot to throw away." He would never know how much her heart was hurting. It was as if someone had taken an axe and split her heart in two, leaving it bleeding and mangled. Each piece was still dripping with blood, and she cradled that shattered heart, in unbearable pain. "Lucas, Lucas," Nancy murmured in her heart: "How can a good marriage just end like this?" When she married him, she had almost bet everything she had. But now, leaving felt so hasty and desolate. "Nancy, silly girl, you've lost the bet. He doesn't love you, not even a little." Seeing her weak and unsteady, Lucas didn't think twice and scooped her up in his arms. Nancy was startled and quickly said, "Put me down, I can go back myself." "You're this weak, don't push yourself." Lucas's gentle, charming, and seductively deep voice rang in her ear. It was this voice that she had listened to for two years, and it had captivated her for two years. But now, he was suddenly going to leave. Nancy blinked, unable to hold back her tears. Lucas teased her: "You're not a little girl anymore, crying because of your period? Don't cry, I'll call a doctor to check on you later." "I'm not crying," Nancy said stubbornly. He was such a fool, an i***t. He had no idea what she was crying about. "Alright, alright, if you say you're not crying, then you're not," Lucas conceded. "Can you tell me who he is?" Suddenly, he asked out of the blue. Nancy was confused: "Who?" "Didn't you say there was a man you loved for many years? I'm curious, who's the lucky guy you've been thinking about for so long?" Lucas said.