Chapter 180: Chapter 180- Who’s your girlfriend?
But when she learned that he had been married all along and had deliberately hidden it while playing with her feelings, Marylin felt nothing but disgust.
In her eyes, he was no longer just someone who had deceived her emotionally—he had become a lowly, contemptible scum.
So she left without a trace of hesitation. Every bit of hurt she felt came from hating herself—hating the fact that she hadn’t seen through him sooner. Fortunately, she hadn’t given him too much, at least not her body.
During their time together, he had made his intentions clear more than once, but she had always refused. She had known, deep down, that he wasn’t worthy of her full trust and devotion. Somehow, she had been destined to preserve her purity from someone like him, and now all that remained in her heart was relief and self-affirmation for protecting herself.
So what if she was in her thirties and still untouched? There was nothing shameful in that. She would give herself entirely only to a man who loved and cherished her, who could promise her a lifetime. Not to some man who merely wanted to toy with her emotions.
After their breakup, she never once looked back at the man who had made her stomach turn. Had it been for another reason, she might have felt some lingering regret—but not this. She simply wanted to stay far, far away.
Some people, though, were impossibly arrogant, convinced of their own importance, thinking that she couldn’t live without them.
After she resolutely broke things off, he continued to pester her for a while. Unable to endure it any longer, Marylin submitted her resignation—leaving behind a job and a life she had built over many years—and decisively returned to Burg Eltz, determined to escape all that disgust.
Yet he still had the audacity to chase after her. Marylin wanted to curse him on the spot. If it weren’t for Karl, she might have kicked off her heels and smashed him in the head. But she had to support Karl, couldn’t just toss him aside to fall flat on the ground, drunk and wobbling.
The man, however, remained oblivious to her contempt.
"Marylin," he said, "I’ve already filed for divorce. The legal process is underway――"
"’Underway’? So it’s not over yet?" Marylin sneered, her words sharp as knives.
"Let’s make a bet," she continued, her tone icy. "I bet that you’ll never actually go through with this divorce. Do you believe me?"
Marylin had long seen through his nature. If he were truly capable of ending that marriage, he would have done so already. He had hidden behind it, staying married while pursuing her. And now he came to tell her he was divorcing, expecting her to act like a gullible fool and play along? Not a chance.
By calling him "unwilling to let go," she had stripped away all his pretense, leaving his face dark with embarrassment. Even Karl couldn’t help but snicker, though he quickly stifled it, reminding himself he was still pretending to be drunk.
Marylin noticed Karl’s little act. Annoyed, she lifted her hand and gave him a sharp pinch on the waist. Karl let out a muffled groan, nearly jumping, but could only endure it silently. After all, he had spent the whole evening pretending to be drunk.
Marylin frowned at the man.
"If you don’t have anything else to say, please leave."
She gently helped Karl turn and start walking, ignoring the man’s voice behind them:
"Marylin, I’m serious! I want to win you back. I will get this divorce, and once it’s done, I’ll marry you immediately!"
Marylin didn’t even know what anger or frustration felt like anymore. Did he actually think she couldn’t live without him? Marry him, a twice-married scumbag, just because he said so? She would rather stay single for the rest of her life than marry someone like him.
But getting mad at someone like this wasn’t worth the trouble. So she turned slightly, smiling sweetly at the man, leaning a little closer to Karl in a display of intimacy:
"I’m afraid I have to apologize... because..."
She pressed a little closer to Karl, letting him feel her warmth, making it clear she belonged to someone else.
"...I already have a boyfriend. This one, right here."
The man’s face instantly drained of color. Karl, however, was internally overjoyed. He didn’t mind at all being used as a shield to fend off the other man—he couldn’t have asked for a better confirmation. Since she had openly declared him as her boyfriend, he intended to cling to that status and never let her take it back.
Marylin’s tactic was perfect. She wanted to make the man finally understand his place and leave her alone for good.
