The Unwilling CEO’s Love Game

Melvin felt a surge of rage so intense he could rip Zachary's smug face right off.

"You know, it just hit me," Melvin said with casualness, "that my sister's been single for long, and Preston’s grown up. It's high time

we find her a new boyfriend."

The other end of the line fell into a brief silence.

Melvin could feel Zachary's dark mood, but he still had the audacity to irritate Zachary.

"We're family, Melvin," Zachary said, and it was hard to tell if he was playing the sympathy card or issuing a veiled threat.

Melvin flicked ash from his cigarette, his voice remained cool. "My sister's been divorced from you for years now. You've got a new

flame. It's not right to expect her to play the grieving widow alone."

"I'll have someone keep tabs on that guy and that woman in SouthMyst region. If they step out of line, you'll be the first to know.

And if you need him to disappear, I'll handle it," Zachary offered like it was nothing. "If Jocelyn becomes a widow, well, that clears

the path for you two, doesn't it?"

Melvin could almost thank him for playing matchmaker.

"No need to trouble yourself with the latter actions," Melvin reminded him, "keep your hands clean, man. You've got a son who's a

real stand-up guy."

"Fine," Zachary relented before asking, "Anything else you need?"

"If you're still keen on winning back my sister, you'd best stop chasing every skirt in sight," Melvin warned him. "She's not pining

for you, man."

That hit a nerve of Zachary, and the line went dead.

Melvin stared at his phone, mulling over Zachary's suggestion.

If Castiel kicked the bucket, Jocelyn would be left alone with a kid. That's when he could swoop in.

Once the thought took root in his mind, he could hardly get rid of it.

Melvin took a deep drag of his cigarette to squash the sinister idea.

Zephyr watched as Melvin tried to drown himself in booze, finally intervened, "What's done is done, man. You've gotta accept it."

Melvin shot him a frosty glare. "Could you?"

"No way," Zephyr admitted bluntly. "But that doesn't mean I'd roll over and die."

Melvin had no desire to continue the conversation.

Clutching his glass, he downed another drink. "She really went through with it."

Zephyr couldn't talk him down, only offering a feeble consolation, "Look, Jocelyn stuck with you for a good stretch. How many

women would hang around for three years with no ring? She had treated you quite well."

Melvin snorted. "I told her to wait for me."

"She probably lost faith waiting," suggested Zephyr. "Women are emotional creatures. They overthink. She probably imagined

every possible tomorrow and couldn't see a future with you. That's why she handed it to someone else."

Melvin wasn't buying that crap. "That guy's out there playing the field. What kind of future is that?"

"That's her business now. She's not yours any longer," Zephyr's words were like a knife, stabbing Melvin in the heart.

Melvin hated the thought of her belonging to someone else, bearing another man's child.

He couldn't keep her by his side like before anymore. He had no right.

"If her husband croaked, she could cback to me, right?" Melvin blurted out.

Zephyr's eyes widened in shock. "You wouldn't actually off the guy, would you? And even if she were single, you ready to play

stepdad?”

"The kid's young. | say I'm the dad, and that's that," Melvin said, dead serious.

Zephyr was flabbergasted, struggling to believe Melvin could stoop so low.

He was at a loss for words.

"You gotta think this through. If you go down that road, even if she did cback to you, could you live with yourself? What if the

truth cout one day? How would you even deal with that mess?" Zephyr had to remind him of the stakes.

Melvin took a deep breath.

He set down his glass and leaned back, lighting another cigarette and taking a hard drag.

Only then did he truly grasp that Jocelyn was gone.

He loved her for so long, thought she'd never leave him. He took her for granted, and now she was someone else's wife.

The turmoil in his heart was uncontrollable. He wanted to numb the pain with alcohol.

Turned out, drowning in alcohol to forget only multiplied the sorrows.

"Stop drinking," Zephyr said, seeing him empty the bottle. He wouldn't let Melvin crack open another. "You're just recovering. Don't

wreck yourself."

"I should've died back there," Melvin whispered faintly.

Zephyr frowned. "You forget what Yasmine said? You clung to life because she told you every day that Jocelyn was waiting."

"But she wasn't," Melvin looked at him, "so | should've died."

Zephyr had never seen him so defeated.

