Chapter 101
Miles from the hotel, the shing lights of an ambnce caught their eyes, signaling some sort of
emergency at the entrance.
“Don’t bother walking me up,” said Jocelyn, clutching the cash envelope. Il take this as a token of your
appreciation.”
“Sure” Harrison was not keen on adding to themotion ahead. ‘I’ll rest easy knowing you’ve
epted IL
Jocelyn chuckled. Womied I won’t take this seriously?”
“A bit Hamison confessed, the honesty in his voice unmistakable “But this time, please, be serious
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She nodded emphatically. “Yes, serious”
Hisugh crinkled his eyes into gleeful crescents, his gaze pure and innocent, like a child reveling in a
spoonful of sugar.
“I should get going” Jocelyn unbuckled her seat belt
Hamison nodded, his eyes lingering on her, filled with a silent plea for her to stay.
As she pushed the car door open, Harrison’s voice halted her.
She turned back
Hamson’s lips parted slightly, his eyes fixed on hers, a new intensity flickering within.
Jocelyn instantly understood his unspoken desire. What would a rtionship be without a kiss?
But suddenly, she felt a twinge of nervousness, an unfamiliar flutter in her stomach.
“It’s okay” Harrison’s voice was soft, barely above a whisper. “Goodnight.”
Her tension eased as she said softly. “Goodnight”
Exiting the car, Harrison gripped the steering wheel, watching her until she disappeared into the hotel
before he finally exhaled and drove off
Inside the lobby, Jocelyn’s hand flew to her chest, her heart pounding against her ribs like a caged bird.
She sank into a couch, trying to steady her breath
The elevator dinged, and paramedics emerged, wheeling someone out on a stretcher.
Jocelyn nced up just long enough to recognize the patient – Melvin.
Surprised, she watched until they left and approached the front desk to inquire about the situation.
The staff exined a guest had suffered a sudden illness, and they were trying to reach his family.
Jocelyn knew Melvin hardly had any family in town. Even if they contacted his sister, Preston, or
Willow, none would make it in time.
“I know him, Jocelyn offered. I’ll notify his family.”
Grateful, the staff quickly arranged her transportation to the hospital.
At the hospital, Jocelyn was notified that Melvin had already been rushed into surgery for acute
appendicitis.
Pacing the hall, she was a bundle of nerves, half an hour feeling like an eternity until the doctor finally
appeared.
Melvin was wheeled out, still unconscious from anesthesia.
After settling the bill, Jocelyn sat vigil in his ward.
Looking at the man’s pale face, she felt indescribably uneasy, as if something was stuck in her chest.
She could not fathom why he hade to Berry City, without her, he would have faced surgery with no
one by his side
Given his stoic facade, a heartless man like him probably would not dread such solitude
After all, Melvin had already decided to be by himself forever
Sitting in the sterile room, memories of their tumultuous past – his dominance, intensity, and irrationality
– now seemed trivial.
Here he was, vulnerable, unable to fend off even a p
An hourter, Melvin’s eyelids fluttered.
Recognizing Jocelyn, confusion and then disbelief flickered across his face, like an abandoned pet
finding a home.
Seeing him finally awake. Jocelyn was finally relieved.
“Why are you here?” The moment Melvin saw her, the emotions in his eyes seemed to have be
turbulent. “Get out!”
Jocelyn’s heart sank at his harshness, but she swallowed the hurt, reminding herself it was she who
had interfered.
Trying to mask her emotional tremor, she retorted, “Ring the bell if you need something I’m leaving.”
She had no reason to stay and get
roared at.
Melvin did not watch her leave
As Jocelyn reached the door, she paused, tuming back with instructions. “You can’t eat anything right
now. I’ve paid for your care and hired a nurse. Also, I’ve informed Preston, so he’ll let Willow know
you’re ill.”
Each word shifted Melvin’s gaze from confusion to indifference and then to anger
“Who asked you to meddle?” He was funous, frustration evident though his body was frail.
Jocelyn faced him, his rage unable to mask his pain. “It’smon decency to inform someone’s family
and partner when they’re ill
His retort was sharp “Surprising, you can still care for me while being with someone else. Aren’t you
afraid your new boyfriend will mind you tending to an old me?”
She refused to engage in such a pointless argument with a patient. “Rest up,” she said, turning to
leave.
“Don’t you dare!” His attempt to rise was met with a sharp pain that contorted his face.
Instinctively, Jocelyn rushed to his side, pressing him down. “Are you out of your mind? Lie still!”
Though his face was pale, his anger was still there, evident from the venom in his eyes
“Why do you care so much?” Melvin’s voice was a hiss of defiance. “If you’ve moved on, why can’t you
let me be? Do you still love me? Why date someone else if you still fucking love me?”
Jocelyn took a deep breath, released him, and stood by the bed Suppressing her heartache, she met
his fury with a calm, steady gaze “Melvin, it was you who left me
“Bullshit!” He retorted, the pain ring again.
Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “I have no time for this nor the desire to continue. And if you and
Willow are back together, treat her right Don’t y games, it’s unfair to everyone involved.”
Melvin’s chest was pounding with a fury that made it impossible to tell if it was his heartache or his
wound that was causing the pain. His lips were ashen, and his eyes-usually as soft and inviting as
cherry blossoms were now like daggers,ced with venom as they fixated on Jocelyn “Are you really
that clueless, or are you just ying dumb?”
“I’m clueless,” Jocelyn nced at her watch, her tone nonchnt. “You should rest. The nurse will be
here soon. I’ve got to go.”
“Jocelyn Agitated, Melvin burst into a coughing fit
Seeing him nearly cough himself to death, Jocelyn could not bring herself to leave him like that.
She summoned the doctor, who firmly advised against any form of agitation. He had just been through
surgery and was still weak.
Jocelyn took a deep breath. She had not been the one to aggravate him, he was doing it to himself
Heeding the hospitals caution, Jocelyn stood by the doorway, keeping her distance.
She had indeed meddled more than necessary. Why try to prove her magnanimity? Now she was stuck
with a hot potato and unable to drop it and feeling the burn.
Melviny in his bed, his gaze never straying from her
Jocelyn leaned against the wall, arms crossed, silent
She suspected Melvin had some psychological issues-a possessiveness bordering on the pathological.
It seemed he could not bear her being with anyone else, even if they were not together.
It was utterly selfish.
He had been all lovey-dovey with Willow, and now here he was, trying to y the devoted lover to her.
Did he want to be a double-timer?
‘Come here,” Melvin called out to her.
Jocelyn did not budge.
Melvin’s eyes bore into her. “I’m alreadypromising, he said.
He implied it was time for her to take the hint and ept it gracefully.