The Unwilling CEO’s Love Game

Sthings just can't be explained with a simple conversation.

If Melvin hadn't been there, Jocelyn could have cleared the air easily.

But with Melvin caught by her dad in the act, things becmuch more complicated.

"Look, you'd better get going," Jocelyn urged Melvin.

Melvin figured he still had tto slip away. But out of courtesy, he greeted Calvin.

After all, he was once almost part of the family.

Just as Melvin finished his greeting, Daisy's voice rang out, "I forgot there's one more bag..."

As Daisy stepped out, she saw Jocelyn holding a child, with Melvin lingering behind. He looked like he was about to bolt at the sight

of her.

"Stop!" Daisy bellowed, and Melvin's feet involuntarily obeyed.

Jocelyn furrowed her brow, wishing Melvin would just ignore Daisy and make a run for it.

Probably Daisy's voice was too loud, as little Euston burst into tears immediately.

His cries echoed through the neighborhood, and Jocelyn panicked.

It was then that Daisy realized the situation, her eyes narrowing fiercely at Melvin.

In that instant, Melvin understood why Daisy was glaring at him.

She must suspect the child was his and Jocelyn's.

He did wish the kid was his, but that wasn't the case.

"Get inside! Now!" Not wanting to draw the neighbors' attention, Daisy hurried Jocelyn and Melvin upstairs.

Melvin looked at Jocelyn, unsure whether to play along.

Jocelyn should have thought this through better, she shouldn't have asked Melvin for help.

Or she could have cleared things up with her parents earlier to avoid this awkward situation.

"What are you lingering for? Upstairs!" Daisy tried to sound fierce, but the child's wailing tempered her anger.

With no other choice, Jocelyn ascended the stairs like heading into battle, child in arms.

Under Daisy's intimidating gaze, Melvin followed suit.

This was something that could be explained. There was nothing to fear.

Once inside, Euston cried on.

Jocelyn tried to soothe him, but the baby's tears wouldn't stop.

"Did he wet herself?" Melvin ventured.

Jocelyn checked Euston quickly, "Yes, he did."

"Do you have diapers?" Melvin asked.

"I do, they should be in the trunk."

"I'll fetch them."

Melvin dashed downstairs and was soon back, climbing the stairs two at a time.

Jocelyn changed Euston's diaper, and Melvin took the soiled one, wrapped it up and threw it to the trash.

Now that he was comfortable, Euston's cries subsided.

Fresh from the hospital and after a good cry, the child leaned wearily against Jocelyn, his eyes roving curiously, as if recognizing

faces.

The air grew still.

Daisy and Calvin eyed Jocelyn, the child in her arms, and the oddly well-behaved Melvin standing by.

The scene was surreal, to say the least.

It was Calvin who broke the silence first, "How old is the child?"

"One," Jocelyn replied.

Daisy's frown deepened, a clear sign that she was holding back a storm of anger.

Calvin glanced at Melvin, who looked innocent but dared not speak.

"So, was it during your exchange that you got pregnant?" Daisy asked Jocelyn coldly.

Jocelyn wanted to deny it.

But she glanced at Melvin and decided to stay silent.

Silence and no explanations made her parents think she was conceding.

But Melvin was puzzled. Jocelyn marrying Castiel and having a child were big deals. Could her parents really have been clueless?

That didn't add up.

Could it be true, as Yasmine suggested, that they weren't married and it was a case of pregnancy before marriage?

The thought irritated Melvin. He'd been with her for three years, always careful, and no accidents happened.

Yet in a short time, she'd gotten pregnant with another man's child.

Didn't that guy take precautions?

Or did she just want a child that badly?

The more he thought, the angrier he got. His expression was growing darker.

"Jocelyn, you're quite something," Daisy commented, anger evident but restrained for fear of frightening the child, "Have a child

out of wedlock?"

Jocelyn let her mother's words wash over her. She'd explain once Melvin left.

After all, words couldn't hurt her if she hadn't done anything wrong.

Calvin tried to calm Daisy, "Enough, the deed is done. We need to accept it."

"I'm just so angry," Daisy said, slumping into a chair.

Calvin remained composed, turning to Melvin, "If we hadn't called Jocelyn home, if | hadn't stumbled upon you, would you have

kept this from us?"

Melvin was baffled by the question.

What did this have to do with him?

If the child were his, he'd own up to it. But it wasn't.

Why were they interrogating him?

"Dad, can we talk about this later?" Jocelyn was looking for a way to get Melvin out, "Melvin, weren't you supposed to pick up your

sister? You should go."

Jocelyn handed Melvin a perfect excuse.

He was ready to leave.

Why should he stand there and take the heat? The woman wasn't his, the child wasn't his, why should he take the fall for someone

else?

As Melvin turned to leave, Daisy couldn't hold back anymore. "Don't you dare!" she yelled at him.

Euston was frightened, starting crying again.

Jocelyn comforted him, "Mom, Euston just got back from the hospital. Could you not scare him? Let Melvin go, and I'll explain

everything to you, okay?"

Euston's cries grew hoarse with upset.

Daisy's heart sank at the sound of the baby's wails, regretting her harshness. In the end, she heeded Jocelyn's plea and stopped

meddling with Melvin.

Melvin watched the household descend into chaos, unsure if Jocelyn could handle it all alone.

He glanced at Jocelyn, who was simultaneously comforting little Euston and signaling Melvin with desperate eyes to make a quick

exit.

He knew the situation would only escalate if he lingered.

The thought of Jocelyn and Castiel perhaps acting on impulse, coupled with the rumors of Castiel's affairs in the SouthMyst region,

left Melvin doubtful of a happy resolution for them.

Now, with Jocelyn facing her parents’ scrutiny, Melvin found himself unexpectedly worried for her.

Jocelyn's intense eye-blinking at the door was a clear sign for him to leave.

Understanding the cue, Melvin almost left, but he turned back instead.

Jocelyn furrowed her brow in confusion.

"Lethold him for a moment," Melvin said, aware that he shouldn't stay. The child wasn't his, and the impending interrogation

Jocelyn would face wasn't his concern.

Yet, the thought of Jocelyn alone with a child and betrayed by her husband tugged at his heartstrings.

What would she do if Castiel truly abandoned her?

Melvin couldn't believe he was worried about her welfare in such a situation.

Seeing him approaching, Jocelyn asked in a lowered voice, "Why aren't you leaving?"

"Just explain everything, and that should do," Melvin said, reaching for the baby, but Jocelyn didn’t want to hand him over.

"Don't make this harder," Jocelyn pleaded.

Seeing her eagerness to dismiss him, Melvin felt his good intentions were being thrown back in his face.

He stared at her intensely for a few seconds and then walked away decisively.

Jocelyn finally exhaled a sigh of relief.

The baby's cries persisted.

"Could he be hungry?" Daisy couldn't hold back her concern any longer and went to tend to the child.

Jocelyn handed Euston to her mother and rummaged through her bag for formula and the bottle. As she began to prepare the

baby's feed, the distress was palpable in her parents’ eyes.

If only they hadn't objected to her relationship with Melvin, perhaps Jocelyn wouldn't have felt compelled to hide her child away for

so long.

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