"You cheated death, man. Maybe there's something better waiting for you," Zephyr tried to comfort him. "That guy went all the

way to SouthMyst region for sdame. Maybe you won't have to do a thing, and he'll bite the dust. Or maybe he'll cback

and divorce Jocelyn, then you'll get your shot."

Melvin just stared at him.

Zephyr knew his encouragement was a bit shady, but Melvin needed hope.

At the very least, he deserved a decent night's sleep.

"Con, no more booze. I'll take you home," Zephyr offered.

Melvin was surprisingly cooperative this tbut then asked, "Heard Yannick's parents are setting him up with a girl."

Zephyr paused, helping him walk out. "My family's doing the sfor me."

"That's nice. Maybe we'll have a double wedding," Melvin joked.

Zephyr was full of frustration, "After all the comforting tonight, this is how you repay me?"

"Look, I'm just not in the mood," Melvin grinned devilishly, "so you can just wipe that smile off your face too."

Zephyr bit his tongue, fighting the urge to ditch the guy on the side of the road and let him go nuts on his own.

Jocelyn rang up Ursula, asking her to swing by her place.

She handed over the bridesmaid dress to Ursula, "I'm sorry, Ursula. It's justand the baby now, and there's no way | can stand

up with you at the altar. | didn't think it through last time."

"No need to apologize," Ursula said, forcing a bitter smile as she took the bag. "Truth is, I'm not even sure if the wedding will go off

as planned or not."

Jocelyn was confused, "Why? Isn't everything set?"

Ursula let out a heavy sigh, "It's just... | have this growing feeling that Harrison doesn't love me."

"Don't be crazy," Jocelyn said incredulously. "Isn't it like a pre-wedding jitters thing?"

Shaking her head, Ursula looked earnestly at Jocelyn. "It's not just in my head. | can feel it."

"You guys didn't rush into this. It's been two years of dating, for heaven's sake," Jocelyn's voice was laced with urgency. "Ursula,

you really need to stop overthinking this."

Grasping her hand tightly, Jocelyn spoke with heartfelt concern, "You didn't get here on a whim. It was careful and deliberate. And

didn't Harrison plan the wedding himself? If that's not love, what is?"

Jocelyn patted Ursula’s hand reassuringly, "You're just too wound up, that's all."

Taking a deep breath, Ursula looked at Jocelyn's worried face, knowing she truly wanted her to be happy.

But there was something she couldn't say out loud. She had known for a while—Harrison still had feelings for Jocelyn.

It was clear from the photos of the two of them still on his phone.

Ever since Jocelyn cback into town, Harrison's twith Ursula felt more and more obligatory, like ticking a box.

Once, in a moment of vulnerability, she asked him if he loved her.

She seldom asked such things because his usual response was, "Why would | be with you if | don't love you?"

That night, he didn't answer when she asked.

Instead, he hurriedly ended their intimacy and went straight to the shower.

Ursula knew she shouldn't be jealous of Jocelyn, nor did she have any right to resent her.

From the start, she knew Harrison was into Jocelyn.

It was her who pursued Harrison while he was still hung up on Jocelyn, so she couldn't blanyone if he hadn't truly moved on.

Not wanting to burden Jocelyn with her worries, Ursula kept her concerns to herself.

After a deep breath, she smiled, "Maybe you're right."

"You've lost weight," Jocelyn commented, running her fingers through Ursula's hair. "Even if you're aiming to be a stunning bride,

you need to eat properly. Get out more, unwind a bit."

Ursula managed a smile, "Okay."

"If you're up for it, you could also helpwith little Euston. Once you have your own, you'll be all the wiser," Jocelyn suggested.

"I've kept all of Euston's clothes. So when your tcomes, your little one will have a wardrobe ready to go."

Ursula chuckled, "You're really thinking ahead."

"Absolutely," Jocelyn beamed, looking over at Euston sleeping peacefully in her crib. "See, we can chat all we want and he sleeps

like an angel. Isn't he the best?"

Ursula nodded, her heart heavy with thoughts she couldn't share.

She wondered when she and Harrison would have a child of their own.

Since they moved in together, Harrison was always careful, never once getting carried away enough to forget protection.

She pondered whether Harrison even entertained the thought of them having a child together.

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