Chapter 15


    Stepping out of the school gates, a sleek silver Porsche rolled up slowly


    Jocelyn recognized the car. It was Melvin’s.


    Willow, who was about to hop in her car, paused and stared at the car too


    As the person in the car got out. Jocelyn was still debating whether to enthusiastically hug him when


    someone else beat her to it, rushing over and hugging Melvin tightly


    “Why are you here? Don’t tell me you’re trying to surprise me. Willow looked up at him with a smile, her


    sweet voice tinged with a yful whine.


    Jocelyn was stunned She wasn’t seeing things, Willow was hugging Melvin.


    Melvin was obviously taken aback for a few seconds too. Seeing Jocelyn’s joy slowly drowning, he


    gently pushed Willow away. “Mind the image


    There’s hardly anyone here, no worries.” Willow clung to his arm again, “I’m so hungry. Will you take


    me out to eat? I’m craving steak.


    Jocelyn’s mind was a mess. She never would have guessed that Melvin and Willow knew each other,


    let alone seemed


    quite close.


    She couldn’t help but think back to that night at the club, wondering if the woman who got into his car


    was Willow


    She felt there was no need to stand there any longer. Keeping up a polite smile, she said, “Willow, I’m


    really grateful you took time out of your busy schedule toe to the school and make the students’


    fan dreamse true”


    “No need for thanks, Jocelyn. I was a student here too, and I haven’t really done much for the school,


    so I feel quite embarrassed


    Willow had a way with words. She said, “I’m sorry for bothering you today and disrupting teaching


    time.”


    Polite and humble, she was hard not to like.


    “Feel free toe back and visit anytime, Jocelyn offered generously.


    Definitely, Willow smiled. “Jocelyn, you don’t have to worry about me. Go do your thing.”


    Jocelyn nced at Melvin, who looked back at her indifferently.


    The two standing together were a sight for sore eyes.


    Feeling a sourness in her heart, she didn’t want to embarrass herself and turned away.


    Just at that moment, as she turned, it felt like sand had gotten into her eyes, causing difort.


    She thought Melvin would call after her, but he didn’t.


    She hadn’t walked far when the sound of the car engine starting up behind her and mist appeared


    before her eyes


    Suddenly, she understood the look Preston had given her when she insisted on inviting Willow, and


    why he had called


    her dumb.


    And dumb she was.


    Surely no one was as dumb as her, to invite her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend to unt in front of her.


    The dumbest part was that she didn’t even dare to hug her boyfriend in public as if she had stolen that


    title.


    She was increasingly feeling like a mistress, who was hidden from sight


    Jocelyn


    The low male voice from behind made her stop.


    She thought she was hallucinating.


    Weren’t we agreed that I’d pick you up for lunch? Why are you running off?” Melvin walked up to her,


    and seeing her reddened eyes, frowned. “Isn’t it me who’s being ignored here? Why are you crying?”


    Jocelyn turned around, and Willow’s car was already gone.


    She thought he would have left with her.


    “You didn’t leave?” Jocelyn’s voice was shaky with tears.


    Melvin, with his hands in his pockets, said coolly, “Jocelyn, I came to pick up my girlfriend.”


    Jocelyn had to admit, that word “girlfriend” pleased her


    In the car, Jocelyn gazed out the window, feeling a bit smug despite herself


    But the thought of Willow being so close to him curdled her satisfaction with a hint of jealousy.


    “What is your rtionship with Willow? Jocelyn couldn’t help but ask.


    Melvin, steering with one hand, looked cool as a cucumber.


    “Friends, he said tly.


    Jocelyn pursed her lips, Just friends?”


    “Yeah


    Jocelyn watched him for a few seconds and muttered under her breath, “Doesn’t look like it.”


    Melvin, with keen ears, looked at her, “Or maybe you’re hoping for a different kind of rtionship


    between us?


    Jocelyn wasn’t naive, friends won’t hug and cuddle like that.


    Three years ago, she took advantage of his drunken state on the side of the road, and Willow had been


    overseas hustling for three years.


    Plus, that night he left for two days after a phone call and then reappeared with Willow. It wasn’t hard to


    guess their past


    rtionship.


    There was really no way she could believe they were just friends.


    Knowing full well, it seemed pointless to ask further.


    Melvin took her to a beautifully decorated restaurant,plete with mountains and water, feeling like


    they were in a


    natural cave.


    The ce was bustling at noon, with people queuing outside for a table.


    Melvin said something to the waiter, who then led them inside, across a small bridge and past a


    pavilion, to a wooden door. Pushing through, Jocelyn saw several people already seated inside,


    including Willow.


    Her mood instantly soured.


    Willow’s smile stiffened a bit when she saw Jocelyn, “Melvin, aren’t you going to introduce us?”


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    The two men sitting next to Willow also looked at Melvin and Jocelyn, the one in the red shirt with a


    somewhat suggestive smile, the one in the white shirt a bit surprised.


    “Jocelyn,” was all Melvin said before gesturing for her to sit down.


    He took off his jacket, ced it over the chair back, with no intention of introducing the other two to


    Jocelyn.


    “Jocelyn, I finally get to have a meal with you.” The man in the red shirt got up and walked over to


    Jocelyn


    enthusiastically, reaching out his hand, “I’m Zephyr.”


    Before Jocelyn could even extend her hand, Melvin pressed it down, giving Zephyr a cold look, “Go


    back to your sent.”


    Zephyr pouted, “Come on, Melvin, why so stingy? You’ve kept Jocelyn hidden for so long and barely let


    her out. Now you


    t even let me have a close chat with her. That’s just too much.”


    Willow paused again in her drinking, casually asking, “Melvin and Jocelyn have known each other for a


    long time?”


    “You should be asking if they’ve been together for a long time, Zephyr quipped, eyebrows raised, his


    hand resting on Melvin’s shoulder. “That’s his hidden jewel. He was scared to death that we’d find out


    he’s snagged a hottie.”


    Jocelyn felt awkward


    Only she knew that Melvin didn’t introduce her to his friends because he never really nned to include


    her in his life.


    This time was indeed a surprise for her, even a bit overwhelming


    “Girlfriend?” The guy with the somewhat frosty demeanor suddenly popped the question


    Jocelyn’s heart skipped a beat because of his question.


    “What else? Zephyr pped the man’s shoulder, “Would he bring her here if she wasn’t his girlfriend?


    Yannick Hayden, you need to step up your game As a man, howe you don’t even have a whiff of


    scandal?”


    Jocelyn felt a twinge of disappointment


    He did bring her to meet his friends, but he didn’t acknowledge her as his girlfriend.


    Yannick brushed off Zephyr’s hand, “Watch your kidneys, bro.”


    Zephyr chuckled. Look who’s talking tough.”


    “Melvin, when did you and Jocelyn start?” Willow asked lightly.