Chapter 191: Chapter 191- It was worth it
Of course Karl had planned this in advance. He must’ve asked his parents to come here on purpose and then dragged her over under some excuse, just so they could "accidentally" meet. Because he knew—if he had said directly, Come home and meet my parents, she would’ve rejected it without hesitation.
What kind of ridiculous situation was this? Yesterday he visited her parents, and today she was meeting his. In just two days, both sides of the family had been introduced. The speed was insane—even she had to admit she was impressed.
Deep down, she couldn’t help but sigh. His schemes were simply impossible to guard against.
When she suddenly pinched him, Karl yelped, startling Linda who was right beside him. She frowned at her son.
"What’s wrong with you?"
Karl quickly waved his hand.
"Nothing, nothing..."
Linda clicked her tongue.
"Why are you screaming like that? You’re not steady at all. Can’t you endure a little pain?"
Karl: "..."
Honestly, he really wanted to say—Mother dearest, why don’t you try being pinched out of nowhere and see if you can endure it with a straight face?
But Linda ignored him completely. Instead, she turned to Marylin with bright enthusiasm, taking her hand warmly.
"Marylin, come in, come in. Sit down."
With Linda being so enthusiastic, Marylin couldn’t refuse. She followed her into the living room and sat on the sofa.
To be honest, even though Marylin was used to big occasions, she still felt a little nervous in front of Linda. Especially this kind of woman.
After all, in Burg Eltz, Linda was considered somewhat famous. Marylin had always thought of her as the strong, intimidating type—someone not easy to approach. Yet now that they were sitting face-to-face, she realized Linda wasn’t so hard to deal with. In fact, she seemed rather down-to-earth.
After introductions, Karl’s father quietly returned to the kitchen. Linda shooed Karl off to help as well, leaving only Marylin and Linda in the living room. Karl, of course, didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay by Marylin’s side. But Linda gave him a glare.
"What? Do you think I’m going to eat your girlfriend alive?"
Karl cleared his throat.
"Not that... But maybe you don’t need to be that enthusiastic. For example, you can let go of her hand now."
Only then did Linda realize she was still holding onto Marylin’s hand. Embarrassed, she released it at once.
"Sorry about that, Marylin..."
But who could blame her? Her heart had been longing for the day her son finally brought a girl home. Now that it had actually happened, she couldn’t let go—literally. She was terrified the girl would slip away.
"Karl said he went to your place last weekend. What did your parents think of him?" Linda asked curiously once Karl left for the kitchen.
Marylin smiled.
"Karl is excellent. My parents think very highly of him."
Linda’s earlier reactions had been so cute that Marylin’s nervousness quickly melted away.
After all, if Linda had truly been cold and unapproachable, Karl’s personality wouldn’t have turned out this bright and kind. Even his brother Morrison wasn’t bad at heart—Marylin had heard things from Laurent before. Perhaps he only had some... questionable views when it came to relationships.
From the brothers’ temperaments alone, it was clear their parents were gentle, kind, and easy to get along with.
When Linda heard that Marylin’s parents approved of Karl, she visibly relaxed.
"Honestly, when he said he was going to your house, I was so worried."
Marylin blinked. Worried? About what? Her son was clearly outstanding, wasn’t he?
Linda sighed.
"I was afraid your parents would think Karl looks too young, like he wouldn’t know how to take care of someone. He’s been in school for so long that he’s still a bit unpolished in his words and actions. I thought your parents might not be satisfied with that."
Marylin almost laughed out loud. Young-looking? Maybe. But inexperienced? Absolutely not. He was cunning, scheming, and far too good at trapping people—herself included. Even her parents had fallen under his charm.
Linda wasn’t wrong that some parents disliked younger men for their daughters, but what she didn’t realize was that Karl’s warmth and sunny personality could win over anyone.
No elder would dislike someone with a heart like his.
Linda kept talking, half to herself.
"Actually, even though Karl looks young, I think he’s quite good at taking care of people. His personality is mature—"
Linda was clearly trying to paint her son in the best possible light, but honestly—did she even need to? Karl’s actions spoke louder than any motherly bragging ever could.
So Marylin didn’t hold back. She gave Karl a little praise right in front of Linda.
"I think he really knows how to take care of people."
"Really?"
Linda’s face lit up at once. Hearing such words from Marylin herself made her happier than anything else.
For a second, Linda nearly blurted out the ultimate question—When are you two getting married? Fortunately, she still had a sliver of reason left. Before she came, Karl’s father had already warned her not to be too pushy, not to scare the poor girl off. So Linda swallowed it back down, smiling instead.
Dinner was a grand affair. Just yesterday Marylin had eaten with her own parents and Karl. Today, she was dining with his. Two sets of parents, all in the span of forty-eight hours. It felt unreal, like a dream.
But it wasn’t unpleasant at all. Linda and Karl’s father weren’t the least bit arrogant or critical. They didn’t care about her background. Marylin had worried about that before—she wasn’t like Lilian, whose family status matched Morrison’s. Marylin was just the daughter of an ordinary household, everything she had was built with her own two hands. She had thought the Mo family might look down on her.
But instead, Linda had even said that once she and Karl got married, Marylin’s parents could move in with them so she could take better care of them.
That word—marriage—still made Marylin’s heart skip.
Karl’s father coughed twice, shooting Linda a warning glare. Linda immediately realized she’d gone too far, laughed awkwardly, and dropped the topic. She was just too eager for her youngest son to finally settle down.
After dinner, Karl’s parents didn’t stay long. The family driver came to pick them up, and Linda was more than happy to leave, clearly wanting to give the young couple some private time.
The moment the door closed behind them, Marylin was swept into Karl’s arms. His chest was warm and broad, his gaze burning hot enough to melt her.
Her face turned crimson as she pressed a hand against him.
"I... I should head back. You need to rest too. We both have work tomorrow—"
Karl didn’t let her go. Instead, he pulled her closer, his lips brushing her earlobe, his voice a low murmur that sent tingles racing down her spine.
"Tell me... are the buttons on your dress in the front or the back tonight?"
Her body shivered. The teasing words were enough to make her knees weak. By the time his hand slid over her back, she had no strength left to resist.
Soon the clasp was undone, his palm claiming her with an unrestrained hunger. A breathless sound escaped his throat, half sigh, half groan, followed by the play of his fingers—sometimes light, sometimes rough—and then his hot mouth covered hers, stealing her breath as his tongue tangled with hers.
By the time he carried her to the bed, Marylin could only look up at the man pressing her down and slowly close her eyes.
Everything was happening too fast. And yet—it felt natural.
That night, Marylin stayed with Karl.
The beginning was awkward, both of them clumsy, both new. But as time went on, their rhythm found harmony. He was fierce and unyielding, and she could hardly keep up. Exhaustion mixed with an overwhelming joy, until her entire being melted under his strength.
She had become a woman in every sense. And instead of regret or fear, she only felt a quiet happiness—because her first time had been with a man as gentle and caring as Karl.
It was worth it.