Chapter 91 Caught Staying Overnight
The two almost lost control, but Caroline stopped things halfway, making it clear she didn't agree with sex before marriage. Leopold respected her wishes, but since he'd had too much to drink, he ended up staying over for the night.
Caroline stuffed a towel and bath towel into Leopold's arms and pointed to the guest bedroom:
"After your shower, sleep in there."
Leopold grabbed Caroline's wrist. "What if I'm scared to sleep alone?"
Caroline hit the nail on the head, asking with a half-smile:
"Who did you used to sleep with?"
Leopold admitted defeat and nodded. "That's what I like about you—you're tough enough."
It was meant as a joke, but he genuinely admired her.
Leopold had never seen Caroline afraid of anything. A woman who was rational, clear-headed, goal-oriented, and had firm boundaries—it seemed like nothing could break her.
After his shower, Leopold walked to Caroline's bedroom door and knocked. The person inside looked toward the door, about to ask what he wanted, when she heard him say:
"Good night."
Caroline: "Good night."
Both of them tossed and turned in their beds, unable to sleep. Leopold sent Caroline a WhatsApp message.
north: Are you asleep?
In the dark room, her phone's notification light blinked. Caroline unlocked the screen and replied: I'm asleep.
Leopold was at a loss.
north: I can't sleep.
Caroline: Drink more water.
Leopold laughed out loud. Now he definitely couldn't sleep.
north: If I can't sleep tonight, it's all your fault.
Caroline forwarded him a post about how staying up late can cause sudden death—that was her answer.
Leopold returned the favor by forwarding a video about what staying up late brings you. The answer turned out to be: happiness.
This was never going to end. How was she supposed to sleep? Caroline stopped replying.
On Saturday, her body clock automatically switched to sleep-till-you-wake-up mode. Half-asleep, she thought she heard movement in the living room. Remembering Leopold had slept over, she figured it was him and didn't get up.
After a while, she heard an audiobook playing in the living room. Caroline shot up like she'd been electrocuted, scrambled out of bed in a panic, and rushed out the door. She saw Elysia busy in the kitchen. She looked toward the guest bedroom in horror—the door was shut tight. Caroline rushed into the guest room and shook the sleeping person awake, keeping her voice low.
"Leopold, Leopold, wake up."
Leopold looked at her groggily, smiling lazily, about to reach out and hug Caroline when he heard her say: "Get up quick, my mom's here."
"What!" Leopold froze for a second, then scrambled up and threw his clothes on messily. "When did she get here?"
"Your shirt's inside out," Caroline pulled off his shirt, flipped it around, and tossed it back, her heart pounding nervously. "She just got here, she's cooking in the kitchen. Hurry up and get dressed, sneak out while she's not looking."
Leopold was going crazy. Dating as adults felt like getting caught in a teenage romance.
Once Leopold was dressed, Caroline whispered, "I'll go check."
Just as she was about to open the door, she heard someone coming out of the kitchen. Caroline held her breath, not daring to make a sound.
Elysia brought the mixed side dishes to the table, then returned to the kitchen.
Caroline carefully opened the door a crack. Confirming that Elysia was busy in the kitchen and wouldn't come out anytime soon, she slowly pushed the door open and frantically waved at Leopold, mouthing:
Go! Go!
Leopold tiptoed to the entrance, put on his shoes, and had just quietly opened the door when Elysia came out of the kitchen carrying dishes and called toward the bedroom: "Caroline, Caroline, get up and eat."
Seeing the two at the door, she paused. Caroline reacted quickly and said to Leopold:
"Why are you here so early?"
Leopold naturally picked up the thread, slowly taking off the coat he'd just put on. "I came over to see you on the weekend." Then he greeted Elysia, "Mrs. Tudor, good morning."
Elysia said: "Leopold's here. You haven't had breakfast, have you?"
Leopold changed into slippers. "Not yet."
"Perfect timing, eat with us." Elysia went back to the kitchen to get more dishes.
The two at the door exchanged glances. Caroline patted her chest and whispered: "That scared me to death. She didn't notice, did she?"
Leopold said: "I don't think so."
During the meal, the two sat in silence. Elysia saw through it but didn't say anything.
From the moment she walked in, she'd noticed Leopold's dress shoes in the cabinet, the guest bedroom door tightly shut, and his coat draped over the sofa. Elysia knew Leopold had stayed over, but since he'd slept in the guest room, she felt even more satisfied with him.
Playing the audiobook out loud was deliberately meant to alert them that she was there.
"Leopold, try this cucumber salad."
Leopold responded and picked up some vegetables. "The cucumber's nice and crisp, perfectly seasoned too."
After breakfast, Caroline went to clear the dishes while Elysia chatted with Leopold in the living room.
Elysia: "My uncle's son is getting married soon. If you're free, come with Caroline."
Attending a wedding banquet would mean meeting many immediate family members. Inviting Leopold to go meant she approved of them continuing their relationship.
Leopold was overjoyed. "I have time. When is it? Do you need me to drive?"
Elysia smiled. "No need for a car, everything's already arranged. It's on Memorial Day, nine o'clock. We're the groom's family, so we need to get there early to help out."
"No problem." Leopold readily agreed.
Caroline came out of the kitchen, one foot in and one foot out, catching the tail end of the conversation. "What's going on?"
Elysia said: "Finn's getting married on May 26th. You and Leopold should go together, introduce him to the family."
"Finn's getting married? How old is he? I thought he just graduated." Caroline was surprised. She had an impression of her relative Finn Jones.
"Yeah, he graduated last year, but they've been together since college." Then she changed the subject. "They couldn't wait any longer anyway—in another month, she'll be showing."
Caroline acknowledged this, but Elysia's meaningful look made her wonder if she was thinking about her and Leopold.
At that moment, Leopold felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He wasn't stupid—he could hear what Elysia was really saying.
Elysia glanced at her watch and stood up. "I'm heading back. Leopold, stay a bit longer."
Leopold walked her to the entrance, saying as they went: "I've been so busy, haven't had time to come back. Today I happened to catch Caroline on her day off, so I made time to come see her."
Elysia smiled. "Alright, you two don't need to see me out."
Only after the elevator doors closed did their hearts finally settle.
Caroline asked Leopold, "Do you think my mom figured it out?"
Leopold closed the door. "Do you want the truth?"
Caroline looked at him. Leopold said: "She knew I was here the moment she walked in. Playing that audiobook so loud was to let us know she'd arrived."
"So she just watched us put on that act?"
"Yes."
Caroline sat on the sofa. "What do we do now?" Then she thought about it and suddenly said with conviction: "If she figured it out, so what? We didn't do anything wrong. We have nothing to hide."
Leopold felt troubled. He actually wished something had happened last night. If they'd been caught in bed together today, would they be facing pressure to get married?