Chapter 15 Sleeping In The Same Room

Mary ran to the bathroom and locked herself in before bursting into tears.

"Open the door, Mary." William stood outside the door, frowning. He wanted to apologize, but didn't know how to open his mouth and say the words. He had been too reckless just now. She knew nothing and it was unfair of him to behave that way.

Mary held her head in her hands and cried bitterly, ignoring William's shouts.

On the one hand, she tried her best to hide her grief. On the other hand, she remembered that she had been paid for all this. 'You must bear all of this even if you are sad. You accepted his money, Mary.'

"Mary, please come out! Dinner is ready!" William shouted again. .

The door to the bathroom opened a few minutes later.

Mary walked out, a smile on her face, although the corner of her eyes was still red and swollen. "Let's go eat," she said.

William was stunned at her smile, feeling pain clutch at his heart.

Mary passed him, the smile fixed to her lips, and made her way to the table. She left an angry William behind.

Mary continued to smile courteously at the table, Timothy returning a satisfied smile. However, William remained silent, staring at Mary from time to time.

Timothy seemed to have noticed that something was wrong between the two. After dinner, he sent them back to their room early.

They sat awkwardly in William's bedroom, the air seeming to have frozen.

'I must do something. It's probably a good idea to go and watch TV," Mary thought. Thinking thus, she stood up and made to exit the room.

William grabbed her hand and asked, "Where are you going?".

"To watch TV," she said, shaking off his hand. .

"It's late and we have to go to work tomorrow. It would be better to go to bed early," William said, fixing her with a stare. .

"No," Mary said, determined as she took a step forward. . .

A sudden cracking sound was heard when Mary turned around abruptly, tripping over her own feet and falling.

A pause ensued before William burst out laughing. .

Mary's face turned red, embarrassed beyond explanation. She had wanted to look majestic walking out, but hadn't expected to fall.

'Oh my God, this is so embarrassing! I think I'd like it better if I were dead, ' Mary thought, still on the ground. .

The tense atmosphere between them had suddenly dissipated.

"Hello? Mary?" William called, laughing. "I think you need to get up.".

William spoke to her for a long time but she still showed no signs of moving.

Had she fainted?

William stopped laughing, turning Mary over worriedly.

Mary's face was flushed. She was obviously pretending to be unconscious.

Without any hint, William suddenly lifted her up off the ground.

He had begun to play tricks on Mary, something that he was coming to enjoy more and more. She was like a clever little girl who was forced to be an adult.

"Ah!" Mary screamed. Mary hadn't expected William to lift her up. Her eyes flew open as she hurriedly flung her hands around his neck.

William wanted to laugh at her at first, but as he looked into her bright eyes, his smile softened and he blushed.

The atmosphere suddenly became fraught with tension, both unable to look away from the other.

It was the first time they had been so close to each other that they seemed to hear each other's heartbeat.

"Put me down!" Mary said, coming to her senses. . She bit her lip, not daring to look at him again. . "You are so heavy," William teased her faintly. But he soon remembered what had happened. He put Mary down on the bed and quickly changed the topic. "Are you hurt?"

"It doesn't ma

tter. It's just a minor injury," Mary said, trying to ignore the pain in her knees. .

William inspected her knees and found that they had swelled. He then turned around to grab a balm for her.

Mary patted her face into sobriety while he turned around. 'Don't be seduced by his beauty!'

"Apply it," said William, handing Mary a few pieces of wrapped broken ice.

"No, thanks. It's not a big deal," Mary said, waving him away. . .

"Why do you always have to refuse my efforts?" William said, shaking his head.

His words sounded like a sigh. She was surprised at the feeling in them and didn't come back to her senses until she felt a chill on her knees.

William was sitting on the edge of the bed, gently applying the ice to Mary's knees. His eyes were serious as he asked, "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt," Mary said, her expression blank. .

"About before... I was not myself before dinner," William said suddenly. . . "Are you apologizing to me?" Mary said, her eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, if you think so," William said with a shrug. He paused before saying, "I haven't been here in a long time. I forgot all about that photo.". . Mary's words stopped in her throat as she saw William's self-deprecating smile. 'Forget it. I just need to do my job well and leave other people's family affairs to them, ' she thought.

Once the ice compress was done, William fetched the ointment and handed it to Mary. "Apply it to your knees."

Mary had enjoyed William's considerate ice compress service but was now embarrassed. She obediently took the ointment and applied it.

William cut a handsome figure as he walked over to the window, his hands in his pockets.

The sky had darkened and it began to rain. A cold breeze made its way towards them through the window.

"It's raining.". Mary looked up at the wonder in William's voice. .

They listened quietly to the rain, both comfortable with the silence that enveloped the room.

After a long time, Mary leaned against the headboard, feeling sleepier with each passing minute. She vaguely heard the sound of a door opening and her eyes flew open as she sat up.

She looked longing at the soft bed but her attention was now on the door.

William came in a while later, a quilt in his arms. He was surprised to see Mary awake. "Why are you awake?". "I didn't fall asleep," Mary said, shy as she made to get out of bed. .

"What are you doing?" William asked, looking askance at her.

"I will sleep on the ground," she said.

"Sleep on the bed," William said, spreading the quilt determinedly. "Just go to sleep.".

Mary had got some benefits and couldn't say anything else. She secretly was a little pleased.

They turned off the lights and lay down.

"Good night."

"Good night."

The air was fragrant with soil and rain and William's breath. Mary was relaxed in this moment. .

The phone suddenly began to ring, breaking the dark silence.

William reached for the phone and answered it. "Hello," he whispered. "I'm in the family house." He waited for a breath before continuing, "You too. I'll call you tomorrow. Good night!". .

His voice was gentle, piquing Mary's curiosity as to who was on the other end of the phone.

It suddenly felt like this call had really ruined Mary's good mood. She turned over quietly so that her back was now facing William.

After a while, William asked softly, "Are you asleep, Mary?"

Mary's hands gripped at the quilt but she didn't say anything.

William waited for a long time, but when no answer came, he assumed she had fallen asleep and turned and fell asleep as well.