No Renewal My Contract Husband (Nella and Alfred) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Let’s Play a Game

Chapter 8 Let’s Play a Game

Alfred’s entire body was filled with an indescribable irritation.

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These past few days, Nella really had been acting differently. She’d even been talking less.

Could it be… she really was mad at him?

No

way. Nella wasn’t the type to hold grudges like that.

Alfred kept telling himself this. But he couldn’t figure out where this inexplicable panic in his chest was coming from.

Near the end of the evening, someone suddenly had an idea and suggested, “How about we play a game?”

“What kind of game?”

The person who’d suggested it placed their phone on the table.

“Everyone put your phones here. Whoever’s wife calls first to check on them gets to leave first. Anyone whose wife doesn’t call has to stay till the end.”

Someone objected. “No way. My heartless one never cares how late I stay out. She’d probably be thrilled if I drank myself to death out here. I’d definitely lose.”.

“Can we bet on this? Alfred’s obviously going to win. Every time he’s out, his wife is always the first one to call and check on him.”

As they spoke, the person looked at Alfred and waved him over. “Alfred, come on. This is a sure win for you.”

Alfred’s expression remained indifferent. He said “Pointless” out loud but still took out his phone and placed it on the table.

Thinking of something, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved up.

Mason glanced at him, a meaningful smile playing at his lips.

Before long, a phone on the table started ringing.

“There it is, there it is! Alfred, answer it quick!”

Alfred maintained that unshakeable expression. Just as he reached for his phone, he realized

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Chapter 8 Let’s Play a Game

that although it was the same ringtone, it wasn’t his.

Alfred’s movement instantly froze.

The confidence in his eyes

dimmed.

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“Holy crap! It’s my heartless one calling. Oh man, my baby really came through for me today. I actually beat Alfred! Haha, I’m out of here first, guys. See you all later.”

With that, he grabbed his phone, snatched up his coat, answered the call with a goofy, sneaky grin, and walked out of the room.

Everyone looked at Alfred with a hint of awkwardness.

“Well, um … the second call will definitely be Alfred’s. That one with Ryan was just a coincidence. Everyone knows Claire never gives a damn about Ryan. Today was just his lucky day, beating Alfred once. It’s no big deal. Come on, come on, let’s keep waiting.”

Someone tried to smooth things over, and after this explanation, Alfred’s expression finally improved.

Second place was second place. He didn’t really care that much about these things.

Soon, the second phone call rang.

Alfred instinctively reached for it, but just as his hand lifted, he saw that the lit-up phone still

wasn’t his.

Alfred’s expression darkened again.

“It’s me, it’s me…

Hello? Honey … Just finished up. I’m heading out right now.”

Then came the third call, the fourth….

People in the room gradually answered calls from their wives or girlfriends and left.

With each ringing phone and each disappointment, Alfred’s expression grew darker.

Gradually, only Mason-who was in the same boat-Alfred, and a few single women, including Zoey, who hadn’t participated in the game, remained.

Eventually, even those single women left. In the room, only Mason, Alfred, and Zoey

remained.

Mason and his wife were in their divorce cooling-off period, so he hadn’t participated in this

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Chapter 8 Let’s Play a Game

:

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game.

On the table, only Alfred’s phone lay there alone, as if deliberately mocking his abandonment.

Alfred picked up his phone from the table expressionlessly. As if trying to save his dignity, he scoffed and said, “This game is so stupid. Don’t play it again next time.”

Mason looked at him sympathetically but said nothing.

Instead, it was Zoey who spoke to Alfred with a sympathetic tone. “What’s going on with her? Usually she’s the most proactive one. She’d call you before the night even ended. Today everyone left, and she didn’t call even once.”

At this, she glanced at Alfred with a worried expression. “Alfred, is she still mad at you? This is all

my fault. I shouldn’t have asked you to travel with me. I’ve caused problems between you two.”

Mason looked up at her, his tone flat.

“Since you know that, next time don’t do things that cross the line. No matter what, Alfred is a married man. Don’t go to him for everything.”

Mason’s tone wasn’t harsh, but the reproach in it was crystal clear.

Zoey looked at him, her eyes instantly reddening.

She pouted, her face full of grievance. “Mason, do you think I did it on purpose? I really didn’t mean to cause problems between Alfred and his wife. I just… don’t feel secure and depend on Alfred a bit.”

As she spoke, she started sobbing. “I … I’ll try harder to overcome my dependence on Alfred next time and not cause trouble for them as a couple.”

With that, tears fell pitifully down her face as she looked at Mason with red eyes. “Mason, please believe me. I …

Zoey was still trying to defend herself when Mason raised his hand and cut her off.

“It doesn’t matter what I believe. And drop the cutesy act. Call me Mason using a normal tone, like Archie and the others do. I’m not Alfred, and I’m not used to it.”

Zoey hadn’t expected Mason’s words to be so blunt, his harsh tone carrying no hint of concealment.

Like someone whose fake innocent act had been exposed, Zoey’s face instantly flushed bright

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Chapter 8 Let’s Play a Game

red.

:-

Probably from practice, Zoey’s tears came on command. “Mason …”

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Seeing Mason’s brow furrow with distaste, Zoey immediately changed her tone tactfully. “Ma-

son.

“Did Jasmine say something to you about me that gave you

the wrong

idea?

“Jasmine and Nella are good friends. I understand that she’d misunderstand me. But I … ”

“Enough!”

Mason cut off Zoey sharply, his fierce gaze startling her badly.

“Isn’t bad-mouthing Nella enough? Now you’re dragging Jasmine into it too? I’m not Alfred. I don’t fall for your act.”

He stood up from the couch, grabbed his coat, and gave Zoey a cold warning glance.

“Jasmine is a year younger than you. Stop pretending to be close to her.”

Zoey was speechless.

That embarrassment of having her fake innocent tactics exposed came back again.

She looked pleadingly at Alfred, tears hanging in her eyes, threatening to fall but not quite falling.

Alfred hated seeing Zoey look like this most of all. He instinctively spoke up to smooth things over for her. “Come on, Mason. Why make such a big deal about it?”

Mason shrugged nonchalantly, ignoring Alfred’s words, and turned to leave.

When he reached the door, he stopped, as if deliberately adding, “Oh, by the way. Jasmine and Nella were classmates. I heard Nella skipped grades to get there, so she should be several years younger than you. You’re older than both of them. Stop pretending. It’s awkward.”

Zoey thought…

Mason, screw you!

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