SWNOVELS Chapter 207
After dining at Castiel's place, Jocelyn headed back to her parents' home.
As Castiel offered to drive her, Jocelyn asked, "What if they ask who you are?"
"Their son-in-law, obviously." Castiel teased her. "Why don't we bring Euston along? They've been nagging about marriage, and here we are, hitched with a kid. Perfect." Jocelyn rolled her eyes. "Stop talking nonsense."
"Alright, alright, we'll leave Euston. Let's get you home." Castiel opened the car door, urging her, "Chop-chop."
She shot him a look. "No wonder Euston's mom ditched you. With that attitude, I would've too."
Standing by the car, Castiel fixed his gaze on her. "Hey, don't bring up my sad memories, okay?"
"I'm just stating the truth."
"Fine," Castiel grumbled, "next time that jerk shows up, we'll see if I help you out."
Jocelyn glared at him. "Enough, Castiel."
"You started it."
"I don't need a ride." Jocelyn had her temper too.
Seeing her serious, Castiel quickly intercepted her. "Okay, okay, my bad. Let's go, it's late. I need to get back to Euston after this."
"I can take a cab." Jocelyn wasn't playing games. She knew Euston needed his father.
"How are you going to hail a cab here?" Castiel opened the passenger door and nudged her in. "Don't waste time."
Dropping Jocelyn off at the old complex, Castiel didn't come out of the car.
"This place isn't the best for our parents. Maybe we should look for a new spot?" he suggested earnestly.
Unbuckling her seat belt, Jocelyn corrected him, "My parents."
"I don't mind taking care of two more seniors. Why do you have to be so precise?" This was what Castiel disliked most about her - her insistence on clarity. Jocelyn eyed him. "Don't get too involved."
"I can afford it. Taking care of your parents is no big deal." Castiel was always flashy with his wealth.
"Bye." Jocelyn stepped out.
Castiel hurried to retrieve her suitcase. "Let me walk you up."
"No need. Thanks." She took the suitcase. "Hurry back. Stop dawdling."
"You sure you can handle this yourself?" He stared at her heavy suitcase.
Jocelyn waved him off. "Enough chatter."
She entered the building with her suitcase in tow.
The lights flickered on at her arrival and she heard the car engine fade away, a sign he was gone. Shaking her head in resignation, the lights went dark again.
As she prepared to clap for the lights, footsteps sounded behind her. Turning, there stood Melvin, dressed in a white sweater under a wool coat. His hands were buried in the pockets, eyes slanted with a glint. Jocelyn swallowed hard, surprised by his ambush.
"What brings you here, Melvin?"
He casually mentioned, "Your husband doesn't seem to care much, leaving you with such a heavy suitcase. He didn't even check on your parents."
Jocelyn understood his sarcasm but didn't want to provoke him. "What do you want?"
"I came to see how the heartless woman I can't forget is doing." Melvin was dead serious. Jocelyn held her breath.
"You feeling better?" She avoided confrontation.
"Whether I am or not is none of your business." His gaze was piercing. "How old's the kid?"
"One," she said, feeling constrained.
Melvin considered this. "So the minute I left the country, you got pregnant with another man."
"That's one way to put it." Jocelyn embraced the absurdity.
Melvin's jaw twitched, "Impressive."
"Maybe it's time for some self-reflection on your part." Jocelyn remained calm.
His anger erupted. He had thought of countless ways to pull her back, even considered a shotgun wedding. But now, she was married with a child, obliterating any chance for him.
"Very well." His smile was chilling.
Jocelyn merely lifted an eyebrow.
That look in her eyes was a taunt to Melvin.
He laughed, "You've got guts."
She smiled back.
As he walked away, Jocelyn's tension eased. But he turned suddenly and pointed at her. Then with that same unsettling smile, he left.
Feeling a bit confused and anxious, Jocelyn shook off the encounter.
...
After spending a day at her parents', she returned to tidy up her own apartment. It was still clean, well-kept by her parents. She changed the sheets, but the place was still haunted by memories about Melvin. She decided to buy some greenery to liven up her balcony.
At the flower market, she chose a few plants and asked the shop owner to deliver them home.
Just as she finished arranging them, an unknown number called. She ignored it, but it rang again.
She answered while watering the plants. "Hello?"
"Jocelyn, it's Yasmine Martinez. I heard you're back. Got time for a meal?" Yasmine's voice was familiar.
Jocelyn frowned. "No, I don't have time."
"Melvin said you're married and have a child," Yasmine continued calmly, "He locked himself in the bathroom last night. The faucet ran all night."
Jocelyn's watering pot paused mid-air, a shadow falling over her face.
Yasmine said with a hint of regret, "You know, that time he went to find you, he was ready to come clean. I'm not sure what you two missed or misunderstood. You've got a family now. I shouldn't be dredging up the past, but it just doesn't sit right with me, leaving things so unfinished."
Jocelyn's eyes felt dry as she continued watering the flowers, "It doesn't matter anymore."
"Won't this always be a thorn in your heart?" Yasmine tempted her, "This time, I'll spill every secret he's been keeping from you."
Jocelyn was indeed curious. The matter had always nagged at her.
She couldn't resist Yasmine's bait and agreed to meet.
Upon arrival, Yasmine was waiting at the door for her.
"It's been a while," Yasmine said with a gentle smile.
"Yeah," Jocelyn noted how Yasmine seemed more poised than ever.
Yasmine led her inside and signaled to the waiter to start serving food.
Once seated, Yasmine studied her, "You don't look like someone who's had kids."
"And you don't look like someone with a teenager," Jocelyn retorted calmly.
Yasmine laughed, "That's because I was young and foolish, had my kid too early."
"Having them young has its perks."
"Maybe," Yasmine poured her a glass of iced water, "You didn't come to hear me ramble."
Jocelyn did want to get straight to the point.
"The thing is, Melvin wasn't just doing therapy these past two years. Not long after he started, he was in a car crash, ended up in a coma for six months."
Yasmine paused as the server came in with plates of food.
Shock registered in Jocelyn's eyes. This was completely unexpected for her.
After the server left, Yasmine continued, "Every day I whispered in his ear that he needed to wake up, that Jocelyn was waiting for him. He's got spirit, though. He woke up earlier this year." Jocelyn was stunned.
"He spent half a year recovering. He's doing not too bad physically. But as for the mental part, the real issue is his fear of people finding out about that thing. Most of all, he feared you finding out." Jocelyn's brows knitted together tightly, struggling to keep her emotions in check. Her voice was quivering slightly, "What exactly is it?" Yasmine uncorked a bottle of wine, poured a glass and downed it in one go. Then she said, "My mom... she died right in front of him."