Chapter 125
Their eyes met briefly – just a few heartbeats of a moment – before Jocelyn quickly averted her gaze
and spun on her heel to leave.
She was scared to face Melvin.
Truth be told, he was the one who should feel sorry. But the mere sight of him made her insides churn
with unease. She couldn’t just brush it off and y it cool.
Jocelyn hurried back to the private party room, deliberately choosing the seat in the farthest corner as if
to hide, as though she feared Melvin mighte looking for her.
But then she scoffed at herself for being paranoid. How would Melvin know which private room she was
in?
She shook her head at her own ridiculous thoughts. Maybe she was being a bit too self-involved.
She rxed as the party around her surged with energy. A server pushed the door open, bearing a
large tter of assorted snacks and a cooler full of beer and cocktails for thedies.
The party-goers looked cunously at the birthday girl. “Did you order an extra grub?”
“I didn’t,” Hannah replied, equally puzzled.
The server rified. These are from Mr. Martinez. Also, he’s taken care of your tab for the evening
Everyone instantly knew who it was. They all knew there was only one Mr. Martinez in their circle.
–
The crowd started buzzing about how much clout Hannah had, for Melvin to not only send a feast their
way but also pick up the tab The guy was generous
Urs nudged Jocelyn yfully, “Hey, you think this is all for you?”
Jocelyn forced a smile, though she wasn’t sure how convincing it looked. “No way. It’s not my birthday.
And even if it were, he’s thest person who should be picking up my tab.”
“What’s his reason, then? Urs probed. “Do rich guys just have too much money and not enough
ways to spend it?”
Jocelyn didn’t have an answer. But it dawned on her that Melvin knew she was here.
She had assumed that Melvin had moved on from her life and that she could continue her rtionship
with Harrison without interference
Yet, seeing Melvin again unsettled her, as if all her carefullyid ns coulde undone at any
moment.
Feeling uneasy, she grabbed her jacket, said a quick goodbye to Hannah and her colleagues, and
made an early exit.
Urs offered to apany her And Jocelyn agreed, not wanting to risk an awkward encounter with
Melvin.
As they exited the karaoke bar, Jocelyn spotted Melvin leaning against his car, a cigarette in hand,
surrounded by a graveyard of stubs. He must have been waiting for a while.
“He’s not waiting for you, is he?” Urs asked, her concern palpable
Jocelyn took a deep breath and steered them both to walk past him.
“He’sing over,” Urs whispered, keeping an eye on Melvin.
Jocelyn quickened her pace.
Urs tugged at her. “Why run? He can’t do anything to you The more you bolt, the more he’ll think
he’s got you wrapped around his finger, that you can’t shake him off.”
Urs’s grip halted Jocelyn in her tracks.
Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.
The truth was, Jocelyn couldn’t face Melvin. Her heart raced uncontrobly at the sight of him. Other
than staying far away, she didn’t know how to confront him head-on.
“Don’t be scared,” Urs encouraged. “You don’t owe him money, or your life. He can’t do anything to
you. Remember, he’s a jerk who wanted to have his cake and eat it. You dumped him because he did
you wrong. You’ve done nothing to feel guilty about, so there’s no reason to flee.”
Jocelyn knew all this, but emotions weren’t swayed by logic. Otherwise, why would anyone be love-
blinded? Why would people knowingly walk into mistakes?
The world might run on rity and understanding, but the maze of romantic feelings defies such order
Jocelyn was adamant
A good ex should be like a ghost in your past, out of sight and out of mind.
solving the problem Urs said, visibly anxious about her friend’s evasion. “The more you do this, the
less likely you get
apter
over him unless one of you leaves the town, if he’s determined, you’re bound to cross paths.”
Melvin had approached them and stood in front. He nodded slightly at Urs before his gaze settled on
Jocelyn. “Avoiding me?”
Jocelyn frowned. “Since you know, you shouldn’t havee.”
“I need to speak with her,” Melvin said, addressing Urs.
Urs, ever tactful, still warned, “She has a boyfriend, you know.”
Melvin’s eyes darkened, but he stayed silent.
Releasing Jocelyn’s hand, Urs said, “I’ll be right over there,” indicating she’d be watching over.
2 2 2 8
Alone with Melvin for the first time in ages, Jocelyn felt her anxiety spike.
Once Urs had stepped away, even breathing seemed a struggle for Jocelyn.
“Do you know why I’m here?” Melvin asked, locking eyes with her.
Jocelyn looked away, trying to sound indifferent, “No idea”
“I didn’t want toe, really”
Jocelyn remained silent
Melvin, sensing her coldness, spoke with a hint of flippancy. “I think we should continue what we had.”
Jocelyn’s eyes narrowed as she finally met his gaze.
“I have a boyfriend.”
“So what?” Melvin scoffed, unimpressed “You don’t love him.”
Jocelyn’s chest tightened. “Is that your excuse for not taking me seriously?”
“What?” Melvin was confused by her usation.
She bit her lip, “You take me for granted because I love you. You said I don’t love him, so I should just
get entangled with you again?”
Melvin furrowed his brows. “Do you really think you’ll be happy to be with someone you don’t love,
even if he offers you marriage?”
“So, I deserve to be yed by you forever?”
“Can wemunicate properly?” Melvin’s irritation grew at her defensive stance.
Jocelyn spoke in a measured tone, her voice carrying a hint of finality. “I’m just stating the facts. If you
were any kind of gentleman, you’d stop pestering me. I want to live my life the way I’ve nned, and
you should go live yours. We really don’t need to be tangled up in each other’s business anymore
Melvin’s eyes narrowed, his thin lips pursed before he let out a low chuckle. “You’re right about one
thing-I can’t stop thinking about you. Because I’ve realized that without you, nothing else brings me
joy.”
Watching his shameless expression, Jocelyn felt an overwhelming urge to grab a brick from the ground
and hurl it at his head.
“My only source of fun these days is you, Melvin said with a sly grin, like a devil of the night who had
found an amusing prey. He wasn’t in a rush to devour it. He wanted to y with it until he was satisfied.
Jocelyn’s heart raced with panic. She had thought the peace of the past few weeks wouldst, but it
had been shattered all too quickly. She could tell that Melvin was serious
Melvin watched her for a long time with a smirk as he could easily see the panic and annoyance in her
eyes. Suddenly, he leaned in to steal a kiss from her lips.
Jocelyn quickly dodged.
Unfazed, Melvin reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly to him, his other
hand cradling the back of her neck. As she struggled, he pressed his lips against hers, a sensation he
had missed for far too long.
This was the vor he had been craving day and night.
Jocelyn let out muffled protests, but Melvin’s interest only grew. He bit her lip, and as she yelped in
pain, he seized the opportunity to breach her defenses, conquering the territory he had longed for,
reveling in his triumph.
Jocelyn was a blend of fury and embarrassment, pinching him all over. To him, it was nothing but
merely an itch. When she tried to bite his tongue, he swiftly withdrew, denying her the chance.
Melvin worried that in her rage, she might truly hurt him.
He observed her panting, her lips plump and tempting from his attentions, her eyes filled with anger but
also shimmering with an
been a long time since fre kissed you, he said, now with the upper hand, his voice softening, his eyes
brimming with ensation His
fingers gently traced her lips and his heart surged like the title. His gaze locked on her flustered yet
impotent anger and his Adarn’s apple bobbed with a husky voice, I’ve missed you so much”