Chapter 110 Watch How I Deal with You
With Leopold's sudden appearance, Caroline introduced him to all her classmates one by one. Everyone chatted for a while at the restaurant entrance until the designated driver arrived and the group dispersed.
Ingrid felt awkward about riding in Caroline's car and planned to catch a ride with other classmates, but Leopold warmly invited her.
Leopold took Caroline's car keys and even opened the door for Ingrid.
Ingrid was flattered. "This is too kind of you."
Leopold smiled and nodded. "Not at all. You helped Caroline and me with our marriage registration last time. Just for that connection, I should give you proper service today."
Ingrid looked at Caroline with obvious admiration on her face. "Your husband's emotional intelligence is really enviable. My husband is like a block of wood - can't crack jokes or take care of people. I'm going to have a good talk with him when I get home."
"Don't say that. Your husband is so upright. Unlike Leopold, who just loves to joke around and never has a serious moment." Caroline glanced at Leopold with a smile. He still wore that grinning expression. She sat in the back seat with Ingrid, closed the car door, and said, "Crystal Springs Community."
Ingrid had mentioned her address at the gathering earlier.
Leopold started the car. "In Galaxy District?"
"Yes, on Elm Street in Galaxy District."
Caroline was concerned. "Do you know how to get there?"
Leopold replied calmly, "I do."
Actually, he only knew the general location - he hadn't been to Galaxy District much.
Leopold drove while searching for the way. Ingrid, in the back seat, kept chatting with Caroline and didn't pay attention to the route. In fact, Leopold should have turned at the previous intersection.
During the twenty-some seconds stopped at a red light, Leopold quickly opened the navigation app to search. After confirming the location, he started the car and circled back.
When they dropped her off at the community entrance, Ingrid kept thanking them before getting out. Leopold smiled calmly, managing not to let Ingrid discover he'd taken a wrong turn earlier.
After she entered the community, Caroline moved to the passenger seat and looked at him sideways. Leopold noticed from the corner of his eye but pretended not to.
The car slowly started moving. Caroline said, "When did you get back?"
Leopold said, "Tonight."
Caroline pursed her lips. "Tonight? Did you arrive at the airport tonight?"
"Yes," Leopold answered confidently.
Caroline crossed her arms. "Why didn't you tell me in advance you were coming back?"
Leopold glanced at her, his eyes and brows tinged with amusement. "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. We haven't seen each other for almost twenty days, but you don't seem very happy to see me."
"Stop changing the subject." Caroline wasn't so easily fooled. "I'm asking you - why didn't you tell me you were coming back early?"
Leopold couldn't hold back his laughter. "I wanted to surprise you."
Caroline narrowed her eyes and leaned over, using her finger to hook his chin. "Did you want to surprise me, or did you want to see if I was cheating on you?"
Leopold kept one hand on the steering wheel and lightly coughed into his other hand held near his lips. "Of course, I wanted to surprise you."
"Really?"
That meaningful counter-question expressed a whole string of doubts.
Leopold remained expressionless, looking ahead with a calm demeanor.
"Really." He answered, but compared to her confident attitude, he sounded much less sure of himself.
Caroline thought to herself - he's feeling guilty.
To deal with him, you have to use the most basic tactics and the most direct approach.
Caroline slowly moved her hand to his collar. Leopold immediately tensed his jaw. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing, just looking."
"Look all you want, but don't touch."
"You're my legal husband - I can't touch?"
Leopold couldn't help but laugh. "Touch away, touch all you want."
Caroline gave a coquettish hum.
Her hand slipped through the gap between his shirt buttons. When her fingertips touched his chest muscles, she could feel them tense up instantly. She asked provocatively with satisfaction, "Leopold, you need to tell the truth. Honesty is your only way out."
Leopold couldn't stand her touching him like this. Twenty days without sex - who could understand how torturous that was for a newlywed man?
"Caroline, stop it."
His voice had changed, like a taut string about to snap.
Caroline laughed inwardly. Let's see how I deal with you for not telling the truth.
"Leopold, if you tell me now, I can still forgive you. But if we get home, you might be sleeping on the couch tonight."
Her touch on his chest was like a cat's paw teasing him, making his heart melt with the ticklish sensation.
He grabbed Caroline's hand and kissed the back of it repeatedly, then wrapped her small hand in his large palm. Suddenly, his restless heart calmed down.
He didn't know what marriage brought to others, but for him it was a fragrant rose, a peaceful sky, a calm pool of water, a warm harbor.
"Are you monitoring me?" Caroline asked.
Leopold silently held her hand. "No."
"No?" Caroline's tone was questioning. "Your clothes - the shirt and pants are ironed, and you even carefully folded the cuffs. If I remember correctly, you didn't bring this outfit on your business trip. You also styled your hair and used setting spray." She leaned close to Leopold and sniffed. "You even put on cologne. You're really dressed up - is this for my female classmates to see? Or my male classmates?"
Seeing he couldn't hide it anymore, Leopold could only tell the truth.
He sighed first. "I knew I couldn't fool you."
"Go on." Caroline playfully twirled the small strands of hair around her ear with her fingertip.
Leopold cleared his throat. "My real intention wasn't to monitor you. I just lack confidence in myself. My wife is so outstanding and beautiful, I was worried someone might admire you. I dressed up and showed up to help you reject some men with bad intentions, right?"
Caroline pulled her hand away. Leopold's palm felt empty. He heard Caroline say, "Leopold, I think you shouldn't sleep in the bedroom tonight. The couch is perfect for you."
"No, it was just a joke - are you really mad?" Leopold pulled her hand back and held it. This time, he interlaced their fingers and held tight before saying, "I saw Mr. Wallace was there."
"So what if he was? You don't trust me?"
"Of course, I trust you," he changed his tone, "but I don't trust him. I've played badminton with him - with his sore loser attitude, he'd definitely use being drunk as an excuse to say nonsense to you."
Caroline fell silent.
How did he know?
Leopold noticed her hand unconsciously tighten. "You're feeling guilty. Tell me, did he say something to you when he was drunk?"
Now it was Caroline's turn to pretend to be calm. "No, with so many classmates there, what could he say? Don't overthink it."
There was a red light ahead. Leopold stopped the car, turned his face, and said, "Ms. Tudor, look me in the eyes and say that again."
Caroline's eyes widened. "With so many classmates there, what could he say? Don't overthink it."
Leopold's long eyes narrowed into a beautiful arc as he smiled. "Ms. Tudor, you're feeling guilty."
Caroline's pupils flickered slightly. "I'm not."
He bit his lower lip, his eyes holding wild amusement, and leaned over to whisper something in her ear. Caroline's ears instantly turned red.