SWNOVELS Chapter 261
Jocelyn could feel a subtle shift in Melvin's demeanor when she mentioned 'Heaven Lake'.
She cocked her head to the side and looked at him curiously. "What's up?"
Melvin asked her, "Did Yasmine take you there?"
She knew he was too sharp not to have figured it out.
She nodded.
Seeing his expression darken, Jocelyn quickly added, "Don't be mad at Yasmine, okay? She told me... your dad, he's got liver cancer, terminal stage. He doesn't have much time left. His last wish is to see you."
"So she asked you to convince me?" There was a noticeable chill in Melvin's voice.
Jocelyn nodded again and hurriedly explained, "I get it, I really do. No one can truly understand what it was like for you back then. So I'm not going to force to go see him."
Melvin relaxed a little at that.
"I went to see him the other day. He's just this frail old man now. And seeing him full of regret, I couldn't help but wonder why he had to doubt a woman who loved him deeply, whom he once loved. If he hadn't, maybe things would have been different for your family."
Melvin was silent.
Jocelyn leaned against his shoulder, holding his arm. "I'm not asking you to forgive him or to fulfill his last wish. I just hope you can move on, not live in the shadow of past hatred."
"To put it bluntly, he doesn't have much time left. When he's gone, the hate will go with him," Jocelyn said gently. "I just don't want you to have regrets once he's no longer here." Melvin scoffed, "How could I?"
"What I mean is, you might regret not getting the answers you've been seeking. Once a person's gone, their words go with them."
Melvin frowned slightly, his face a picture of seriousness.
Jocelyn patted his back. "Let's drop the topic for now."
She was trying to disperse the gloom that seemed to shroud him from the inside.
She could tell that Melvin really hated his father, that he truly didn't want to see him.
Jocelyn wouldn't press him to go. Loving him meant respecting all his decisions.
To spend the rest of the day, Melvin and Jocelyn decided to go shopping.
Jocelyn wanted to pick up a few things to spruce up their home. Passing by a baby store, she saw a father playfully teasing his son while the mother looked on with a face full of bliss. Jocelyn's thoughts drifted to Euston. Castiel hadn't mentioned anything about him to her lately, and she wondered if they were getting along well.
Pulling Melvin along, she caught him also watching the playful father and son. She knew he must be thinking of his own dad.
Family bond is something never to be broken, after all.
Even though it was hatred that seemed to hold their relationship together now, who could say what feelings might emerge once that hatred was gone with the passing of his father? Melvin didn't linger on the scene, and they continued their stroll. As the afternoon waned and they were about to head home, Daisy called and invited them over for dinner. Jocelyn accepted. But on the way back, Yasmine called with bad news - her father Brighton Martinez was fading fast.
Jocelyn noticed that upon hearing the news, Melvin's face betrayed no emotion, which worried her. "Do you want to go see him?" she asked.
After a deep breath, Melvin gripped the steering wheel tighter and finally turned the car around.
They arrived at Haven Nursing Home soon. As they got out of the car, Jocelyn held Melvin's hand tightly. His whole body was tense.
"It's okay," she reassured him.
Melvin looked deep into her eyes. With a faint smile from Jocelyn, they went inside.
Haven Nursing Home was well equipped with a medical team, a necessity given the exorbitant cost of care.
Hand in hand, they were led to Brighton's room, where people were already waiting outside.
Melvin was hesitant, but with a gentle tug from Jocelyn, he stepped through the door.
Inside, the medical staff stood
solemnly by the bed, their heavy expressions indicating they had done all they could. After
acknowledging Yasmine and casting a glance at Melvin, they quietly left the room.
Now it was just the three of them, standing awkwardly.
Jocelyn led Melvin to the bedside, where the man who once was robust now lay wasted and pale. Life's fragility was laid bare before
them, the cruelty of illness O
undeniable.
At the sight of Melvin, the old man's eyes lit up with a desperate sort of excitement. He tried to speak, to lift his hand, but his strength failed him.
"Melvin..." he rasped, tears welling in his eyes.
Jocelyn felt a twinge of sympathy, yet Melvin's gaze remained ice cold, as if the man in the bed were a stranger.
Yasmine's eyes were red as she
moved to the side, stifling sobs. "The
doctors said he shouldn't have
lasted this long, but I told him you
were coming. He's been holding on just for that."
Jocelyn's throat tightened at the emotion in the room.
"Oh, well, he can let go now," Melvin said icily.
At that, Yasmine turned to him with tear-filled eyes, a silent plea for some kind of compassion.
Jocelyn knew the bitterness in his words was a measure of the pain his father had caused.
"Melvin, I know you're pissed, I get it. But after today, we... we won't have a dad anymore." Yasmine choked out the words before breaking down into sobs.
Tears were also streaming down Jocelyn's cheeks.
She turned away, wiping her eyes.
Love or hate, while he's alive, there's a connection.
Gone, and there's nothing left.
Melvin remained stoic, his gaze icy as he looked at the gaunt figure on the bed, then took a few steps closer.
The old man's eyes followed him, welling up with tears - a mix of excitement and regret.
"In this lifetime, whether you live or die, I will never forgive you." Melvin's voice was devoid of any father-son affection. Even Jocelyn found his words hard to bear.
Yasmine bit her lip, her eyes red and angry as she glared at Melvin.
The old man's lips trembled, tears already streaking down from the corners of his eyes, "Can't you... forgive me?"
"If Mom forgives you, I'll," Melvin replied with a coldness that seemed colder than heartless machinery.
His indifference might seem cruel to others, but to Jocelyn, it was a sign of deep hurt.
How desperate must one be to become so cold and unfeeling?
"I... I'm sorry to your mother, and I'm sorry to you..." the old man murmured before closing his eyes, a murky tear escaping from the corner.
And in that moment, Jocelyn saw a hint of moisture in Melvin's eyes too.