Chapter 181: Chapter 181- will you be my girlfriend?
She was genuinely stunned.
She carefully read through the agreement multiple times. It clearly stated that he was transferring his shares in MOS Corp. to her.
Although Marylin wasn’t very familiar with stocks, she understood enough: giving her his shares was essentially giving her his entire fortune. And yet, they barely had any kind of relationship.
Marylin felt like he had lost his mind. Without thinking, she shoved the agreement back into his hands.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
Karl remained calm, almost unnervingly so, as he explained.
"I just wanted to prove my feelings to you," he said, his voice steady. "I truly like you, Marylin. I want to live a life with you, properly, sincerely."
"I want to spend the future with you, to build our life together. If you’re willing, I can marry you right now. Love and marriage—I’ll give them all to you."
His expression was utterly sincere. His dark eyes burned with intensity, and even as Marylin stood there in shock, she couldn’t help but feel touched.
"I know this may seem rushed, even reckless," he continued, "but I don’t want to waste another second when it comes to us. I just want to be with you—fully, completely, right now."
Marylin felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
How much did he have to care to offer her his entire fortune? Keep in mind—they weren’t even a couple before this. They’d only known each other for a short time.
And yet, here he was, loving her with everything he had. It was overwhelming in the most beautiful way.
His wholehearted devotion made it impossible for her to continue refusing him. More than that, it awakened something inside her—a desire to love him in return, to give him all the love she could.
Love, she realized, was mutual. The depth of your love would always be mirrored in theirs.
He stepped closer, wrapping his hands around her waist, his gaze smoldering as he whispered softly,
"Marylin... will you be my girlfriend?"
A flood of emotions surged within her—but none of them screamed "no."
They stared at each other, the words caught somewhere in her throat. Perhaps sensing her hesitation, he acted before she could speak.
With decisive movement, he pulled her into his home, closed the door behind them, and pressed her gently against it. His lips found hers, sealing the question with a kiss.
This time, she didn’t resist. She answered him with her body, letting her heart respond.
Marylin couldn’t believe it—just one evening, and Karl had completely conquered her heart.
Before the night had even begun, she had resisted him. But after the dance, she had given in.
It all happened so quickly, yet it felt entirely natural. There was no discomfort in her heart—only the certainty that this was right, because he had shown her such genuine love and sincerity.
Their bodies pressed together against the door, their lips tangled in a heated, lingering kiss.
By the end, emotions and desire had run too high. Overwhelmed, Marylin finally pulled away, cheeks flushed, and fled back to her own apartment.
Karl didn’t chase her. He lowered his eyes, reached up to remove his tie, and turned toward the bathroom.
Absolutely maddening.
Though her body was still throbbing with the aftershocks of what had just happened, her heart was strangely light. She hadn’t explicitly said yes to being his girlfriend, but by allowing him to kiss her, by not resisting, she had already given him the answer he wanted.
The thought made her lips curl into a small, almost mischievous smile. Now that they were, in all but name, a couple... would he still be afraid he couldn’t have her?
Back in her apartment, Marylin leaned against the door, trying—unsuccessfully—to calm her racing heart. Every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel his desperate, possessive kisses, the way he had wanted to press her completely into himself. For a fleeting moment, she had even thought of surrendering herself to him entirely.
But her reason had ultimately prevailed. And yet, the very fact that such a thought had crossed her mind left her slightly bewildered.
Women were, after all, creatures of emotion—but Marylin was usually the rational type. She had never expected to lose control like this tonight.
She thought about the share transfer agreement. She wouldn’t accept it—not now, not ever. Even if they ended up married one day, she would never want his fortune or possessions. She had no desire to use wealth or power to bind a man to her.
Money and status could never match what she truly craved: a man’s sincere, wholehearted love.
And that, she realized, was exactly why Karl had managed to break through to her heart in such a short time.
Once her emotions had settled, Marylin went to the bathroom to wash away her makeup and freshen up. Then, she grabbed her phone and recounted the evening to Laurent and the others: Karl’s shocking agreement, the appearance of the insufferable ex, and, of course, the passionate kiss she’d shared with Karl.
Vivian was the first to react, eyes wide with excitement:
"If a man were willing to give me everything he owned, I’d say yes without a second thought!"
Her statement was a resounding endorsement of Karl.
Laurent, having experienced Morrison and Lilian’s heartfelt confession earlier, was calmer but still insistent:
"Karl really is a good man. You’re right to consider giving him a chance."
Zoey also voiced her unwavering support:
"If you have a man who loves you like that, you truly have to cherish him."
And so, in the circle of her closest friends, Karl received unanimous approval.
Marylin found herself at a loss for words. At first, she had been bothered by the fact that he was a year younger than her, and had wondered if his appearance might reflect a lack of maturity or steadiness. Yet after spending time with him, she found there was nothing to fault—he was impeccable, even better than she had imagined.
And so, she finally drifted off to sleep, though the night was restless, and she turned from side to side more than once.