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Chapter 115
Chapter 115
Jacelyn turned around and saw Melvin’s icy face.
What was once clear now doubled and blurred before her eyes
She rubbed her eyes, but the more she rubbed, the more the images seemed to multiply
He turned to Yasmine and asked, “What’s she been drinking?” Melvin’s frown deepened as he watched Jocelyn stagger her way across
the room.
Yasmine just pointed to the half-empty glass of wine on the bar. “Your little girl’s all grown up now.”
Melvin glanced at the drink and scowled even more when he saw Jocelyn leaning on the bar, struggling to make her way outside, her hands grasping for anything to steady herself.
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Just as her fingers were about to latch onto a newcomer to the bar, Melvin quickly wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close for
support
As he smelled the scent of alcohol on her breath, his expression turned even darker. He looked back at Yasmine. “Are you done?”
“Don’t worry about me. Just get her home,” Yasmine dismissed him with a wave, but added sternly, “And don’t you try anything funny.”
Melvin, feeling Jocelyn fidget in his arms, grunted, “I’m not interested in someone else’s girl.”
Yasmine bluntly hit him with the truth “Not interested, yet you’re holding her pretty tight there, aren’t you?”
Melvin’s face darkened further, and after a moment, he called up Yara to come and pick Yasmine up.
Yara, luckily nearby, arved to find Melvin cradling Jocelyn in his arms. She wondered if the two had reconciled, but as an assistant, she knew better than to pry into her boss’s personal life.
“Take Yasmine home,” Melvin ordered Yara before escorting Jocelyn out
All the while, Jocelyn squirmed in Melvin’s hold. She wanted no intimate contact with any man, especially not her ex
Though she was dizzy, she remembered clearly that she had broken up with Melvin. Harrison was her boyfriend now.
“Stop moving'” Melvin’s low growl by her ear startled her as they stepped outside.
A blast of cold air greeted them at the door, sending a shiver down Jocelyn’s spine, which oddly helped sober her up a bit. But the aftereffects of the wine were potent, and she felt terrible all over.
Even though her mind was clearer, her body still felt out of control.
With a strong push, Jocelyn tried to free herself. “Please, have some dignity.”
Melvin released her, and as she stumbled forward, she instinctively reached out for something to break her fall. Melvin didn’t move to help, just watched as she grabbed onto the front of his shirt to steady herself.
After regaining her balance with a heavy breath, she patted Melvin’s chest, her movements not synced with her still foggy thoughts. “Sorry,” she apologized, raising her hands to show she meant no more contact.
Melvin silently observed her perform this act of contrition Jocelyn turned and tentatively took a step down the stairs, her upper body swaying precariously before finding her balance.
She knew too well what Yasmine had said. She had fallen once and was still clawing her way out. She couldn’t afford to sink any deeper.
Upon taking the last step, she finally felt like she’d be okay. But in her haste, she miscalculated, and her foot slipped. Her eyes widened Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.
as she stumbled forward.
No arms came to catch her; no hands reached out to pull her back. She met the ground face-first, her chin scraping against the pavement, tears springing to her eyes from the sheer pain.
Collapsed on the ground with passersby looking on, not a single person moved to help her.
Some hesitated, but upon seeing Melvin’s imposing figure watching from the steps, they backed off.
Jocelyn’s chin throbbed, her palms stung and her knees ached. It felt as though her entire body was wracked with pain.
“Playing the hero? Wouldn’t it be easier to just accept help when you need it?” Melvin’s icy voice floated down to her.
That did it. Stubbornness surged through Jocelyn, but before she could muster any strength, she was hoisted up
Melvin scooped her into his arms, ignoring her defiant glare. “Hurts, doesn’t it?”
She bit her lip, refusing to talk to him.
“Good, he said as he walked toward his car, where the valet promptly opened the door for him.
He settled her into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt. Seeing her pout, he offered a grim plece of advice, “If you try to jump but, ask yourself which man would want to marry a woman with a broken arm or leg?”
His words silenced Jocelyn’s protests.
Melvin drove in silence, his right hand on the wheel, his left holding a cigarette.
The cool breeze from the open window seemed to soothe Jocelyn’s aches. She watched the fleeting landscape outside when her phone began to ring from her bag
Gingerly wiping her bloodied palms with a tissue, she pulled out her phone. It was Harrison.
He would call or video chat every night unless it was too late, in which case he’d leave a goodnight text for her to read in the morning.
Harrison was attentive, and if not for the distance, Jocelyn knew they’d be even happier. But there she was, seated in Melvin’s car, feeling guilty
She was determined to climb out of the quagmire that was Melvin.
After a moment, she answered the call, her voice steady. “Are you done for the night?”
“Yeah. Have you gone to bed?” Hamson sounded tired
“Not yet.” Jocelyn replied, knowing he would suggest a video call next. “I’m out.”
“You’re not home yet?”
“No, I went to my parents” for dinner.”
“What did you have? I’ve been craving some meatloaf and grilled fish.”
“We had fried chicken and risotto, along with some comfort food. I brought a student home for dinner, and he seemed to enjoy it too.” Jocelyn ignored Melvin completely, chatting away with Harrison about the evening’s events.
Melvin eavesdropped with a mix of envy and imitation as Jocelyn softly chatted on the phone, sharing the mundane details of her day with the man on the other end. Each word was a delicacy he’d never tasted with her, even now, amidst her own troubles, she managed to infuse such tenderness into her voice for that man.
Why hadn’t she ever spoken to him with that same softness?
The way she spoke, her whole demeanor, it was as if they’d been in love for years, as if they were a cozy, old marned couple exchanging banalities that somehow sounded endearing and loving.
To hell with their lovey-dovey crap!
Melvin’s annoyance bubbled over at her gentle whispers. He reached out and cranked up the music, the aggressive beats of the car stereo drowning out her voice.
“Jocelyn, where are you? What’s all that noise?” Harrison finally sensed something was off.
Jocelyn could hardly hear him over the din and quickly hung up the call.
She shot a glare at the source of the chaos – Melvin, and swiftly typed out a text to Harrison.
With his mood soured, Melvin drove to the hospital, slamming the car door with unnecessary force as he got out. When he flung open the passenger door, his face was twisted into a scowl that suggested he was ready to bury Jocelyn then and there.
His gaze was icy as he stared her down.
Jocelyn clutched her phone and purse with a twinge of fear, meeting his gaze.
Melvin leaned in, snatched her phone and purse, and tossed them into the back seat. Then, he scooped her out of the car
“You…”
“Shut it!” Melvin snapped, kicking the car door shut and carrying her into the emergency room with an ice-cold expression.