The Unwilling CEO's Love Game
Chapter 109

Jocelyn reluctantly retraced to the hospital room. She shouldn't be there anymore.

Unable to contact anyone else, she hesitantly picked up Melvin's phone. It was unlocked with facial recognition.

She held the phone up to his face, but it didn't unlock with his eyes closed. After a failed attempt, it prompted her to enter a password.

Frowning, she had no idea what his password could be.

Locked out and unable to reach anyone, she was at her wits' end.

Noticing the IV drip was almost empty, she called a nurse to help switch it out.

"When will he wake up?"

"His fever's dropped a bit. He should be sleeping now."

The nurse left after changing the medication and checking the IV in his hand.

Jocelyn saw Melvin's hand resting outside the covers and moved to tuck it in. The bite mark on his hand hadn't faded. The scar was faint, and she wondered if it would ever disappear.

He once said he was still her man as long as the bite mark remained.

How ludicrous those words seemed.

Swallowing the sourness rising in her throat, she tried not to dwell on the past. She gently called out, "Melvin?" But the man showed no signs of waking.

She patted his arm. "Melvin?"

There was no response.

With a sigh, Jocelyn decided to step out and try to find Zephyr's or Yara's numbers, which she would have to look up on his company's website.

A weak grip suddenly held her wrist as she was about to leave.

She turned to see Melvin's eyes faintly open, his gaze fragile.

"You're awake?" Jocelyn turned back, swiped his face with the phone again, and stepped back so he couldn't reach it.

"What are you doing?" Melvin's voice was so feeble.

Ignoring his question, Jocelyn saw the wallpaper on his main screen, and her breath caught. It was a photo she had taken of his back during a stroll, tweeted with a caption that felt like she had the world. She never expected him to have kept that photo and set it as his wallpaper. The image had shattered her fragile composure, her eyes brimming with tears that she didn't dare let him see.

"Give me my phone," Melvin demanded, his tone weak but tinged with unease and anger. He felt like his secret had been exposed.

Turning away to hide her tears, Jocelyn found his contacts and said, "It's too late at night. I'm calling someone to stay with you."

"I don't need anyone to watch over me!"

But Jocelyn had already dialed Zephyr's number.

"Jocelyn! If you so much as..." Melvin's protest was cut off as the call went through, but no one answered.

She tried Yannick's number next but got nothing.

It was as if they had all vanished.

What on earth was going on?

"Jocelyn!" Melvin's anger was palpable, though his weakness took the edge off his voice.

Determined, Jocelyn dialed Yara's number.

...

Meanwhile, at Melvin's family home, a group of people sat around, all their eyes locked on the coffee table where several phones lay. One screen lit up with "Boss" flashing across it. "Yasmine, are we doing the right thing?" Zephyr glanced at the phones with dismay.

Swirling her wine glass, Yasmine appeared unconcerned about her brother receiving IV fluids in the hospital.

"What's wrong with that? You all have lousy taste," she scolded Zephyr. "You don't see how great Jocelyn is, and you cozy up to Willow. Let me tell you something. As long as I'm around, Willow and Melvin won't be together. Make sure you're on the right side."

Zephyr and Yannick exchanged looks, knowing to tread carefully around Yasmine's temper.

"Yasmine, we're not picking sides. Willow and Melvin have a long history. There's something we can't control. Melvin still cares about Willow," Yannick ventured cautiously.

"What history? There's no history," Yasmine's voice rose sharply.

Zephyr shot Yannick a warning glance. If only he knew when to keep quiet.

He hastily calmed Yasmine. "Yasmine, take it easy. Preston is still asleep. Let's not wake him."

Yasmine calmed down and glared at them, warning, "Mark my words. I don't care how close you are to Willow, whom I can never get along with. Get out of my house if you feel sorry for her!"

Zephyr stepped in to chill Yasmine and flattered, "Please! Yasmine, we are all on your side. We'll do as you said."

"You'd better so!" Yasmine settled down, her eyes darting to the silent phones.

Yara, the quiet observer, finally spoke up, "If Jocelyn can't reach us, she might turn to Willow."

That thought struck a nerve with Yasmine, and the wine lost its appeal.

"Why does she have to be so generous?" Yasmine muttered irritably. "It's all because of Melvin's foolishness, playing the victim now that he's lost his woman.”

Zephyr and Yannick remained silent, not daring to add fuel to the fire.

Unable to get through to anyone, Jocelyn could do nothing but call Willow.

"Jocelyn!" Melvin, furious, managed to sit up. He knew what she was planning to do. "Give me the damn phone back!"

"I've called your girlfriend, but her assistant picked up. She said she was too busy and hung up on me," Jocelyn explained. "She might make some time for you if I called her from your phone, no matter how busy she is."

"Jocelyn, if you dare to make that call, I..." His threatening words got stuck in his throat as he saw the faint redness rimming her eyes.

It wasn't easy for Jocelyn, but she had to do this.

She had already let Harrison down. She didn't want to make any more mistakes.

Even if she continued to err, the answer would always be wrong. It could never be right again.

Melvin's eyes also reddened with emotion, a plea evident within them.

Jocelyn gripped the phone tightly, fighting the odd sensation in her heart, striving to keep her voice steady. "I can't be here with you."

"Why?" Melvin's Adam's apple bobbed after he asked, already knowing the answer but unwilling to accept it.

How could she be so heartless? He was already in such a mess, and how could she not feel pity?

She wasn't like this before.

In the past, whenever she wanted a break up with him, all he had to do was show some affection, and she would light up like a kid with a new candy. Why couldn't he win her back this time?

Inside, he felt more panicked than he ever did in Berry City.

Jocelyn forced a smile. "Because I have to be devoted to my boyfriend now."

Her attempt at a lighthearted tone and her candid smile twisted the knife deeper into Melvin's heart.