Chapter 162


    Willow’s break-up with the jewelry brand CEO was the talk of the town, turning her into the punchline of


    the industry jokes. All her talk about “first loves,” “exes reuniting,” and “bing better to deserve him”


    now seemed utterlyughable.


    The connections she had thanks to Melvin were now in question. People started to wonder if they


    should keep cooperate with her after the brand announced the termination of her contract.


    Showbiz is harsh like that. At the slightest hint of trouble, everyone watches which way the wind blows.


    “It’s all your fault, U, for giving me such lousy advice. Look where it got me!” Willowshed out at


    U, venting all her frustration on her.


    U remained calm. “You never really loved him, so what’s the big deal if you lost him?”


    Willow red at her. “How do you know?”


    “If you really loved him, you wouldn’t have slept your way to the top,” U fired back bluntly. “Drop the


    act. No more pretending to be the lover in distress.”


    Fuming, Willow snapped, “Keep your mouth shut about me in public, will you?”


    U smirked. “He’s just a jewelry brand CEO. You shouldn’t have waited for him like some kind of saint.


    Remember that haute couture designer who gave you his card? You turned him down before, but now’s


    the perfect time to call him. For a woman, building her own career is what counts.”


    “You’re just worried I won’t make it big and won’t be of any use to you,” Willow retorted, aware of U’s


    motives.


    The entertainment industry is never clean. Everyone’s hands get dirty in some way or another. It’s just


    a matter of who’s less filthy.


    “We’re all in this circle together. More friends, more paths,” said U. “You ought to realize by now that


    you can’tpete with Jocelyn. If Melvin considers you a friend, that’s already saying something.”


    Willow’s face twisted with anger.


    “He didn’ty a finger on you even after all that, which clearly shows how little he feels for you. Really,


    stop pining for someone who’ll never be yours. If you can’t put down your pride, then aim for someone


    even bigger than Melvin. In this world, nothing’s more useless than love.”


    With a final nce at Willow, U stood up. “Think it over. As far as I can see, no matter what you do,


    that man will never be yours. I’m leaving.”


    After U left, Willow hurled a cushion to the floor in a rage.


    3 4 5 4


    U’s words were too sharp and too cutting.


    And yet, what she said was the truth.


    Willow had fancied herself Melvin’s beloved. But in reality, she was nothing to him.


    And Melvin’s actions now were a p in her face. It was all because of that woman!


    Calvin had resigned from his job, and the neighbors started asking questions when they noticed he


    wasn’t going to work. They seemed friendly and concerned on the surface, but behind closed doors,


    who knew what gossip they spread?


    Especially when Calvin had brought home so manypany perks during the holidays, everyone was


    envious. Some even asked him for a referral, but got to know that thepany wasn’t hiring.


    To the neighbors, it seemed as though Calvin didn’t want them to seed, hence he didn’t help.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Now that Calvin had lost his job, those who couldn’t enjoy the same benefits were secretly gloating.


    “Why’d you quit such a good job? If I were you, I’d never resign unless they kicked me out,” the next-


    door neighbor insinuated that Calvin was let go.


    Calvin bristled internally. No one liked to feel inferior.


    “It wasn’t that they didn’t want me. I chose to leave. They even offered me a raise as I left. Honestly,


    even if they made me CEO, I wouldn’t stay,” he retorted.


    “Calvin, you’re blowing smoke. Why would such a bigpany offer that to you?” the neighbor


    chuckled. “It’s not like thepany is your son-inw’s.”


    Calvin frowned, nearly blurting out that it was his son-inw’spany. But he held back.


    That was no son-inw material in his eyes.


    “I’ve got other things to do,” Calvin said, turning to head home.


    A Mercedes pulled up, and both Calvin and the neighbor stepped aside.


    Harrison poked his head out. “Hi.”


    Seeing Harrison, Calvin’s mood brightened instantly. “Harrison!”


    Harrison parked the car, greeted the neighbor with a nod and hefted a box from the trunk. “This is a box


    of grapefruit from my mom’s orchard. She and her friends picked them this morning, and we had them


    flown in right away.”


    Calvin’s eyes lit up. “That’s really thoughtful of her.”


    “Let’s head inside.”


    “Sure.”


    As Harrison and Calvin walked away, the neighbor watched them and muttered to apanion,


    “Calvin’s got a good daughter, and her boyfriend’s a catch.”


    “I remember seeing another man with Jocelyn a few days ago. Who’s the real boyfriend?” the


    companion wondered.


    “There’s no other guy. It’s been this one. He’s been over to Calvin’s cest year, and I think their


    parents have met already,” the neighbor said, eyeing the building where Calvin lived. “I don’t know what


    kind of luck it is, but Calvin’s daughter turned out quite the beauty.”


    “You’re right, but you know, Calvin and his wife were lookers in their youth too.”


    “It all depends on who she marries. A good marriage means a life without worries, but a bad one…”


    The neighbor pursed his lips and shook his head, ncing at Calvin’s apartment building before


    walking away.


    Calvin didn’t care what others said. He warmly weed Harrison in and told his wife to prepare a few


    extra dishes for dinner.


    Daisy was overjoyed to see Harrison, greeting him with open arms. After the pleasantries, she


    remembered Jocelyn had not chosen Harrison. Her mood dipped again.


    “Calvin, call Jocelyn and tell her toe home for dinner. Just her, remember,” Daisy instructed


    pointedly.


    Calvin understood his wife’s meaning.


    He


    gave Harrison an awkward smile, then dialed Jocelyn’s number. He didn’t mention Harrison, just


    passed on her mother’s dinner request, emphasizing she shoulde alone.


    Harrison wasn’t sure what was going on but sensed something odd about Calvin and Daisy’s behavior.


    As dusk settled over the city, Jocelyn hailed a cab home from school and dialed Melvin’s number to


    inform him she’d be dining at her parents’ ce.


    “A family dinner and no invite for me?” Melvin’s voice carried a hint of hurt.


    “Nope,” she replied simply


    “Guess they’re not exactly fond of me, right?”


    Even without seeing him, Jocelyn could easily picture Melvin’s disappointment etched across his face.


    Teasing him, sheughed, “What’s the matter? Is this a taste of your own medicine from back when


    you yed hard to get, and now you can’t keep up?”


    “I never yed hard to get with you. If anything, you were the one keeping me at arm’s length,” Melvin


    retorted, his mind sharp as ever.


    “So, you’re saying I was the one out of your league?” Jocelyn shot back quickly.


    Melvin pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Are you still on about that? It was you who had


    the hots for me first. I was just lying low, letting you climb your way to me however you wanted.”


    Jocelyn’s cheeks flushed a bright red, grateful that the cab driver couldn’t overhear their banter.


    “Stop talking nonsense,” she hissed under her breath.


    Melvin let out a chuckle, then sighed. “I need to figure out a way to get them to ept me.”