Ryan Morgan: Love Contract - Chapter 58 MISS ELIZABETH'S PAST

‘”Okay

there is no way they know how to cook

right?”‘

‘Ryan observed the scene from the side and just couldn’t believe it. A pair of grown women were taking advice on cooking from two cats who stood on the counter

overseeing the whole process.’

‘”Do you think we need more salt?” Ryan’s mom asked as she hovered the spoon in front of Isabella

blowing on it to cool down the liquid.’

‘Isabella sat elegantly and sniffed the soup only to give it a lick

tasting it.’

‘Meow~’

‘She shook her head and poked at the bag of ground red chilies.’

‘”Oh

you want it spicier? Sure

let me add some more

.”‘

‘As they didn’t buy any cat food

they decided to make a fish broth so the cats can eat the meal with them. Rose was naturally involved in the cooking

cutting vegetables while he was kicked from the kitchen

forced to stay to the side.’

‘In just a few hours the two cats had more privileges than him.’

‘Knowing he couldn’t help them anyway

he decided to busy himself with the investigation.’

‘He wanted to discover more about his grandma

Elizabeth Morgan.’

‘”Mom

grandma used to live with us

right? Which room was hers? Did she leave any of her stuff behind?” Ryan questioned.’

‘”Why do you ask?” His mom got immediately confused but she pointed upstairs anyway. “She used to live in the room next to yours. She left many books behind so we turned it into a library. I’m sure there are some albums laying around.”‘

‘”I was just curious. If I’m going to meet her

I wanted to know more about her

” Ryan replied casually and walked towards the stairs. “I will go check it out. Call me when the food is done.”‘

‘As he walked away

his gaze connected with Rose’s. She seemed apologetic but she didn’t follow him

preferring to socialize with his mom instead. He gave her an assuring smile so she wouldn’t worry about it and left.’

‘Squeak

squeak.’

‘The stairs let out a familiar noise with each step. Even though their house went through a full renovation

becoming more modern and friendly

there were still some old elements that remained.’

‘One of them were the squeaky stairs but he didn’t mind them— he actually loved it. When he was younger

they were his best helpers

always warning him whenever his parents went up the stairs

giving him time to stop playing and return to studying.’

‘It was a normal modern house

nothing extravagant

nothing luxurious

and that’s what he loved about it. There were no few extra bathrooms for each room

everything was more united. He could imagine the headache of cleaning the whole house if their own was as big as Rose’s villa.’

‘He skipped his old room and went straight to the library. He rarely spent time there so he wasn’t really familiar with it.’

‘As he opened the door

the first thing that caught his eyes was a glass coffee table in the middle of the room with a few armchairs around it

surrounded by hundreds of books. Ryan didn’t expect that every wall would be hidden by a bookcase.’

‘”It definitely changed since the last time I have been here…” Ryan muttered as he walked towards the bookcase titled ‘Albums.”

‘There would be a lot of searching if he wanted to find anything but he had time.’

‘”Let’s see…”‘

‘He picked one album after another

skimming through all the pictures but almost none of them had a picture of his grandma. Most of them had his own pictures from his childhood.’

‘Huh…’

‘He finally spotted something different. An old album titled

‘For My Sunshine.”

‘”Bingo!”‘

‘Right as he opened it

he saw a special note written by his grandfather.’

”Happy Birthday Elizabeth.’

‘I made a collage of our pictures from all the years we spent together. Hope you enjoy it. When you are reading this

I will be gone already. Thank you for making me the happiest man on Earth for as long as it lasted. My days will end soon but your beauty will remain eternal. I don’t want you to see me in such a state. I’m sorry.’

‘You choosing me from the crowd

creating a family with me… I couldn’t ask for more. Even if our future was already laid out from the beginning

I’m glad it all happened. I know you don’t celebrate birthdays but please accept this gift from me.’

‘One last thing. Give Arthur a chance. He is a good guy.’

‘Goodbye Love.”

‘”So Grandpa knew…” Ryan muttered

not knowing how he should feel.’

‘His family always wondered what happened with his grandpa who disappeared out of nowhere. He was gone much earlier than his grandma so Ryan didn’t even remember him.’

‘Ryan could probably guess the reason why after knowing most of the facts. His grandma didn’t age

being always in her thirties but he was. He loved her so much that once he reached a certain age

being an old man

he didn’t think he deserved her.’

‘How much did his grandpa love her to make such a decision? He couldn’t imagine.’

‘”But why didn’t we know of it when this album was sitting here the whole time?”‘

‘Even his parents didn’t remember anything. Could it be that his grandma hypnotized them to forget?’

‘There were many questions he wanted to ask. Especially the one about the last part of the note.’

‘”Who is Arthur?”‘

‘Just as he asked

he heard the squeaking of the stairs and saw Rose searching for him

showing up at the door. Two cats followed after her as if they were two bodyguards protecting her.’

