Chapter 108


    The relentless rain showed no sign of abating as Jocelyn grabbed her umbre and headed to the


    elevator.


    As she waited, her mind wandered to Melvin.


    “I have a new boyfriend. What business do I have worrying about an ex?” she thought, “And how can I


    justify this to Harrison?”


    The elevator arved With the hesitation causing a moment’s dy, the doors closed again before


    Jocelyn could enter.


    Finally, Jocelyn called Preston, telling his mother toe and get Melvin home. She didn’t leave any


    room for small talk and returned to her apartment immediately after she made the call.


    She peeked through the curtains at the figure outside from her bedroom window November had


    brought a biting cold, and the rain seemed to intensify the man’s misery as if it was seeking sympathy


    for him.


    The proud Melvin was a soaked shadow of his former self, standing helplessly in the downpour


    ncing at the clock, Jocelyn realized it had been over fifteen minutes since she called Preston, but


    there was no sign of any approaching car Had his family truly abandoned him?


    She tried calling Preston again, only to be met with the robotic tone of his voicemail.


    Jocelyn frowned deeply, questioning the heartlessness of Melvin’s family


    Without Zephyr’s number to call for help, Jocelyn didn’t know whom to turn to


    The sound of rain beating against the leaves outside and the sight of Melvinpletely drenched


    finally broke her resolve, and she picked up her umbre once more and left the apartment


    Stepping out of the elevator, a st of cold air hit her Jocelyn wrapped her coat tighter around herself,


    opened her umbre, and approached Melvin.


    He looked worse than a drowned rat, his skin pale and his


    lips colorless. His eyes, once lively, were staring at Jocelyn with a dim,


    pleading intensity


    As she drew closer, his gaze briefly flickered.


    Jocelyn held the umbre over his head, the rain pounding loudly on the fabric.


    “Have you had enough of this charade?” she raised her voice to ensure he could hear her through the


    noise.


    Melvin’s face was all with rain, and as it flowed down his cheeks and off his chin, a twisted smile


    appeared on his lips. “You still care about me, he said, amusement in his eyes


    Jocelyn was speechless


    His maniptive behavior convinced her she shouldn’t have given in to sentiment. His family didn’t


    care, and why should she? It wasn’t her ce to worry, even if something happened to him.


    “Stay out here if you must Jocelyn dered, ready to leave him to his devices


    As she turned to leave, Melvin’s cold hand suddenly grasped hers. His touch was icy, chilling her to the


    bone.


    Jocelyn turned back, ring at his hand. She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.


    “I’m cold,” Melvin said, punctuating his statement with a sneeze


    Jocelyn frowned. Then why don’t you go inside?”


    “I’m soaking wet he replied, his voice faint, perhaps muffled by the heavy rain.


    “No one made you stand out here.” Jocelyn said, avoiding his eyes, which resembled those of an


    abandoned stray dog without a haven. Suddenly, Melvin let go of her hand and looked down. “Go back


    inside. Don’t worry about me,” he said, stepping away from her umbre.


    Jocelyn was both amused and frustrated by his antics. “What’s this supposed to be?”


    She bit her lip, gazing at him. “I called Preston over fifteen minutes ago. He knows you’re out here.


    Your sister probably knows, too. But they didn’te.”


    ‘If you got sick by standing out here, I wouldn’t be responsible. So… Jocelyn took out her phone. “I


    might as well call your fiancee toe get you”


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    She had received a message from Willow once, unsigned, but she knew it must be from her.


    Before she could make the coll, her phone was suddenly wet.


    elvin had taken it


    The message was clear.


    [Thanks for being with Melvin these three years. From now on, you have nothing to do with him.]


    Melvin scrutinized the message, his eyes narrowing. He never knew Willow had sent such a text to


    Jocelyn.


    “Give me back my phone,” Jocelyn demanded.


    While standing in the rain. Melvin’s face was wet with rainwater and he looked her in the eyes. There’s


    nothing between me and Willow


    “Is that so? Jocelyn shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore”


    “It doesn’t matter? Melvin’s voice hardened, and his grip on the phone tightened. “You can just decide it


    doesn’t matter? To you, am I just a toy you toss aside when you grow tired of?”


    Jocelyn thought he had lost his mind.


    She didn’t want to argue it was pointless


    “Give me my phone,” she said calmly. “Stand in the rain if you want, but I won’t meddle anymore. After


    all, you have nothing to do with


    me now”


    Jocelyn’s


    is words seemed to ignite a fire in Melvin’s chest. He could feel that she was serious this time. She


    didn’t want him anymore!


    Jocelyn wrestled her phone back and walked away without a backward nce.


    As she reached the entrance of the building, she heard a ssh behind her. Turning, she saw Melvin


    copsed on the ground.


    At the hospital, Jocelyn called Preston, but his phone was off


    Standing at the door, Jocelyn debated whether to call Willow. A momentter, she decided to let Willow


    know


    The phone rang several times before someone answered it


    “Who is this?


    Td like to speak to Willow


    “She’s busy, the voice replied, and the phone clicked dead.


    Jocelyn called back, only to be cut off after two rings.


    She was speechless


    Inside the room, Melvin was on IVs. The doctor said his fever had spiked to 104 degrees. He was still


    weak from a recent surgery, and if his condition continued, it could be dire


    Jocelyn felt no pity thinking that he had brought this upon himself.


    She stood beside his bed, looking at the man, who appeared visibly gaunt. She wondered what could


    be going through his mind.


    She’d ask a doctor to check his head for the hidden illness if she could.


    It was past ten at night. Thankfully, it was the weekend the following day.


    Jocelyn’s phone buzzed with a call from Harrison, startling her. She quickly turned down the volume


    before the ring could wake the man sprawled across the bed Slipping into the hallway, she pressed the


    phone to her ear


    “You up?” Harrison’s voice came through tinged with longing


    “Yeah, I’m awake.”


    “Can we FaceTime? I’m missing you,” he said, expressing his feelings in the quiet night.


    A pause hung in the air as Jocelyn hesitated. Each word to Harrison felt like a betrayal now


    He caught on to her silence instantly. “Bad time?”


    “I’m… at the hospital.


    “You okay? Something wrong?” Concemced his voice,ing through in a rush.


    “I’m okay” Jocelyn hurried to exin. “It’s just a friend… He had surgery recently, got caught in the rain


    today, came down with a fever, and passed out. Can’t reach his family, so I’m the only one here”


    Retief washed over Hamson on hearing she was okay. “It’ste. You should try to get some rest, too.”


    Yesh


    After a soft murmur of agreement, Jocelyn was at a loss for words.


    Guilt gnawed at her She’d agreed to be Hamson’s girlfriend, yet she was still meeting up with her ex. It


    was a mora! slip she couldn’t justy, especially after what happened of the day. The shame was


    palpable as if the miles between them were nothing, and just the


    sound of his voice was enough to remind her of her disgrace.