Chapter 127 Won't Overthink
Leopold took a steadying breath, a smile already in his voice as he answered Caroline's call. "Hey, honey."
"The bridal shop just called. They said we can come in for another fitting whenever we have time."
The last time they'd tried on their wedding attire, a few details had been off. After some tailoring, they needed to see if everything fit perfectly now.
Leopold had a meeting that afternoon. "What time does the shop close?"
"Seven-thirty," Caroline said.
"Okay, I'll head back tonight."
Leopold stepped out of the elevator and ran into Allegra in the lobby. She was returning from an outing, dressed in a crisp white casual outfit that made her look fresh, almost like she did back in college.
Seeing Leopold in a hurry, Allegra offered a simple greeting.
"Heading out?"
"Back to Seaside City," Leopold replied.
They passed each other, but then Allegra called out, "Mr. Wipere."
"Yes?" Leopold stopped. Allegra walked back toward him.
"Are you coming back to the hotel tonight?" She asked.
Leopold didn't answer immediately. "What's up?"
"Could you possibly pick up some stomach medication for me? I've checked a few pharmacies around here, but none of them carry the brand I use."
"Sure," Leopold agreed without hesitation.
"I'll send you the name on WhatsApp," Allegra said.
They had recently re-added each other on the app. Leopold was anxious to get going. "Sounds good."
Only after he had walked out the main entrance did Allegra turn, her gaze following his retreating figure, a complex and shadowed look in her eyes.
He made it to Seaside City just after seven. Leopold had called Caroline ahead of time, telling her to come downstairs in ten minutes. He spotted her standing by the roadside long before his car reached the curb.
Once she was in the car, Caroline was glued to her phone, taking one work call after another. Leopold had wanted to tell her about Allegra being at the hotel, but the calls were relentless, and he couldn't find a single opening to get a word in.
At the bridal shop, they immediately got down to business. The tailor's adjustments had worked wonders; the fits were now flawless. As Leopold watched Caroline in the mirror, a warm, gentle smile spread across his face.
He couldn't help but praise her. "My wife is so beautiful."
With the shop assistants nearby, Caroline's cheeks flushed. She nudged him playfully. "Keep your voice down."
"Why be modest when it's the truth?" Leopold countered. "You're stunning."
It was obvious to anyone watching that this couple was ridiculously in love. One of the assistants chimed in with a sincere smile, "The bride truly is gorgeous."
"See? It's not just me," Leopold said with a triumphant arch of his brow.
Caroline brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "Alright, it fits great. Let's go get changed." She pushed Leopold toward his dressing room, lowering her voice. "I never realized you were more shameless than me."
He lifted her chin with two fingers. "How else was I supposed to win you over? By being shy?"
"Stop messing around, there are people outside," she said, shutting the door on him before following an assistant to the adjacent dressing room to change out of the wedding gown.
Ever since they'd gotten married, Leopold rarely stayed at his own apartment. A cleaning service came by regularly to tidy up and water the plants, but whenever he was back in Seaside, he stayed at Caroline's place.
He headed for a shower, hanging his jacket on the hook by the door. Caroline noticed the faint smell of smoke clinging to the fabric and decided to toss it in the wash for him. The pockets felt heavy. She pulled out his car keys and two boxes of stomach pills.
When Leopold came out of the bathroom, she was placing a bowl of sliced fruit on the coffee table.
"Is your stomach bothering you?" She asked.
Remembering the pills in his jacket, Leopold shook his head. "They're not for me. I picked them up for someone else."
"Someone else." The phrase hung in the air, tinged with a hint of potential drama, but Caroline trusted Leopold. He wasn't the type for messy affairs, and she wasn't going to waste her energy worrying. She let it go.
"Come here."
Leopold pulled her onto his lap. His skin was still warm from the shower. He held a piece of mango to her lips, and she took it, chewing slowly. He watched her, his eyes filled with a love so tangible it was practically a third person in the room. In these quiet moments, it felt like they were in their own little world, completely absorbed in the simple, sweet reality of their life together.
But just as Caroline was melting into his affection, the mood shifted.
"I have to tell you something," he began, his tone suddenly serious. "And you have to promise you won't get mad." He paused. "It's about Allegra."
Caroline's expression turned attentive. "What is it?"
"Promise me first. No getting mad." He held out his pinky. "Pinky swear."
She brushed his hand away. "It can't be that serious. Just tell me."
Just in case, Leopold scanned her face for any flicker of annoyance at the mention of Allegra's name. Seeing none, he continued. "For work reasons, she and I are going to be seeing each other a lot. She's the representative for the other party, and I'm the point person for our project team. So, calls and WhatsApp messages are unavoidable. I know I promised to delete her number, but I need to add her back."
He laid it all out, completely transparent, and Caroline's reaction was just as straightforward.
"Oh, that. That's nothing to be angry about. I completely understand."
A wave of relief washed over Leopold. That's when he brought up the medicine. "Those pills… I was getting them for her."
Caroline nodded, her expression clear. "Of course. Anyone can get sick. Picking up a box of medicine for someone is no big deal."
Communicating with someone so emotionally stable was a breath of fresh air.
Caroline looped her arms around his neck, her gaze earnest. "The fact that you're so on edge about her around me did I overreact before? Have I been putting pressure on you?"
"Not pressure, exactly," Leopold said. "I was just worried you'd be upset if you found out we were seeing each other regularly."
"What's there to be upset about?" Caroline laughed, the sound light and easy. "We have trust between us. I trust you. And when it comes to your job, you shouldn't feel burdened. I know you have me in your heart, which means you'll naturally keep a professional distance from her. So, don't worry about me overthinking things. I won't."
Leopold quickly fed her another piece of mango. "You're the best."
Caroline chewed with a smile. "Okay, you finish this. I'm going to go hang up the laundry."
As she walked away, Leopold stared at the fruit bowl. This trust was the bedrock of their relationship, a source of comfort and security that allowed them to be their true selves with each other.
It wasn't just a feeling; it was an action. It was respecting each other's choices, communicating openly, and believing in the other's willingness to listen and understand. That mutual faith was the most precious part of their love.
The next morning, after making breakfast, Leopold went to wake Caroline. She was still fast asleep. He pulled open the curtains, and sunlight spilled across her face, making her skin look almost translucent. He knelt by the bed and gave her a gentle good-morning kiss.
It deepened, and soon she was tapping his back, a muffled plea for air escaping her lips.
Leopold pulled back, laughing. "Time to wake up, honey. It's getting late."
"What time is it?" Caroline murmured, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Seven o'clock."
"Ugh, okay, I should get up."
She sat up groggily just as the phone on her nightstand began to ring. She recognized the number instantly. It was Allegra.
"You've got a call," she said, her voice still thick with sleep. "Your phone's ringing."
Leopold didn't hear her from the kitchen. Caroline grabbed his phone and brought it to him, holding it out.
"It's for you."
He glanced at the screen and answered it without a second thought as Caroline naturally took the bowl from his hands. Leopold put the call on speaker.
"What's up?"
"Did you manage to get the stomach medicine?" Allegra's voice came through the speaker.
"Yeah, I got it."
"Should I come to your room to get it, or can you bring it to me?"
"I stayed at home last night," Leopold explained. "When I get to the hotel, I'll have guest services send it to your room."
"Don't worry about it," Allegra said. "Just bring it with you to the meeting."
"Okay, works for me."
After he hung up, Leopold placed a platter of pan-seared fish fillets on the table.
Caroline looked at him, a small, knowing smile on her face. "You don't have to put her on speaker for my benefit. I told you, I'm not going to overthink it."