SWNOVELS Chapter 237
Jocelyn's grip was tight in his, her brow furrowed. "Stop pretending, I know you're awake."
"We should be sleeping in bed," Melvin's voice was soft.
Jocelyn rolled her eyes.
"Just let me hold you a little longer," Melvin begged, nuzzling into the crook of her neck, his hand slipping from her grip to wrap around her waist.
The action sent a shiver through Jocelyn's body, and she whipped her head to look at him.
Melvin kept his eyes closed, not showing any sign of waking.
"What are you doing?" Jocelyn whispered, his breath on her neck stirring an uncomfortable flutter in her stomach.
"Just holding you," he murmured, his lips grazing her neck every so often.
The tension in the living room built to an almost tangible thickness.
Jocelyn found herself lost in the sensation, and if Melvin's phone hadn't rung, she might have been frozen in that moment forever.
He let her go to check his phone. But instead of answering beside her, he stood up. "I need to take this call."
She just nodded.
Once Melvin had left, Jocelyn came back to life.
She rushed to her room, closed the door behind her and took deep breaths to steady herself.
After a while, seeing Melvin hadn't followed, she hesitated but eventually went to check the door.
As she opened it, Melvin was just coming in.
Caught off-guard, her heart raced uncontrollably.
His expression was serious. "Things aren't looking good for Castiel," he said.
Jocelyn felt a knot form in her stomach.
"My brother-in-law tried to negotiate, but they wouldn't budge." Melvin added, "I'm thinking of heading there myself."
"Is that safe?" Jocelyn asked, concerned.
It seemed her brother-in-law was a force to be reckoned with, and if he couldn't make things work, what chance did Melvin have?
He was just a businessman, not some action hero. What if the other side played dirty?
"A man's got to do what a man's got to do," Melvin said, trying to reassure her with a smile. "Worried about me now, are you?"
This was no time for jokes. "Don't go," she said bluntly.
Melvin raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you ask me to help Castiel? Now that he's in real danger, don't you care?"
"It's not that I don't care, I just don't want you risking your life." Selfish as it was, she wanted him safe.
Melvin leaned against the wall, his smile growing. "If my brother-in-law heard you say that, he'd be jealous."
Jocelyn didn't quite understand.
"When he was about to go, he asked my sister if he should. If she had said no, he wouldn't have gone. But she didn't hesitate for a second and said yes." He almost seemed to gloat. "At least you care about me."
Jocelyn didn't know why he seemed so nonchalant. She truly didn't want anyone else to be in danger.
"Melvin," she said firmly. "Don't go."
His smile softened, "If I don't go, Castiel might not come back."
"But what if you don't come back?" The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Melvin's throat bobbed as he gave a half-smile. "If I don't, you'll find someone else."
The words wrenched at her heart, even if they were said in jest. Some words, no matter how lightly spoken, still hurt to hear.
Jocelyn shook her head firmly. "I don't want you going."
She didn't want to lose him.
Melvin's gaze on her was intense. Her eyes were reddening, her stance resolute.
He could feel her adamant disapproval.
"I know what I'm doing."
She shook her head again.
Melvin caught her wrist, pulling her closer, his gaze tender as if looking at a child. "If I don't go, Castiel's family might never come back. Can you live with that?"
"Castiel knew the risks when he made his choices," Jocelyn argued. "He chose to pursue his love, no matter the danger. We've done enough. If it's that risky, I can't let you go. They have to take responsibility for their own endings."
Holding her hand, Melvin conceded, "Yeah, you're right."
She was rational, not blinded by desperation.
"If you insisted I go, I might have resented it. But now, I want to do something for you."
"If it weren't for Euston, I'd listen to you," Melvin admitted. "But Euston's there. I can provide for him, but I fear when he grows up, he'll ask why we hadn't done everything to save his parents. I can't stand by knowing what I know."
Jocelyn was stunned by his words.
He held her hand tightly, his voice gentle, "If we try our best and still can't save them, we'll be able to face Euston without guilt, right?"
She couldn't disagree.
Melvin's smile returned, his eyes sparkling with warmth as he looked at her. "You worrying about me makes me happy."
Jocelyn couldn't find her smile.
His words moved her deeply, and she felt Melvin had truly changed for her.
Without love, why would he bother doing so much?
"Smile for me," Melvin coaxed, pinching her cheek playfully.
Jocelyn, overwhelmed by emotion, suddenly wrapped her arms around him.
He stiffened in surprise, before slowly returning the embrace. His face broke into a triumphant grin.
With this hug, it felt as if their two-year gap never existed, and everything was just perfect.
"You really do care about me. Or else, when would you hug me like this?" Melvin teased with a bittersweet undertone.
Jocelyn sniffled against his chest, her hands gently squeezing his waist.
Melvin suddenly yelped, "Ouch, that hurts."
Jocelyn didn't believe him but let go anyway.
In his embrace, she felt a sense of security that was hard to come by.
Indeed, loving someone is a tale of endless repetition.
"My flight's tonight." Melvin wrapped his arms around her waist, whispering into her ear, "How about coming over to my place tonight?"
Jocelyn's heart tightened, instantly grasping the hidden invitation in his words.
She pushed him away forcefully, wiping the solitary tear that had dared to glisten at the corner of her eye, "No, I won't." She turned to head back inside. But Melvin caught her hand, his eyes brimming with a woeful glint, "Really, you won't come?"
He looked so pitifully forlorn that Jocelyn nearly gave in.
Yet, she held her ground with firm resolve, "I said no."
Disappointment flooded his eyes, but what could he do?
If he insisted, she would definitely bring up the child.
That kid had become a millstone around their necks, a stumbling block between him and Jocelyn. He had to find a way to reclaim Castiel.
Why should somebody else's child usurp their world?
Time had already been squandered, and if they ended up raising the child, who knew how much joy they'd lose.
Melvin released her hand, resigned to let it go.
Since he was leaving that night, he didn't stay for dinner.
Jocelyn drove him to the airport. Upon arrival, Melvin pushed open the car door.
Jocelyn swiftly grabbed his hand.