Chapter 121


    Melvin’s eyes twinkled with a mischievous clint, yet there was a hint of feigned innocence In his gaze


    as if he were earnestly seeking


    advice


    Jocelyn couldn’t just ignore him, not with her parents’ feelings to consider.


    “Of course,” she replied.


    “Hmm, that’s good. A romance where both hearts are solely for each other can trulyst. If one is


    harboring feelings for someone else while dating and professing true love, that’s shameful.” Melvin


    spoke with the air of someone who’d been around the block, “I once dated a girl who wanted to step


    into marriage. But I felt the timing wasn’t right, so she got mad and broke up with me. She rushed into a


    rtionship with some random guy, probably thinking he’d marry her on the spot, and even took him


    home to meet the parents. But I could tell, she never really got over me.”


    Each word from Melvin nearly choked Jocelyn. She could read between the lines-he was taking jabs,


    exploiting the situation to embarrass her.


    He just wouldn’t miss any opportunity to make her squirm


    “Oh no,” Daisy chimed in, shaking her head, “That’s not right. Entering a serious rtionship without


    letting go of an ex? That’s a no-go. It’s unfair to the current partner if you’ve still got that barrier in your


    heart.”


    Jocelyn’s expression turned sour.


    Melvin’s smirk grew wider. His gaze shifted between the increasingly ufortable Jocelyn and


    Harrison, who no longer seemed indifferent. “Exactly. Dating with someone else in your heart is


    downright hical.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Jocelyn wanted to throttle Melvin. His mouth was so infuriatingly sharp!


    “Nah, that’s not okay Luckily, our Jocelyn isn’t like that. Harrison is the first boyfriend she’s brought


    home. I’m truly at ease with them. It’s fate that brought them together, and if they tie the knot, it’s meant


    to be,” Daisy was blissfully unaware of the undercurrents swirling between the three young people and


    cheerfully said to Melvin, “Mr. Martinez, when they get married, you muste and raise a ss.”


    Melvin’s smile stiffened for a moment, as if struck by a sudden pang in his heart.


    He raised an eyebrow, eyeing Jocelyn with a look that wanted to be venomous but feared being too


    revealing. Instead, he simply touched the imprint of teeth on the back of his hand and gazed at the


    difited Jocelyn, “Certainly.”


    The meal was a torturous affair for Jocelyn. She had no appetite.


    Daisy and Calvin were enthusiastically entertaining Melvin and Harrison. In their eyes, Harrison was


    their future son-inw. And since Melvin had visited twice already, the atmosphere was rxed.


    To Jocelyn, it seemed like Melvin and Harrison were both being sized up as potential inws.


    She mentally pped herself for the thought. Both of them, seriously? She must be losing it.


    Finally, the dinner was over. Harrison insisted on doing the dishes. The look of approval and joy in


    Daisy and Calvin’s eyes was unmistakable


    After tidying everything up, Harrison nced at the clock, “Calvin, Daisy, I should get going.”


    “That’s fine, we won’t keep you, Calvin stood up, offering to see him out


    “No need,” Harrison turned to Jocelyn, “Calvin, Daisy, Jocelyn is a bit incapacitated right now. Please


    take extra care of her.”


    “Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of her,” Daisy assured him, whose satisfaction with Harrison was


    evident.


    Harrison crouched in front of Jocelyn, gripping her hand tenderly, “Try to avoid getting your cast wet,


    and keep warm, especially during your period.”


    “Okay,” Jocelyn was still a bit uneasy, probably due to Melvin’s prating stares


    Harrison stood and leaned in, clearly intending to kiss her


    Jocelyn tensed.


    His hands framed her, and he slowly drew closer with his eyes fixing on her lips.


    Their breath mingled, Jocelyn swallowed nervously. Her mind was in chaos, aware of Melvin’s watchful


    gaze. She closed her eyes, bracing for the moment.


    Just as hes breath neared her lips, a sudden ringtone shattered the moment.


    Such interruptions always seem toe at the most critical times, a mere inch frompletion, yet it


    stopped them both.


    cuffed out his phone answering the unfamiliar number and caught Jocelyn’s subtle sigh of relief.


    Rickered within turn


    “The driver’s downstairs I gotta go,” Hamison ultimately didn’t resume his attempt. He pocketed his


    phone and embraced Jocelyn gently. “Wait for me


    Jocelyn felt ashamed of her fleeting insecurity and fear. She stood and grasped Harrison’s hand.


    “What’s up?” Harrison looked curious


    Jocelyn smiled softly. Take care,” and then opened her arms wide for a big hug.


    Sometimes a hug can send your heart racing more than a kiss.


    At least Harrison’s heart skipped a beat from her embrace.


    “Yeah.” Harnson hugged her back tightly, his voice warm withughter Reluctant to let go, he added “I’ll


    bete when I get there so I won’t call ”


    “Alright, but text me. If I’m still awake. I’ll reply,” Jocelyn was now fully embracing her role.


    Harrison nodded with a smile.


    The driver honked from downstairs. After onest look of affection at Jocelyn and farewells to Calvin


    and Daisy, Harrison left.


    He wasn’t womed about Melvin’s presence now Jocelyn had made her stance clear


    With Calvin and Daisy around, what could Melvin do?


    Hamison left with a heart full of sweetness


    Melvin gazed at Jocelyn’s look of being caught up in sweet love and narrowed his eyes just slightly, his


    face unreadable


    They sure seemed smitten with each other.


    His gaze fixed intently on Jocelyn, who deliberately dodged his look.


    Calvin escorted Harrison down the stairs, while Daisy felt a tad awkward around Melvin, considering he


    was her husband’s boss Plus, with Harrison gone, why on earth was he still lingering?


    It’s tough to show a guest the door without seeming rude, especially when the guest in question is a


    sessful, savvy young man like Melvin. Common sense would suggest it was high time for him to


    make his exit.


    In an attempt to break the awkward silence, Daisy offered, “Mr. Martinez, would you care for some


    coffee?”


    Offering coffee at this hour was just clutching at straws for conversation.


    “No, thank you,” Melvin replied, understanding the cue. He stood up, straightening his shirt, “I apologize


    for imposing on you this evening.”


    “Oh, it’s no trouble at all. We’re actually grateful for your kindness in getting me home safe,” Daisy said,


    rising to see him out.


    “You needn’t escort me,” Melvin insisted, disying a sense of propriety, “Please, get some rest.”


    “I’ll have Calvin walk you out.” Daisy said as she reached the door, just in time to see Calvin ascending


    the stairs, “Calvin, Mr. Martinez is leaving. Would you mind seeing him off?”


    Calvin nodded immediately, “Of course, of course.”


    There’s really no need to fuss, Melvin said with a smile. “I’m about the same age as Jocelyn. It’s almost


    embarrassing how formal you’re being”


    At the mention of her name, Jocelyn instinctively nced his way.


    Their eyes met, and just as quickly, Jocelyn cast her gaze down, suppressing the flutter in her chest.


    “It’s no trouble at all, I insist, Calvin said with a p of his hand, and the lights in the stairwell flickered


    back to life.


    Melvin nodded, “Well then, I appreciate it.”


    After exchanging farewells with Daisy and sparing a look at the aloof Jocelyn, he departed.


    “He’s gone,” Daisy said from the doorway as she watched them descend the stairs. She let out a


    relieved sigh, returning to the couch


    and turned to Jocelyn, “Jocelyn, do you think Mr. Martinez’s behaviour was a bit odd?”


    ocelyn’s heart skipped. “Odd? How so?” she asked as her curiosity piqued.