Chapter 22

Even the next day, Kelly was still considering how to tell Leon.

Leon drove Kelly to school. He stopped the car at a corner before asking, “What time will you be done tonight? I’ll pick you up, and we can go home together.”

Kelly realized that if she didn’t speak up now, she would miss her chance. She hurriedly said, “Professor Butler, I might be a little late coming home tonight.”

“When?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I have an evening self-study session, and I might not finish until 10:00 pm,” Kelly said. She wasn’t good at lying, so she avoided eye contact with him. “You can go home first. I’ll head back on my own after I’m done.”

Leon thought about it for a moment. Since she was going to focus on her studies, he paused and then said, “I can work at the school too. I’ll wait for you, and we can go home together afterward.”

At this point, Kelly had no choice but to agree. If necessary, she could hurry back from The Sippery. After all, it wasn’t far.

Before she exited the car, Leon handed her something. “Take this half an hour after your meal.”

Kelly looked at it and saw that it was folic acid. She couldn’t help but feel that Leon was truly acting like a concerned mother. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she said, “Thank you, Professor Butler.”

She quickly put the folic acid into her bag, opened the car door, and got out. A gentle breeze lifted her hair. He watched her silhouette grow smaller and smaller in the distance.

As soon as Kelly reached the academic building, she heard Melissa’s voice. Melissa looked around like a thief, then lowered her voice to ask, “Has Professor Butler arrived yet?”

Kelly found her behavior amusing. “You were bold enough to say all that before, and now you’re scared?”

Melissa grumbled, “I was talking to you. I did not expect him to overhear.”

“I didn’t know he was back either. I’m even more mortified than you are.”

Melissa thought about it for a second and then shivered. “Yeah. Seems like it.”

Kelly rolled her eyes at her comment. “Seems like it? More like totally embarrassed,” she thought.

Then, Melissa flashed a mischievous smile. “So, did Professor Butler say anything after hearing those words? Did he end up staying in the same room with you that…”

“He didn’t say anything.” She didn’t mention that Leon had teased her, which made her feel even more mortified.

“No way! You’re pretty charming. You might not be as pretty as Celeste, but you’re cute. If you gave me that pitiful look, I would probably surrender. There are plenty of men at school who like you.”

Kelly couldn’t tell whether it was meant as a compliment or not, and she wondered why Melissa had to bring up Celeste.

Melissa continued, lost in thought, “If Professor Butler remains indifferent when faced with such a cute woman who is also his legal wife, there are only two possibilities.”

Kelly was curious. “What are they?”

“First, he’s truly an upstanding gentleman who respects you. Second, he’s not capable.”

Kelly broke out in a cold sweat. “Not capable? Where did the baby in my belly come from then?”

Melissa was stunned. Then, she suddenly seemed to realize her mistake and said, “Oh, right, I forgot you’re pregnant.”

Kelly was speechless. Thank goodness she was pregnant, or she wouldn’t be able to defend Leon’s reputation.