The Unwilling CEO's Love Game
Chapter 107

Jocelyn had barely set foot inside her parents' home when she spotted her dad, Calvin, inspecting a box in the living room with a childlike curiosity. "What's all this?" she asked when she dropped her bag by the door.

"It's from Harrison," Calvin beamed, his eyes crinkling with delight. "He wanted to buy something for you to bring home but feared you'd be tired out. So, he bought these ahead of time and shipped them here." Her mother, Daisy, emerged from the kitchen with a plate of steaming meatloaf in hand and a smile. "Harrison's just too thoughtful. Who would've thought you'd hit it off with him in Berry City? We should've given him some of our hometown delicacies."

"Well, nothing is stopping us from sending some treats his way now," Calvin interrupted, arranging the things in the box neatly before turning to Jocelyn. "See? You and Harrison must be fated to be together. Those meant to be together always find their way back, no matter what twists and turns life throws at them."

Jocelyn wasn't quite sure how to respond.

Over dinner, her parents were keenly interested in the budding relationship between her and Harrison and his parents.

She didn't hold back any details, sharing everything she could.

After dinner, Jocelyn called Harrison, expressing her gratitude for the thoughtful array of local specialties he had sent her parents.

"It's the least I could do," he replied. "Let's see when you have a break next, and I'll come over to visit you and your parents."

"Probably not until the winter holidays," she mused.

"Don't forget about the Christmas Holiday," Harrison reminded her, a hint of eagerness in his voice. "Short as it may be, it's enough to cure the pangs of longing." Jocelyn laughed shyly.

From the sidelines, Calvin and Daisy watched their daughter with growing contentment. They couldn't help but feel reassured.

As parents, their only wish was for their children to find a loving partner who would cherish them and provide warmth and comfort. "Young people today crave freedom," Calvin said once Jocelyn had hung up. "But with the right person, freedom comes naturally." Catching her parents' knowing looks, Jocelyn teased, "Stop that. You're scaring me."

"Harrison's a great match for you. We knew he was reliable from the get-go. Since things have started, put your heart into it. As long as your hearts are together, the feelings won't change even though it's a long-distance relationship," Calvin advised, his words heavy with emotion.

Daisy nodded eagerly. "Berry City is a lovely place. It wouldn't be so bad if you ended up there."

"Mom, Dad, isn't it too early to think about that?" Jocelyn admitted she hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Not at all," Daisy insisted. "Dating is always with marriage in mind. It's not just for fun. Jocelyn, Harrison is a catch, and you should hold on tight. Harrison and his parents are cultured and understanding folks. You won't go wrong with a family like that."

Jocelyn knew of Harrison's and his family's qualities very well.

But fate was unpredictable.

"I know you're anxious, but these things take time," Jocelyn reassured her parents. "Don't worry. A good match won't pass us by."

Calvin and Daisy, not wanting to overwhelm their daughter, let the conversation naturally shift.

"Your aunt called me yesterday," Daisy shared. "she said Quinta and Damian had another fight the other day and even wanted a divorce."

"What happened this time?" Jocelyn asked, surprised.

"It's Damian's ex-wife again. Your aunt was in tears over it," Daisy said and sighed. "It's a tough situation. When Quinta started dating Damian, she knew it would be quite a challenge to be one's stepmother. Now she can't have her child, and Damian's mother is making a fuss."

"Quinta was ready for IVF, but Damian hesitated. She wasn't the one to blame." Jocelyn never understood why pre-marriage issues resurfaced to cause strife.

"It's expensive," Daisy lamented. "Some spend a fortune without success. It's a heavy burden, both financially and emotionally."

After leaving her parents' house, Jocelyn took a taxi back to her apartment. Her mother's words lingered in her mind. She realized it had been a while since she'd seen Quinta's tweets. With her life so busy, she hadn't checked in with Quinta.

What did marriage mean for a woman?

Jocelyn pondered this as she rode home.

With those trivial things of living together, could two people truly sustain a loving relationship?

Quinta seemed so radiant in love and sweetened by its promise when she first dated Damian. And what then?

Outside the taxi window, the sky began to weep with rain.

"It's starting to pour," the driver noted, breaking the silence.

The heavy rain brought Jocelyn back to the present, noticing the droplets splattering against the glass.

Soon, the streets glistened with wetness, and the rain intensified.

"Man, it's coming down," the driver muttered before his phone rang.

Jocelyn overheard his conversation. It was his wife, calling with concern.

"I'll go home after this last fare," he assured her loudly. "Go ahead and eat with our son. Don't wait up. Get to bed early. You know you've been under the weather. Alright, gotta go." After hanging up, he grumbled, "She always has to call."

Jocelyn sensed no real annoyance in his voice. Being cared for was a blessing.

As night descended, the world outside seemed lonely in the streetlights.

Approaching her apartment, Jocelyn spotted a familiar Porsche parked outside.

He had left once, yet here he was again.

At that moment, the calm she had found at her parents' home tightened into a knot once more.

The taxi stopped, and Jocelyn took a deep breath. With her bag raised as a makeshift umbrella, she dashed into the rain and sprinted toward her apartment building.

The moment Jocelyn burst through the door, the Porsche's door opened. Without daring to glance back, she rushed into the elevator.

Shaking the rain off her coat, she arrived home and quickly had a hot cocoa before walking to the balcony.

The rain was relentless, a heavy downpour that turned everything outside into a blur of white.

Jocelyn's eyes involuntarily drifted downward. There stood Melvin next to his car, drenched by the unyielding rain.

He looked so isolated, pitiful even.

What on earth was he trying to do?

Her heart fluttered. The rain showed no sign of letting up, and neither did Melvin show any intention of leaving. Was this some guilt trip?

What was the point?

Suddenly, a knock on the door sent a shiver down Jocelyn's spine. She half-expected Melvin to have come up.

But how could it be him if he hadn't moved an inch?

She opened the door to find her neighbor, Rose.

"Jocelyn, is that your boyfriend downstairs? I saw his car parked for quite a while, and now he's standing out there in the rain. Did you two fight? Even if you fought, you can't leave him hanging out there like that. If he catches a cold, it'll be trouble for you," Rose said.

Jocelyn was embarrassed.

Rose shook her head and added, "Whatever it is, you've got to sit down and work it out. Problems are to be solved, right? Go on. Give him an umbrella, at least, and bring him up here. If he had a fever or something worse, you would have even more to deal with."

Deep down, Jocelyn thought Melvin was playing the sympathy card a bit too hard, putting on a show that was sure to tug at the heartstrings of any onlooker.