SWNOVELS Chapter 208
Jocelyn returned to Castiel's house after meeting Yasmine. As she arrived, she found little Euston already fast asleep.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Jocelyn watched the child in slumber. Her mind was echoing with Yasmine's words, leaving a bitter taste in her soul.
How desperate must a mother feel to commit a suicide?
And to do so in front of her own son.
"It never crossed my mind that two people so in love could suddenly become enemies. My mom never expected the man who promised to love her for a lifetime, to doubt that Melvin might not be his son. She was at a loss; her explanations fell on deaf ears. She wanted a divorce, but my dad wouldn't have it. So she suffered from years of cold violence and torment. She endured the humiliation and took Melvin for a paternity test. The results came out, and she chose to end her life.
Mom jumped from the rooftop, splattering blood right before Melvin. That year, he was only ten. He wondered what marriage had brought to his mother. From what he understood, it was only endless torment, pain and degradation until death.
Jocelyn, Melvin didn't grow up in a happy family. He's too scared of marriage. He often says if there had been no marriage, his mom would still be alive. It was marriage that shackled her and ended her life. No one doesn't want to be loved. But he fears that the greater the hope is, the greater the disappointment comes. He won't easily give his heart because he knows feelings might expire without warning. Nothing guarantees that love will last.
Jocelyn, Melvin didn't realize himself how deeply that tragedy had cast a shadow over him. If you hadn't brought up marriage, maybe he wouldn't have known it. But he's been trying hard to overcome it. He says some people are just destined. If he takes this step, his love and marriage will last till the end. Sadly, he's missed out."
Yasmine's words reverberated through Jocelyn's head.
Family tragedy does carry on.
Shadows exist in darkness, and if suddenly exposed to the light, they risk being scorched, for having been hidden too long. Suddenly, Euston began to cry.
Snapped back to reality, Jocelyn hurried to soothe him.
But Euston's cries only grew louder. In a moment of desperation, Jocelyn wondered if the child was longing for her mother, too.
If Euston understood that her mother had left right after he was born, would he also become emotionally distant?
Now, Jocelyn felt she could understand Melvin.
"There, there, don't cry," she murmured, cradling the child and pacing the living room, "Mommy's here."
But the crying wouldn't stop.
When Jocelyn pressed her forehead against the child's, she felt the heat of a fever and immediately called for the nanny. The nanny checked Euston's temperature and gasped, "Oh dear, he's burning up."
The recent chilly weather made it easy to catch a cold.
Even with fever reducers, Euston's temperature soared.
Jocelyn didn't dare waste time. She had the nanny bundle the child in warm clothes and a small blanket, then called for a ride.
Once the car arrived, she phoned Castiel, informing him that Euston had a fever and they were heading to the hospital.
At the hospital, Jocelyn dashed inside with Euston in her arms, the nanny trailing with their bags.
The baby looked red-faced and miserable, which tugged at Jocelyn's heart. She cooed and patted him gently.
A one-year-old didn't understand restraint. Crying was the only way to express discomfort.
The doctor diagnosed a viral infection and advised against IV fluids due to the child's young age, suggesting medication and observation for a few days instead.
The child's crying tore at the adults' hearts, drawing the attention of passersby.
Melvin spotted Jocelyn, who was frantic and clueless with the child.
That's what a novice mother looked like.
She finally got what she wanted, married before thirty and even had a child. But her husband was far from impressive.
If he truly loved her, would he let her manage this alone?
Hah, this was the marriage she wanted.
Melvin wanted to mock her, but then Castiel arrived, searching the crowd before spotting Jocelyn. He rushed to her side and took the child into his arms, with Jocelyn talking to him while stroking the child's face.
The scene stung Melvin's eyes.
This was her sought-after marriage.
A messy marriage.
He forced himself to look away and leave.
Jocelyn fetched the medicine while Castiel held Euston, the nanny following them out of the hospital and into the car.
In the distance, Melvin sat in his car, watching the taillights fade away, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
He glanced at the bite mark on his hand, wondering if Jocelyn thought of him when she lay with that man at night.
His mind replayed the image of their little family together. It struck at his nerves.
Wesley climbed into the passenger seat and broke his reverie. "Melvin, my dad got you this medicine."
Melvin snapped back to the present, accepted the bag and popped a pill immediately.
"You look pale," Wesley said with concerns. "Didn't Yasmine say you were doing better?"
Melvin swallowed water and started the car, his voice hollow, "Not anymore."
"Huh?" Wesley was confused until he buckled up and realized the depth of his words. Dr. Layla was supposed to be the best psychologist, wasn't she? Melvin remained silent. Wesley knew better than to press further.
Back home, Melvin tossed his jacket onto the couch. Yasmine emerged from the kitchen, alarmed at his exhausted state. "You look worn out. What's wrong?" Melvin pinched the bridge of his nose and glanced at Yasmine, "I'm beat. I'm gonna crash for a bit." He pushed himself up from the couch and trudged toward the bedroom. "Has Jocelyn stopped by to see you?" Yasmine guessed that after knowing everything, Jocelyn couldn't have just let it slide.
Melvin paused and turned back, puzzled, "Why would she come see me?"
From his reaction, Yasmine knew she had been overthinking things.
She shook her head, "Never mind."
"You've been to see her, haven't you?" Melvin's senses were sharp.
"Just haven't seen her in a while, so we grabbed a bite to eat," Yasmine said, her gaze darting away as if she was hiding something.
"Just a bite?" Melvin narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah." Yasmine's eyes flickered away once more.
Melvin noticed that.
He stepped closer, "Despite all those years with Zachary Turner, you still haven't mastered his knack for keeping cool under pressure or lying with ease. Especially not to me." Yasmine took a step back, cornered.
"I'm your sister, for heaven's sake. How can you talk to me like that?" she raised her voice.
"What exactly did you tell her?" Melvin's neck muscles tensed visibly.
Yasmine took a deep breath, "I told her... about that thing."
Melvin looked at Yasmine, disbelief and panic in his eyes, his lips quivering, "Why... Why would you tell her that?"
"It's not like you have some shameful secret, why couldn't I tell her? She's the woman you love. If you hadn't been so hell-bent on keeping secrets, maybe she wouldn't be someone else's wife now."
Melvin took a deep breath, his eyes red, his voice trembling as he asked her, "Is it something to be proud of, that a father doubted his son's paternity and drove the mother to her grave?"