Chapter 140- I want to pursue you

Words : 1332 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 140: Chapter 140- I want to pursue you Karl had always thought that he would never feel that deep, intense attraction toward any woman. Even when he reached the age to marry, he imagined he would follow Linda’s guidance, pick a woman who was merely "pleasant enough," and settle into a life of duty and responsibility. He would honor marriage, care for his family, and respect his partner—but he would never know the kind of soul-stirring, unforgettable love that his brother Morrison had experienced. Yet now... it hit him like a thunderbolt. He realized he had been struck by love. Once, he had thought that his future would be confined to a loveless marriage, devoid of meaning. But now, he knew that if the woman by his side for the rest of his life was her, every single day would bubble over with happiness. His mind raced with thoughts—he would pursue her, no matter the obstacles, no matter the challenges. She was his lifelong happiness, and he would not allow anything to stand in the way. Karl and Morrison were complete opposites in temperament. Morrison had feared, hesitated, and loved one woman for a lifetime, caught in endless uncertainty. Karl, however, wanted only one woman to love, for a lifetime. Yet all the plans and thoughts in his head scattered the moment she approached and took the seat to his left. His face flamed red, heat rushing to his ears. He heard her explain to Vivian and Zoey in that soft, enchanting voice, "The flight was delayed, so I went back to the hotel to change, then rushed here as quickly as I could." Vivian, ever perceptive, caught the subtle blush on Karl’s face and teased him, "Hey, pretty boy, why’s your face turning red?" She called him "little fresh meat" because that was exactly what he looked like. Though he was the same age as Vivian and Zoey, Karl had spent most of his life buried in studies and research. He lacked the worldly polish and social experience that they had gained working in the professional world for years. With his glasses giving him an even younger, scholarly look, combined with his natural handsomeness, Vivian saw him as a genuinely fresh-faced, youthful guy. Her playful words only deepened Karl’s blush, and he felt heat spreading down his neck, helpless to hide it. His face burned, partly from embarrassment, but mostly from panic. He desperately wanted to explain that he wasn’t some "pretty boy," that he was the same age as them, not decades apart. But with the woman he liked sitting to his left, his mind went blank—he couldn’t form a single coherent sentence. Vivian’s teasing drew the attention of everyone at the table, including Marylin sitting beside him. Quickly, Vivian introduced them. "Marylin, this pretty boy is Morrison’s younger brother, Karl." Then she looked at Karl and added, "And pretty boy, this stunning beauty is our dear friend Marylin." Karl took a deep, quiet breath, turned toward Marylin, and forced himself to smile naturally. He extended his hand. "Hi, I’m Karl." Marylin politely shook his hand but tilted her head slightly, giving him a subtle, appraising glance. "Morrison’s younger brother?" One word. One raised eyebrow. And just like that, all of Karl’s little schemes crumbled to dust. Because Marylin and the others were Laurent’s close friends, they had already heard about Morrison and Lilian from her. Naturally, their impression of Morrison wasn’t good. They also knew Lilian was a good girl—so in their minds, Morrison’s reputation was already tarnished. Karl’s expression fell instantly. After politely shaking Marylin’s hand, he muttered in a low voice, "Yes... I’m Morrison’s younger brother." He was genuinely frustrated. He had finally found a woman he liked, yet his brother’s reputation had tainted her first impression of him. If it had only been Vivian and the others judging him for his brother’s mistakes, Karl wouldn’t have cared—but now Marylin, too? That stung. As Karl sulked and schemed about how to approach Marylin, she suddenly smiled at him. "pretty boy, could we switch seats? I have a little secret to tell Zoey." By calling him "pretty boy," Marylin, like Vivian, clearly treated him like a younger brother. Her right side was next to Zoey, so if she wanted to whisper to Zoey, having Karl in the way was inconvenient. The easiest solution: switch seats. Karl’s heart skipped a beat at her coquettish smile. Her refined makeup and the dazzling red dress complemented her features perfectly. Her eyes shone with amusement as she looked at him, and for a moment, Karl was utterly spellbound. He could do nothing but rise and offer his seat. "Thank you," Marylin said, her red lips parting just enough to say those two words. As she moved past him, a subtle fragrance accompanied her every step, making Karl’s body tense. For the first time in his life, he understood what it truly meant to desire a woman. After swapping seats, Marylin sat next to Zoey. Leonardo, who had been seated on the other side of Zoey, noticed the new arrangement. Vivian quickly requested to swap seats with Leonardo so the three women could sit together. Leonardo frowned, glancing at Zoey, but she avoided his gaze and turned to chat with Vivian. Leonardo frowned even more, yet eventually stood and switched seats with Vivian, allowing the three women to sit comfortably together. So the table ended up with the three women chatting together, while the three men focused on their own interests. Vivian’s husband attention was naturally on her own wife, Karl’s gaze kept slipping toward Marylin uncontrollably, and Leonardo’s deep, inadvertent glances occasionally landed on a quiet girl across the table. She had always been this way—silent and unobtrusive, blending into the background, while the lively and glamorous Marylin, the chatty Vivian, and the radiant Laurent drew all the attention. It was only recently that Karl had noticed the understated, warm elegance radiating from her—a quiet charm that lingered long after she left. Originally, the three women were planning to catch up on each other’s lives, but Vivian noticed Karl’s furtive glances at Marylin and instantly covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. Leaning toward Marylin, she whispered, "I think our pretty boy has a thing for you. Look at him—he wants to look, but he dares not, yet he’s desperate to see. It’s like he’s going to devour you any second." Marylin had heard countless variations of "someone has a crush on you" since she became an adult, so she simply smiled and turned to look at Karl. Though Vivian spoke softly, Karl heard every word. Nervous and shy before, he suddenly felt a spark of determination at Marylin’s easygoing, unconcerned expression. No hesitation now—he met her gaze squarely and said, "Yes. I like you. I want to pursue you." The declaration stunned everyone at the table. No one expected such a serious confession, not even Vivian, who had only been teasing him. She thought it was a fleeting admiration for a pretty woman—after all, Marylin had been adored by men countless times. Marylin herself was momentarily taken aback, lips slightly parted. Her first thought: is this boy crazy? Confessing on the first meeting? Claiming he wants to chase her? Impulsive, reckless—not her type at all. And of course, Morrison’s younger brother. She assumed he was captivated by her looks, thinking only of her body. Still, she maintained a smile and gently shook a finger painted a deep rose toward him. "Little brother, a young pretty boy like you isn’t my type. I like mature, steady men." Her playful, gentle refusal was exactly what Karl had expected. He didn’t feel hurt or disappointed. He simply glanced at her once, smiled, and said, "Sorry, I’ll go to the restroom." He rose and left the table. Vivian clicked her tongue. "Don’t tell me he’s hiding to cry after being rejected?" "Who cares," Marylin replied, unconcerned, and continued chatting with Vivian and Zoey.

Chapter 140- I want to pursue you

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