‘”What are you looking at?” she asked curiously

looking around the library with shiny eyes. “Whoa… So many books.”‘

‘It wasn’t a secret that she liked reading books

recalling her room was filled with books.’

‘”I was looking at the gift my grandpa gave to my grandma. Its an album with their pictures but I am still yet to go through them

” Ryan explained

showing the album in his hands. “Do you want to look at it together?”‘

‘”Sure!”‘

‘Ryan couldn’t give up on such a perfect opportunity so he sat down on the armchair and patted his thighs with a playful smile.’

‘”Tsk…” Rose snickered but still gave in to his demands.’

‘He quickly wrapped his arm around her waist

letting her lay on his body. “Comfortable?”‘

‘”Mhmm

” Rose nodded while rubbing their cheeks together and pointed at the album. “Show me the pictures. I’m curious how Miss Elizabeth looked in the past.”‘

‘”No hurry

read the note first.” Ryan calmed her down

showing the first page to her only for his eyes to widen in surprise at her next words.’

‘”What note?”‘

‘”You can’t see it? The letter from my grandpa?” Ryan asked confused only to feel her shake her head innocently.’

‘”All I see is a blank page

” Rose replied. “Is there really something on it? Why can’t I see?”‘

‘”Maybe it was hidden by my grandma?”‘

‘Ryan couldn’t find a different reason

figuring the note quite exposed his grandma.’

‘”Maybe only we can see it? Our eyes are more sensitive…” Ryan informed in a whisper

trying not to expose his new race. “Let me read it for you then.”‘

‘Rose found the whole note really sweet until the last part when her expression changed

pulling away while looking at him in surprise.’

‘”What? You know who that Arthur is?”‘

‘”Possibly… My grandpa’s name is Arthur too

” Rose said. “Do you think they know each other?”‘

‘”Wouldn’t that explain everything?”‘

‘If Rose’s grandpa was a Pure Vampire too

it would explain why his grandma was so interested in Rose. Not only did she have a Vampire Gene but she was also a granddaughter of her friend. Based on the note

his grandpa even wanted them to be together.’

‘”Wait…” Rose seemed to realize something. “What if all the love letters that grandpa left behind were for Miss Elizabeth? But then why would he say so many times that he hates her? Whenever I mentioned her on the phone

he would scold me and propose another marriage. I would then cancel the call immediately and forget about him for the next year.”‘

‘”Something must have happened between the two of them. We can only speculate at this point

” Ryan pointed out and pulled her back into his arms

reminding her

“Don’t mention the marriages anymore. You are mine now.”‘

‘The album fell on her lap as he grasped onto her face instead

tilting it for a punishment kiss.’

‘Mhmm!’

‘She exclaimed internally but her lips were sealed tightly.’

‘Meow~’

‘Isabella reminded them of their existence

making Rose pull away ever so slightly

pleading

“Cats are watching…”‘

‘”Let them watch…”‘

‘Ryan didn’t plan on stopping just cause of the two cats but Rose had a different opinion.’

‘Bang.’

‘He got hit in the head with the album

forcing him to let go.’

‘”Behave or you won’t get food

” Rose blackmailed at first but then changed her mind

whispering

“We can continue after dinner in your room where no one will disturb us…”‘

‘She always knew how to convince him.’

‘Not waiting for his answer

she opened the album and began to casually look through it.’

‘All photos consisted of his grandma and grandpa together. Some were just her

smiling at the camera. On one she collected flowers

on the other she was eating an ice-cream

her nose dirtied with it.’

‘”They look so happy together

” Rose commented

leaning on him with a smile.’

‘It was overall a wholesome gift but then

they figured out the pattern. They could see the progression in the photos. They were arranged from the oldest to the newest and clearly

something didn’t add up.’

‘At first

the two were young but half-way through

they could see the signs of aging coming from his grandpa while his grandma stayed the same

always beautiful and fair.’

‘The reached the point where the pictures looked wrong

a man with white hair holding hands with a young gal. Anyone in modern society would definitely judge them. Despite all that

his grandma never stopped smiling

looking like it didn’t bother her.’

‘”You know…” Rose suddenly muttered. “I think I would do the same in his place… Even if you still loved me

I would feel bad.”‘

‘”Don’t worry. That won’t happen to us

” Ryan assured. “I already promised I will forever stay by your side.”‘

‘”Mhmm

I don’t think I want to grow old…”‘

‘Ryan left a peck on her hair. “I won’t let that happen.”‘

‘They continued to view the pictures until they reached the last picture

stopping on it.’

‘It showed three people hugging each other’s arms with his grandma staying between the two men.’

‘”You were right… They knew each other. The man on the right is Arthur

my grandpa.”‘