Chapter 178
Jocelyn was fiddling with the ring on her finger, Her mind was a whirl of troubled thoughts.
“What’s up? You’ve been looking like you’ve got the world on your shoulderstely” Urs leaned
against the office desk, her gaze fixed on her friend. “Isn’t that an engagement ring? And doesn’t your
guy pick you up and drop you off every day? What could possibly be making you this unhappy?”
Jocelyn leaned back in her chair, a sigh escaping from her lips. “He went to talk to my parents about
marrying me a few days ago, but my mom didn’t agree.”
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Urs’s eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Why wouldn’t she agree?”
“It’s all happening too fast. Plus, they haven’t met his family.” Jocelyn twisted the ring around her finger,
her expression tinged with sadness. “I know what my parents are worrying about, but it’s like… he’s
finally ready to marry me, but now it’s my parents’ turn to throw a wrench in the works. It’s just…”
She shook her head in disappointment.
Urs pondered for a moment before speaking, “You know, Calvin and Daisy do have a point. In the
old days, families would have to check the horoscopes before tying the knot. Now that you’re talking
marriage, it’s pretty reasonable for both sides’ parents to sit down and have a serious meeting.
Anyhow, it’s a sign of good faith from the groom’s side.”
“He lost his mom long ago. And his dad-well, he never talks about him,” Jocelyn confessed, her
frustration evident. “Now we’re stuck at this impasse, and I just don’t know what to do.”
“If he really wants to marry you, he’ll find a way to win over Calvin and Daisy,” Urs said with a
mischievous glint in her eye. “Actually, I’ve got a couple of ideas that could solve your problem.”
Jocelyn’s curiosity was piqued. “What are they?”
“First, you could get pregnant before the wedding.”
“That’s out of the question!” Jocelyn dismissed the idea without a second thought.
Urs frowned. “What’s so wrong with
h it? You’ve been in love for years. It’s perfectly normal to have a child.”
“Surely these days, it’s not a big deal to have a kid out of wedlock, but it can’t be taken as a calcted
move to pressure your parents.” Jocelyn had never considered using such a tactic.
“Alright, scrap that idea. How about this: just get your marriage registered secretly. Then keep your
rtionship going as usual. Over time, once there’s proof that your rtionship is solid, they’lle
around.”
Jocelyn frowned at Urs. “Why do you alwayse up with such… underhanded schemes?”
“Jocelyn, you’re a literature teacher. You can’t just throw around words. This isn’t underhanded. It’s a
way to prove your future happiness.” Urs spoke with conviction. “To be the wife of the man you
love, a little cunning can’t hurt, right? Besides, if you believe that getting married will truly make you
happy and give your parents peace of mind, then it’ll be a shining moment in your life.” Urs winked.
“Happiness is something you’ve got to fight for yourself.”
Jocelyn still found Urs’s suggestions unreliable.
Register secretly?
She didn’t think it’s a good idea.
But then again, it seemed less sinful than getting pregnant out of wedlock.
If she went down that route, not only would it be an affront to her parents, but she also couldn’t bear the
thought of bringing a child into the world with ulterior motives.
The idea of secret registration now upied Jocelyn’s thoughts.
Melvin apanied Calvin to his check-up and then joined him for a game of chess.
For half a month, Melvin was a constant presence at Jocelyn’s parents’ home, so much so that all the
neighbors knew him as Jocelyn’s boyfriend.
His frequent visits raised questions about when the wedding would be.
Standing beside Calvin, Melvin remained silent as Calvin simply smiled, “Don’t worry, we’ll let you know
when it’s time.”
“You better do it soon. The longer you wait, the more likely it won’t happen. No offense, but I know a
couple who had their marriage registered for years without a wedding. They talked about tying the knot
last holiday, but guess what? They split in the end!”
Calvin’s smile stiffened at the mention, but Melvin seemed unfazed.
“Anyway, once it’s settled, they’ll both have peace of mind,” the neighbor added with a chuckle.
“Jocelyn’s at the right age for marriage.
Tie the knot this year, have a baby next. You and your wife will be ying with your grandchildren in no
time”
Calvin did long for grandchildren, but he heeded his wife’s advice. Melvin seemed decent enough, but
they knew nothing about his family background,
“Children will have their own fortune. Everything has its process and timing,” Calvin reassured with a
smile. “Don’t worry, you won’t miss out on our wedding toast.”
After a short chat, Melvin reminded Calvin to take his medicine, and they left. The neighbors gossiped
about the future son-inw of the Winslets, praising Melvin’s good looks, kindness, and wealth.
“Jocelyn’s a catch herself. Pretty, well-educated, and with a decent job. She’s got her pick of men.”
“She’s pushing thirty, though. That pick of men’ has an expiration date. If she’s got a good man on the
line, she’d better secure her status before he slips away.”
As hey in bed that night, Calvin couldn’t help but think about the neighbors’ words. Finally he asked
Daisy, “Be honest, what do you think of Melvin?”
“What I think doesn’t really matter,” Daisy turned to face him. “What are you getting at? You want
Jocelyn to get hitched to him that quickly? I’ll tell you now, that’s not happening. We haven’t met his
family. And without a clear understanding of his background, I won’t agree to their marriage.”
“But it seems like he and Jocelyn are really in love.”
“Love is not enough. Look, it’s all about respect. If we rush to marry Jocelyn off, what will his family
say? That our daughter was so desperate to marry that we didn’t even require a proper meeting
between the parents? That’ll do no good to Jocelyn.”
As theyy in the darkness, both knew that the path to their daughter’s happiness was fraught with
complications.
Daisy tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She sat up and sighed, “Of course I want our daughter to
marry someone she loves. I mean, if it were just Melvin on his own, that’d be one thing, but he’s got
family. Just letting Jocelyn go off with him like this doesn’t sit right with me.”
“I understand your worries,” Calvin said, equally troubled. “Maybe there’s something going on with
Melvin’s family, something he doesn’t want to get mixed into all this. I worked at hispany for a
while, and I never heard a peep about his family matters.”
“Even if there is something special going on, shouldn’t he at least be upfront with us? We’re reasonable
people,” Daisy shook her head, lying back down and turning away. “Anyway, we need an exnation.
I’m not letting my daughter rush into marriage with him like that. I’ll sleep now.”
Calvin nced at his wife in silence. Then, with a sense of resignation, he reached over to turn off the
light.
On the weekend, Jocelyn came home without telling her parents.
Seeing her daughter arrive alone, Daisy asked, “Why are you by yourself?”
“What else?” Jocelyn said with a teasing smile. “Mom, I’m craving some shrimp scampi. Could you
whip some up for me?”
Daisy gave her a strange look, “If you wanted some, why didn’t you just buy it?”
“I’m no good at picking them out. I’m afraid of getting ripped off,” Jocelyn said, trying to butter her up.
“You go buy them, please.”
Daisy had no reasons to decline. She stood up to grab her shopping bag, mumbling, “Back without
notices and wanting shrimp scampi. But it’s eleven already. I don’t even know if there will be any for
sale.”
Jocelyn chuckled, “There should be some left.”
“You’reing with me,” Daisy red at her.
Jocelyn shook her head, “I’m a bit tired. How about Dad goes with you?”
Without waiting for a response, she called out, “Dad, can you go to the store with Mom?”
“Sure thing, Calvin replied without hesitation, shutting off the TV and heading for the door.
As the old couple descended the stairs, Daisy felt something was amiss, “What’s with her sudden
craving for shrimp scampi?”