The Unwilling CEO's Love Game
Chapter 44

This kind of question, if asked between two super close pals in private, might be okay to slip out. But it was pretty clear that Willow popping the question at a moment like this was way out of line, and even

downright annoying to people.

Zephyr was feeling pretty awkward himself, "Willow, you've had a bit too much to drink."

But Willow kept her eyes fixed on Jocelyn, lips curling into a smirk, "What's the big deal? You think he's gonna be your last dude or something?"

"Willow, mind your words," Melvin chimed in with a frosty reminder.

Willow chuckled, "What's up? Can't we just shoot the breeze about this? What's there to hide?"

Clearly, she was hell-bent on making Jocelyn squirm.

She didn't buy for a second that Jocelyn, with all her flirty charm, hadn't been in love or had other men before.

Just let Melvin replace out about another guy, and he'd surely have a chip on his shoulder.

Melvin, with his intense possessiveness, wanted someone all to himself.

"Willow, are you that nosy about my private life?" Jocelyn had seriously underestimated Willow's lack of scruples, answering coolly, "If you were a guy asking me out, maybe I'd tell you your number in line." Willow's eyes narrowed, "Ooh, is it a tough topic for you?"

Discussing a woman's love story in front of everyone like this was just gross and disgusting.

Jocelyn was pretty put off. She really didn't get how Willow, who had managed to craft such a rational persona, could be so impulsive behind closed doors.

She no longer wanted to share the space with Willow.

Getting up, she said, "Sorry, something here doesn't sit right with me. I'll be taking my leave." After that, she didn't even bother with Melvin. She just grabbed her bag and left.

Melvin, with a stony face, gave Willow a deep look, stood up, and said with a downcast gaze, "Willow, you're overstepping."

"Hey, Melvin..." Zephyr saw him leaving and rushed out after him, "Willow's just drunk, man. Go easy on her, talk to Jocelyn, tell her not to sweat it."

Melvin's eyes darkened, "You think she's just drunk?"

Zephyr tried to defend Willow, "You know she's been into you for ages. It's gotta sting, seeing another chick by your side all of a sudden. We've all known each other for years, man, cut her some slack." "I've been more than patient with her. She's the one who crossed the line and didn't know when to stop," Melvin said angrily. "And another thing, whatever happened back then is water under the bridge. She chose to walk away, so she should've known there was no going forward between us."

"She had her reasons back then," Zephyr tried to keep explaining for Willow.

Melvin replied coldly, "Whether she had reasons or not, she knows best."

"Do you really have zero feelings for her now?" Zephyr felt bad for Willow. She had put a lot into this relationship.

"Do you think this is the time to talk about this?" Melvin shot back.

Zephyr had nothing to say and sighed softly, "I just think if you still had feelings for her, you wouldn't hurt her like this." "No feelings," Melvin said curtly. "If she wants to maintain what we have now, she needs to know her place."

After that, Melvin left, and Zephyr, feeling dejected, turned back into the private room.

He saw Willow covering her face, sobbing. He walked over helplessly, "What you said earlier was kind of over the line."

"Why'd he move on so fast? He must hate me," Willow looked up, tears streaming down, choking up, "All I did was get stronger, so I wouldn't have to watch him have nothing and be powerless. Was that wrong?"

Zephyr felt sorry for her, crying like a waterfall, but he was at a loss for words.

"You left him decisively when he had nothing," Yannick, who had been quiet most of the time, cut to the chase.

"I... I had no choice," Willow gasped, "If I knew there would be a day like this, I would've never left him."

"If he still had nothing, would you have stayed by his side?" Yannick asked indifferently.

"Of course!" Willow was firm.

Yannick's eyes were calm, "But there are no ifs. When he had nothing, it was Jocelyn who stood by him."

Zephyr snapped his gaze to Yannick.

How did he know?

Willow's expression also froze.

Jocelyn walked out of the club and strolled along the sidewalk, taking her time, waiting for Melvin.

If he would come after her, she felt like all the grievances she suffered from Willow could be wiped clean.

She walked slowly, then suddenly her hand was grabbed.

Turning around, the concern in Melvin's eyes flickered and was gone.

"You are walking so slow. Are you waiting for me?" Melvin let go of her hand, his tone light.

Jocelyn looked at him, "You are walking so fast. Are you chasing me?"

Melvin gave her a glance and shoved his hands in his pockets, "If I hadn't been drinking, I would've just driven straight home."

"Oh," Jocelyn said, her voice tinged with disappointment as she looked down at her toes.

Seeing this, Melvin steered her towards him, opening his arm.

Jocelyn raised an eyebrow at his gesture, "Not worried about being seen?"

"No one here knows me," Melvin replied impatiently, "You gonna take my arm or what?"

Jocelyn looped her arm through his, looking for all the world like an old married couple on a stroll; their contentment tinged with simplicity.

The night view in Yanova City was pretty stunning, well-known across the country.

It was rare for Jocelyn to enjoy the night scene like this, and she found it quite relaxing.

"Don't take Willow's words to heart."

Jocelyn looked up at him, "Are you trying to explain on her behalf?"

"Nope," said Melvin, "I'm just looking out for your feelings."

"Thanks a bunch," Jocelyn said lazily, with a hint of teasing. Then, pretending to be casual but feeling nervous inside, she asked, "Have you slept with her?" Melvin paused, looking down at her, "Does it bother you?"

Just those three words were enough to send Jocelyn's emotions into a tailspin.

"I couldn't care less if you've slept with other women. It's just her I didn't want you to have been with." Jocelyn laid her thoughts bare without mincing words.

After a good while, Melvin's voice finally buzzed in her ear, "I haven't."

"Huh?" Jocelyn stopped in her tracks, tilting her face up to look at him.

Melvin clarified, "I haven't slept with her."

A thrill shot through Jocelyn, her eyes sparkling with delight, "You haven't slept with her?"

"No other women, except you" Melvin stated, looking straight ahead without glancing at her, but sensing the gleam in her eyes.

Jocelyn pursed her lips in a smile, her heart already doing a happy dance.

Whether or not love was on the table right now didn't matter. Even if they weren't together in the future, she would be his first. The woman he could never forget for the rest of his life. Melvin's gaze dropped to her upturned lips, unsure why he felt the need to clarify this to her.

Probably, he thought, it was to smooth over the ruffled feathers Willow had caused.

Jocelyn was swinging his hand like a child, "Aren't you gonna ask me?"

"Ask you what?"

"How many guys I've dated before you."

"Huh." Melvin let out a dismissive chuckle.

Jocelyn's brow furrowed, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't need to ask to know the answer," Melvin said confidently.

Jocelyn caught his drift and, tiptoeing, she whispered in his ear, "These days, you know, things can be restored."

Melvin's stride came to an abrupt halt. His earlier confidence shattered instantly because of her remark.

"Does that bother you?" Jocelyn saw the change in his expression and decided to twist the knife. Melvin stared at her, "Are you sure?"

Jocelyn pulled her hand away, backpedaling with a sly grin, "I thought you knew the answer." Melvin squinted, his face set in a cold expression as he advanced towards her, "You better just tell me."

"Can't quite put it into words," Jocelyn said with a laugh, twirling around, playful yet seductive.