She had just gotten back together with him, and already he was rolling out his usual plan. Lilian thought to herself that if things kept going , it wouldn’t be long before he tricked her down the aisle.
But she had her countermeasures.
Luckily, Bert would be returning to the U.S. soon after handling his business. She could just go with Bert—if she was in the States, there was no way Morrison could force a parents’ meeting; he’d have no choice but to wait.
After leaving Burg Eltz, Morrison returned to the residence and immediately told Mos and Linda about his plan to arrange a meeting between the parents. Linda got so excited she didn’t know what to say at first. After a moment, she grabbed Mos’s arm and exclaimed loudly,
"Next time, you have to take me shopping for a new dress! I have to look good when I meet the in-laws!"
Mos and Morrison exchanged a glance.
"...Is this really her focus?" Mos thought. Shouldn’t she be worrying about his relationship with Lilian, about how things were going between them? Instead, she was obsessed with what dress she’d wear on the day they met the parents.
Ah, indeed—women’s worlds were always . Always about clothes and appearances.
As the three of them were talking, Karl returned home.
Linda’s attention immediately shifted to her youngest son. She hurried over and asked expectantly,
"So, how’s it going with Marylin lately?"
Karl smiled at his mother,
"About the same—nothing bad, nothing good."
Linda grew a little impatient,
"Why don’t you ask your brother for advice? He has plenty of experience with pursuing girls." Googlᴇ search novel•fire.net
She couldn’t wait for her youngest to secure Marylin’s heart.
Karl glanced at Morrison with mild disdain and replied,
"Why would I ask him for advice? I’ll pursue my woman my own way."
And with that, he turned and went upstairs.
Karl wasn’t about to take dating advice from Morrison. What kind of thrill would it be if he followed someone else’s way of pursuing a woman? That would mean she was moved only by another person’s romance, another person’s gestures.
No—he had to woo her his way, in his own style, and win her heart on his own terms.
Over the past few days, he had been preparing to move—right across from the apartment she had rented, to be her neighbor.
The day after the baby shower, Karl went straight to Laurent. He confessed his feelings for Marylin and asked Laurent for her phone number, along with details about her plans for the future.
He knew that if he approached Marylin directly, she would never give it to him. So he came to Laurent instead—he didn’t take any detours in his methods.
As Marylin’s friend and confidant, Laurent knew how much she had suffered in her previous failed relationship. Naturally, he hoped Marylin could move on and find happiness.
And Karl? Laurent thought he was a good man. After all, he had been one of the suitors Tiffany had considered for Lilian—if the elders approved of him, he couldn’t be too bad. His character, abilities, and personality—everything spoke well of him.
Most importantly, Karl had come to him with a sincere heart, openly expressing his love for Marylin. That alone was enough for Laurent to support him.
Meeting someone who truly loved you in your lifetime was rare, and this was Karl’s chance. Laurent only gave Karl the opportunity—whether he could truly touch Marylin’s wounded heart would be up to him.
Once Karl had Marylin’s phone number and knew she intended to stay in Burg Eltz, he began putting his plan into action. The moment she finalized the apartment she wanted to rent, he immediately secured the unit right across from hers.
His own home was a massive villa, and he could easily have invited her to live with him for free—but that would make him look like a fortune-chasing playboy. If he wanted her close, he had no choice but to move next door. Only then could he be near her in everyday life.
Their work schedules were entirely different; he couldn’t just drop by her office to get close to her. Living nearby was the only option.
Karl kept his move secret, so Marylin didn’t know she now had a new neighbor. If she found out in advance, she might have rented somewhere else, and he’d have to start over. It was pure luck that her unit had just opened up. Who knew when such luck would strike again?
Not long after Karl returned to his room, Morrison followed. Karl glanced at him,
"Something you need?"
Morrison sank into the sofa, crossing his long legs and pausing thoughtfully before speaking,
"You know, Lilian and I have basically reconciled. The next step is marriage, and there’s something I need to discuss with you."
Karl frowned, and Morrison continued,
"Even though I run the company, you’re still part of the family. This isn’t just my decision alone—it’s something I need to talk to you about."
Morrison’s expression was solemn.
"I plan to give my shares in MOS Corp. as a betrothal gift to Lilian. I want to get your opinion first."
Karl’s mouth went wide. He was frozen for a moment, utterly speechless. After a beat, he finally managed to speak,
"Bro... you’re putting everything you have on the line?"
Morrison said nothing, but his determination was clear.
Karl let out a low whistle.
"If you cheat or something later... you’d be left with nothing."
Morrison shot him a cold glare. Did this guy even know when to stop talking?
"And if Lilian cheats, you’d still end up with nothing. Honestly, this move is all risk for you!"
Morrison’s face darkened. If Karl weren’t his younger brother, he might’ve just thrown him out by now.
Karl, however, saw it as a warning delivered with good intentions.
"Don’t be mad—I’m just being honest. Lilian’s still so young, her life’s just starting. She’s already a rising model; soon there’ll be all sorts of handsome male models around her. Flowers of temptation will bloom everywhere. Who knows, you might get dumped one day."
Morrison’s face went completely black. With a swoosh, he sprang up from the sofa.
"Bro, as your younger brother, I’m just giving you a heads-up. Slamming your entire fortune onto this at once... it’s kind of impulsive."
"You don’t speak up, no one’s gonna think you’re mute!"
Morrison shot him an irritated glance and stormed off.
He had only come to ask if Karl approved of giving Lilian his shares—why was Karl dragging on with all this nonsense?
Morrison couldn’t help but feel incredulous. Every word Karl said was like a thorn—cheating, Lilian possibly cheating, her flowers of temptation blooming everywhere... it was all just designed to get under his skin.
Did Karl really think he was so weak? Could he really not keep her heart?
Still, after Karl’s words, a twinge of doubt crept in. Damn him—Karl had reminded him of a harsh truth: Lilian was so young, and he was ten years her senior...
But no matter the possibilities, it would never shake his decision to give Lilian his shares as a betrothal gift. He wasn’t trying to pressure himself into staying faithful, nor was this some self-imposed warning. This was simply the way he could prove the depth of his sincerity—no hesitation, no half-measures.