Chapter 182: Chapter 182- only you
The next morning, Marylin was jolted awake by the insistent ringing of the doorbell. Groaning with a headache, she opened the door—only to be swept up into someone’s arms and kissed passionately.
Flustered, she pushed him away and glared,
"Wh-what are you doing?"
He grinned, holding her close,
"Exercising my rights as your boyfriend."
Marylin froze, speechless. She pushed past him and headed for the bathroom to freshen up. He followed, asking casually,
"Are you busy tonight?"
Shaking her head, she replied,
"No... why?"
Her schedule wasn’t officially underway yet, so she had the entire day free.
Hearing her answer, he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his voice warm and inviting,
"Then come home with me for dinner tonight."
Marylin, still rinsing her mouth after a sip of water, suddenly spat it out in shock, staring at him through the bathroom mirror with wide eyes,
"Dinner... at your place?"
Had he lost his mind? They’d only just made things official last night, and now he was already bringing her home to meet his parents? Didn’t he think this was moving a little too fast?
Karl held her close, nodding seriously.
"Yes. Dinner at my place. You’ll meet my parents, my brother... everyone."
To Karl, there was nothing unusual about it. He liked her. He wanted to marry her. Introducing her to his family as soon as possible was only natural—he didn’t care about timing or conventions.
Marylin’s first instinct was resistance.
"Don’t you think... this is moving too fast?"
They’d only just made their relationship official. Was the next step a rush to the wedding?
In Marylin’s mind, marriage was something to consider only after truly knowing each other—not this sudden, overwhelming pace that left her dizzy. Last night, she had barely agreed to date him, and now... he wanted to jump straight into family introductions.
Karl gently turned her to face him, his dark, beautiful eyes fixed on her with intensity.
"I don’t think it’s too fast. Honestly... I wish it could be even faster."
Marylin was taken aback, her voice firm as she replied,
"Agreeing to date you is one thing... marriage is another."
She spoke with clarity and calm,
"Marriage is a lifelong commitment. You need to slow down, think carefully."
Flash marriages were something she could never accept—they were born of impulse.
Karl’s eyes briefly flickered with disappointment, but he didn’t push. His voice softened,
"To me, dating and marriage are one and the same. Once I love someone, it’s for life... and that someone is only you."
Marylin, confronted with his unwavering gaze and heartfelt words, finally looked away, lowering her head to brush her teeth and finish washing up.
In that moment, she realized how timid she was in love—so much less brave than he was.
Regarding the wedding date, Lilian had ultimately given in to Morrison’s persistent coaxing, combined with a fair bit of pressure, and chose a date two months from then.
Yet, just a month later, she found herself having to go with Morrison to register their marriage... because she was pregnant.
For nearly a whole week after discovering it, Lilian refused to see Morrison. Her modeling career was just taking off; she had no intention of having a child so soon. She had planned to work hard for a few more years, gain more recognition, and then, once she had established her name, consider having a child. That way, even after giving birth, she could still return to her career and have people remember her.
Although her family background and Morrison’s wealth could easily allow her to live a comfortable life as a full-time housewife, she did not want a mundane, idle existence. She wanted her own career, her own accomplishments. But... here she was.
Every single time they had been intimate, she had reminded him to take precautions. And yet... it had happened. She knew without a doubt—it had been deliberate.
Morrison had planned this.
Yes. She could be certain of it. He had wanted a child that badly. Every time he saw her brother Dave with a happy family, that yearning was clear in his eyes. Even during intimate moments, he would subtly try to persuade her to skip precautions and have a child with him—but she always refused.
He hadn’t forced her openly, but secretly, through these little schemes, he had achieved what he wanted. The sneakiness of it, the deception behind it... it felt far worse than if he had openly asked her.
Lilian, furious, retreated to her parents’ home and refused to see Morrison for nearly a week. She had originally moved in with him after the wedding date was set, but now...
Morrison was ecstatic, almost delirious with joy, upon learning she was pregnant.
He had only intended to skip precautions casually, never expecting that it would happen on the very first month. Of course, the no-precaution plan had all been behind her back—anything to convince her, anything to persuade her.
But now, with Lilian ignoring him, Morrison had no choice but to make his daily rounds at Burg Eltz.
Early mornings, he would go for breakfast there, then leave for work. Lunch outside, work through the day, and back again in the evening.
And then leave again after dinner.
If Lilian had agreed, he would have gladly stayed, but she didn’t respond at all.
Even when he lingered at Burg Eltz, Lilian only acknowledged him depending on her mood. On a good day, she might speak a few words or respond politely; on a bad day, she wouldn’t come down at all or would answer him curtly, with cold indifference.
Yet, Morrison didn’t mind. Each time he showed up, his smile refused to hide the excitement. Lilian, seeing that grin, felt her temper flare even more, making her less willing to engage with him.
And Morrison... in his own mind, he wasn’t being willfully mischievous. It was just impossible to hide the joy of knowing that double blessings were coming his way. His lips would curl into a smile, no matter how hard he tried.
It truly was a double blessing—he had married the woman he loved, and she was carrying his child.
Two of life’s greatest milestones, accomplished at once: marriage and parenthood. Could he not be overjoyed?
For someone his age, accomplishing these two milestones might be considered slightly late by societal standards, but to him, it was worth every second of the wait.
He was grateful that he had never simply followed the crowd, marrying just because others said it was time. He had seen the lives of those who married without love: a home with red flags flying high, a facade of festivity outside, yet a heart entirely empty within.
A woman he did not love could never handle a man of his temperament.
But now... it was different. This little woman, the one he loved with every fiber of his being, was different. She was precious to him in a way that reached to his bones. He could not bear to let her suffer even a single injustice. The home flags, the festive banners outside—none of that mattered anymore. The only flag that mattered, the only one that would ever fly high, was hers. As for all the other frivolous women in the world? He would never spare them a second glance.
Anyone who approached him with ill intent would be removed from his life without hesitation.
After all the trials and tumultuous back-and-forth with Lilian, Morrison felt that all those years of waiting had been worth it. He had finally found the one he loved most—and the one willing to give herself to him completely, without reservation.
No compromises. No half-measures.
This was true love. This was a marriage to be desired, one to be embraced without fear.