Chapter 8
Leonhadn’t expected Kelly to give him an answer this quickly. “Have you thought it through?
“Yes,” she responded firmly. “But I have one request.”
“What is it
“I don’t want my parents to know about our marriage just yet.
Leon was quiet for a few seconds before responding, “That’s not how things are done. Marriage is a big deal. I might’ve lived abroad for a while, but I know how things are done heir
“The groom is supposed to meet the bride’s parents, get their blessing, and agree on the wedding date. That’s how it’s supposed to go
Kelly pressed her lipstogether. “I don’t want any of that if they find out I’m pregnant, they’ll force me to get an abortion.”
Her father, William, cared too much about his reputation. If they knew the truth, she woulder’t just be scolded, she’d probably get beaten up too Teen fell silent
Afraid he might change his mind, she choked out, “I don’t need anything. Fjust want to get married right away. Professor Butler, I just want to have a family of
MY DWIL
Her plea reached him through the phone, and it felt like lie ali see her – Harding all alone in the dark, looking up at him with desperare, pleading eyes. Silence stretched between them as Kelly nervously walled for his ventiel.
Eventually, Leonsaid, “This is my personal number. It’s linked to my Facebook, Addine and send me your basic information. I’ll let you kome once I make an appointment
He had agreed.
Asmile broke across her face. “okay!”
“It’s getting chilly out. You should head back”
Kelly was supaised that Leon knew she was outside. “I will,” she responded softly,
“Get some rest. Sweet dreams”
Maybe it was just her imagination, but Leon’s voice sounded unusually gentle over the phone.
In the years to come, she would look back on this call as the best decision she’d ever made. She had thing herself into the unknown with blind courage, and Leon hadn’t let het fall. Instead, he had given her a place to belong.
On Monday morning, Kelly did something she’d never done before she took a day off from school. She walked out of the school gate with her state–issued in hand
She had asked Helena for it the day before, claiming the school needed it. She’d been a nervous wreck the whole time, and just thinking about what she needed for made her even more anxious. She was afraid that she’d give herself away if Helena asked her any more questions.
A sleck black Mercedes was parked discreetly by the road. Leon spotted her in the rearview mirror and opened the car door to get out. kelly’s bean skipped a beat when she laid eyes on him.
He stood tall and poised beside the passenger door, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentilated his lean figure. His features were tharp and refined, his gaze calm and composed.
He looked so well–dressed. Kelly couldn’t help but feel like a naive college student next to him. Nervously, she tugged at her clothes, frustrated with herself for not putting mote effort into bet appearance.
Leon seemed to have noticed the contrast between them too. His eyes flickered between their outfits before he smiled and said, “I guess Loverdressed.”
Kelly burnedly waved her hands. “No, it’s my fault, I should’ve put more effort into my appearance. I’ll go and change real quick.”
With that, she tumed to leave.
He grabbed her wrist, and the warmth of his touch startled her, Instinctively, she looked up and met his sharp, handsome face.
“We’re right on schedule,” he said. “If you head back now, we’ll miss out time slot.
Kelly stopped in her tracks.
“Besides, there’s an easter solution for this problem, don’t youthfuld”
As just as his wonds fell, she watched as he took his sull jacket, revealing white shirt underneath. He loosened his perfectly tied the and undid the top res
tour was the rigid professor, and in lás place stood a man who was more relaxed and alluring. Her eyes involuntarily traveled to his Adam’s apple, his collarbone, and wandered just a little lower before the forced herself to look away.
“Well, what do you think? Do I still look like an old man who’s creeping on a college student?” Leundeliberately teased her after noticing her nervousness.
Tugging at his lips.
erious, no nonseine person, so the fact that he was joking caught her off guard. She frog for a second and couldn’t help the smile
He might not lookit, but the age difference was still then. However, she kept that patto heel because she’d brand older men were sensitive about their age.
“We’pe pinning out of fine. Hop in,” Leon said as her opened the car door for her like a gentleman
she slipped into the passenger seat. He got in after her and handed her a bag. “Heer, have some breakfast
Kelly hadictexpected him to prepare breakfast for her. She hadn’t dared go to the cafeteria, and she had waited until her roommates ad left before sneaking Ti watch like she couldn’t go, she just didn’t have the guts to
“Thank you,” she mumbled beteer accepting the bag
“tabubell’s war,” Tennullas he started the car.
Ketty held the stufted croissant and carton of milk as she opened it up, she suddenly remembered something and asked, “Have you had breakfast?–
“Thave. Don’t worry about me.” Hiseyes stayed focused on the road.
red before taking a bite of the croissant.
The croissant was stuffed with vegetables and wasn’t greasy at all. A smile crept onto her face without her even realizing it.
Alterrating t
e two croissants, the poked a straw into the milk. But as she lifted it, milk spilled up through the straw. Frantically, she looked around for a napkin, əm she didn’t want to make a mess in his car
“The napkins are in the glove compartment Infront of you,” Leon said calmly
He was behind the wheel. How did he know she needed a napkin? Kelly wondered as she opened the compartment and pulled out a napkin to wipe her hands.
By the time they reached the courthouse, she’d finished her breakfast. Leon watched her toss the empty bag into a bin near the entrance and concluded that her appetite seemed the. There were no obg signs of moming sickness yet
As soon as she walked into the courthouse, she felt dazed, like none of this was real. kelly followed Leon like a puppet on strings, filling out forms when he told her to Leon, on the other hand, seemed like a pro, very familiar with the whole process.
In the end, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Professor Better have you been married before?”
At that moment, tron was handing the completed forms to the clerk. As soon as those words rolled off her tongue, both he and the clerk turned to lookat her, Kelly realized she had said the wrong thing and immediately felt embarrassed.
“Why do you ask?” he inquired.
Hei fare was buming as she nummured, “You just seem so familiar with everything
Leonchuckled. “The staff here can vouch forme. This is my first time getting married. I just did my homework online beforehand. I don’t like going in
(into anything
He then gave her a long, meaningful look. “Except for you. You were the exception.”
Her heart paced after being that
Goodness gracious! He had no idea how swoon worthy that line was
Chapter 9
