SWNOVELS Chapter 172
Melvin answered from the inside, but he didn't come to the door right away.
"What's wrong?" Jocelyn's voice carried a mix of concern and impatience.
After a few moments, Melvin finally opened the door.
He looked like he had just splashed water on his face. He went to pour himself a glass of water to drink.
Jocelyn followed, sensing something was off. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Melvin set the glass down and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Let's head to bed."
Once they were in bed, Jocelyn couldn't shake her concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. Or maybe I should prove it to you again?" He playfully rolled on top of her.
Jocelyn couldn't handle his teasing and immediately dodged.
Thankfully, Melvin was just scaring her for fun and didn't go any further.
"Sleep." He kissed her forehead gently and patted her like one would soothe a little baby.
Exhausted both physically and mentally, Jocelyn soon drifted off to sleep under his calming touch.
Listening to the steady breathing of the woman beside him, Melvin was wide awake.
It was a while before he slowly disentangled himself from her and stealthily got out of bed to head to the study, closing the door behind him. Then, he made a call.
"Dr. Layla, my heart palpitations acted up again."
...
Jocelyn slept in until past ten the next morning. It was a deep and satisfying slumber.
When she awoke, Melvin was already out of bed. She found clothes laid out for her in the closet, from underwear to outerwear.
She chose a casual outfit and went to freshen up.
Noticing there wasn't a towel, she opened the cabinet and found a tiny white bottle that looked like it held medicine, but with no label to identify its contents. She hesitated but decided not to touch it, placing it back where it was.
After washing up, she stepped out to find no one in the living room or the kitchen.
"Melvin?"
She searched every room but couldn't find him.
Returning to the bedroom, she grabbed her phone to call him. There was a message from an unknown number, which piqued her curiosity.
It contained several photos of Willow and Melvin, clearly taken together.
Even though Melvin wasn't looking at the camera, it was evident that he was okay with the photos being taken.
There were several pictures of them together. They were not overtly intimate, yet still revealed a special bond between them.
Jocelyn ignored the message, not bothering to delete them. She knew it was from Willow.
She called Melvin, who answered promptly.
"Where are you?" Jocelyn asked.
"At the office," Melvin replied. "Give me ten minutes, and I'll come to pick you up for lunch."
"Okay."
Jocelyn sat in the living room, browsing through the photos sent by Willow again.
Melvin's eyes in the past didn't carry the shadows they did now.
What had happened to cast such darkness over him?
Jocelyn zoomed in on Melvin's face, pondering the depth of his past relationship with Willow. It was a pity, she thought, that Willow's inability to accept Melvin's current attitude had likely destroyed what was once unique between them.
Letting go of her phone, she touched the ring on her finger. Whatever Willow sent didn't matter anymore. Melvin had promised their marriage.
Not overly superstitious, Jocelyn still liked to consult the calendar for a good day to register their marriage.
As she browsed dates, the sound of the front door indicated Melvin's return.
She looked up as he entered.
"It's a bit chilly outside. Better put on a coat," Melvin suggested.
Jocelyn quickly fetched a thick coat and hurried toward him.
They left together, with Melvin inquiring what she felt like eating. Jocelyn searched local eateries online and suggested a new bistro nearby. Melvin agreed.
After parking, they walked into the bistro together. Two more people entered when they were about to be shown to their table.
One was Harrison, the other was someone Jocelyn didn't recognize.
Clasping Melvin's arm, Jocelyn's presence seemed to sting Harrison a bit.
"What a coincidence," Harrison greeted them with composed civility.
Jocelyn worried Melvin might read too much into the encounter, responding politely, "We saw online that this bistro was newly open and come to give it a try."
"We too," Harrison said, his expression tightening briefly at the sight of Jocelyn's ring.
"Care to join us, Harrison?"
Melvin made no extra gesture to irk Harrison. Jocelyn's close hold was irritating enough.
Harrison declined. "No, thank you."
"Then we'll take our seats," Melvin said amicably.
"Sure."
After a slight nod to Harrison, Jocelyn followed Melvin to their table.
Their table was right next to Harrison's, which made for an awkward proximity.
Melvin paid no mind to Harrison and let Jocelyn take the lead in ordering.
Yet it was Jocelyn who felt the least at ease. Her relationship with Melvin was open and honest, but she was aware of Harrison's feelings for her. This encounter made her feel strangely uncomfortable. "What's wrong?" Melvin asked, taking her hand. "Feeling uneasy?"
Jocelyn was struck by how perceptive he was.
"No," she lied, lowering her head to read the menu.
Harrison seemed to ignore them, engrossed in conversation with his colleague.
Once the food arrived, Jocelyn ate as fast as she could, eager to escape from this place.
Melvin seemed to genuinely like the dishes, taking his time as if he were savoring every bite.
At the neighboring booth, Harrison and his colleagues were deep in conversation, punctuated by the occasional laugh as they enjoyed their burgers and fries.
"I need to use the restroom," Jocelyn said, feeling a bit restless.
Melvin nodded.
Once Jocelyn stepped out of the oddly tense atmosphere of the diner, she took a deep breath of relief.
Upon exiting the restroom, she spotted Harrison standing there as if waiting for someone.
When he caught sight of her, his gaze locked onto her almost immediately.
"You here for...?" Jocelyn gestured vaguely towards the bathroom behind her, scrambling for some sort of small talk.
Harrison cracked a smile. "You seem to be avoiding me today."
"No, that's not it," Jocelyn rushed to deny before trailing off.
Harrison waited patiently for her to concoct an excuse.
As she stumbled over her words, the kindness in his eyes behind his glasses was evident, mixed with a hint of amusement. "You got what you were seeking, and it's great. We're still friends, and you should share the good news with me. There's no need to feel awkward."
In front of Harrison, Jocelyn realized how narrow-minded she had been.
"I'm sorry," she apologized for her earlier pettiness.
"What's there to be sorry about? If you're avoiding me, it means you feel guilty," Harrison consoled her. "Don't overthink it. We were just testing the waters. It's not like we were truly an item."
Taking a step closer, Harrison gently rested his hand on her shoulder. "Place no pressure on yourself. We're friends, right?"
"Yeah," Jocelyn nodded, reassured.
Harrison withdrew his hand. His gaze fell once more on the ring on her finger. "So... when can I expect to toast to your wedding?" Harrison's candid remarks lifted the weight off Jocelyn's shoulders.
She felt his sincere wishes for her happiness.
After all, Harrison knew how much she loved Melvin and how hard her journey to this moment had been.
"We're planning to register first. The wedding celebration will follow later," Jocelyn didn't hide their plans.
Harrison nodded thoughtfully. "That's good. It's already a big step for him to decide to marry you. He surely won't let you down."
Touching the ring on her finger, Jocelyn's face lit up with a sweet, blissful smile.
As if drawn by an unseen force, she looked up and saw Melvin standing in a distance. Her heart skipped a beat, fearing he might misunderstand the situation. But he was smiling confidently, reaching out his hand to her.