Just as they were about to walk away, she paused for a moment, fixed her gaze on the man, and said in a low, icy voice:
"From now on, don’t ever come looking for me again. Do you understand? You’re utterly disgusting."
Then, without another word, she turned and supported Karl as they left.
Marylin had originally not intended to be so harsh, but some people deserved to see the full force of her disdain. After hurting his ego like that, he was unlikely to ever bother her again.
Once inside the elevator, Marylin pushed Karl slightly aside, letting him stand on his own. She crossed her arms, her expression sharp:
"Alright, quit the act."
Earlier, his little snicker had completely given him away.
Marylin’s thoughts flashed back to the fact that he had fooled her with this fake drunkenness all night. Her blood still boiled.
Karl steadied himself against the elevator wall, leaning lazily as he looked at her and said with a smirk:
"Girlfriend, your performance back there... was absolutely amazing."
Marylin shot him a sharp glare.
"Girlfriend? Who’s your girlfriend?"
Then she added, clearly exasperated:
"You do realize I said that on purpose, right? Just to make that scumbag leave me alone?"
With his intelligence, there was no way he wouldn’t understand exactly what she meant.
But Karl, ever the shameless rogue, shook his head with an innocent look:
"I really don’t get it. I just heard you say I’m your boyfriend, so I took it seriously."
Marylin... speechless.
Playing dumb while fully aware—this was exactly his type.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated. How could he be so shameless? But she couldn’t even be mad at him—after all, she had been the one to declare him her boyfriend in the first place.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile.
"Fine, I’ll explain it to you properly."
"Karl, just now downstairs, I said you were my boyfriend on purpose—to stop that scumbag from bothering me. You mustn’t take it seriously. If I caused you any misunderstanding, I sincerely apologize."
She explained carefully, hoping he’d finally drop the act.
Karl looked hurt, eyes wide with fake indignation:
"But what if I did misunderstand and actually believed you?"
"Marylin, I’ve never been in a relationship before—you can’t just toy with my feelings like this!"
He sounded pitiful, as if he were the innocent victim, and if she didn’t honor her little lie, he’d be heartbreak incarnate.
Marylin’s patience snapped.
"Can you stop it already?!"
Just then, the elevator reached their floor. Marylin stomped her way out in her heels, clearly fuming.
"Karl!"
He came sprinting from behind, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward his apartment.
"I want to show you something!"
Marylin struggled, but his grip was firm. She allowed herself to be led—reluctantly—toward the door across from hers.
Once inside, Karl went straight to the room to fetch something, leaving Marylin lingering at the doorway.
Single man’s apartment—probably best not to wander in, she thought, eyes sharp and cautious. One wrong step and she’d regret it.
Karl returned moments later holding his share transfer agreement. He saw her wary stance and chuckled.
"Still worried I’ll take advantage of you?"
Truthfully... he did want to. But now was not the time.
Marylin snorted coldly.
"How would I know what kind of shameless thing you’ll try next?"
If it had been any day before today, she probably wouldn’t have hesitated to step inside. But after he had kissed her twice, her guard was higher than ever. So she planted herself firmly at the doorway, waiting for him to bring whatever it was he wanted to show her.
Karl smiled as he approached, holding the document out to her.
"Take a look at this."
Marylin frowned slightly but reached out and took it, glancing at him before lowering her eyes to read.
As she focused on the papers, Karl couldn’t take his eyes off her.
She was stunning—whether with light makeup or a more pronounced look, she radiated beauty that was impossible to ignore.
But it wasn’t just her outward appearance; her heart and mind were just as beautiful. Her personality was pure and admirable, the kind he deeply respected and admired.
She was the kind of woman he longed for—both a spiritual and physical partner.
Yes, her figure was incredible too. From any man’s perspective, her curves were enough to make one lose control. And tonight, in a strapless gown, every contour was on display.
Karl had to look away, clearing his throat, trying to stop himself from overreacting—he could almost feel his pulse quicken.
But while he struggled with his racing thoughts, Marylin’s shock came from a completely different source—the document in her hands.