She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 206

Chapter 206 I'll Pay You

"If you don't feel like talking, then don't." Cend, y the yoga, urth com seves out of Melvin with a bit of persistence "Let's just yang dowling"

Gerard prided himself on his impressive alcohol tolerance

But there was one critical truth Gerard had completely overload. The sharpest ons die wore the m weakness to bait their prey

From the very start, Melvin had laid out a careful trap, danging past the right topje to wet Ceret's convey -his entire setup was designed to lure him in.

And regrettably, Gerard-usually sharp and perceptive as Kristian's right-hand man-don't we wy of it coming

As he watched Melvin seem to slide deeper into drunkenness, Gerard thought maybe just one more drink as Melvin would spill.

One more glass.

Then another.

And another still...

They knocked back drink after drink in relentless succession.

Eventually, the alcohol began to take a toll on Gerard too. When he saw Melvin's cheeks flush and his eyes glaze over, he figured the moment had arrived.

He slung an arm around Melvin's shoulder and leaned in, trying for a heart-to- heart, "Sometimes it's better to let it out than drown in booze. Come on-what happened between you two?"

"She's got feelings for someone else," Melvin mumbled, his voice low and muffled. His tone had shifted subtly, and he still clutched his glass in hand.

Even if Freya were sitting right there, she'd never have guessed he was putting on an act.

His expression, his pauses, even his body language-every movement was executed with such precision it looked entirely genuine.

Gerard blinked, his mind slightly fogged.

Seizing the sliver of clarity he still had, he pressed further, "So how long were you two actually together?"

Melvin hesitated, then gave a small shake of his head.

Even pretending to be drunk, he wasn't one for talking much.

But Gerard misread the silence entirely, assuming it came from heartbreak so deep it left Melvin speechless.

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I'll

why would his friend have dragged him out

Ms. Briggs's

like her." Melvin said, irritation bleeding into his voice.

was this thick.

keep him drinking, Melvin let his emotions show-lips set in a bitter line, and he tossed

measured clue.

Gerard mulled it over.

was a

him, and he looked at Melvin with newfound curiosity. He hadn't expected the cool and aloof Melvin to be harboring quiet affection for someone. But who was

Gerard asked, thinking he was finally

in his eyes clearing like a fog lifting. It was as though Gerard's

"You can't... tell me?"

now bordered on obsession. He looked at the bottles between them and topped off their glasses. "Alright, then. One more drink.

replied, his voice cool and

drink after drink on Melvin, determined to

if Melvin just

let Melvin get wasted while he played along and stayed

the influence. Every time Melvin

was spinning like a top, and the room felt like it

that, Melvin knew the

Gerard threw his arm over Melvin's shoulder again and slurred, "I've drunk more with you tonight than I ever do at Mr. Shaw's business dinners. Can't you at least tell me who you've got a thing

one question first." Melvin set his glass down, his drunken haze vanishing in an

like that, he was back to his usual self-cool,

squinted at him.

today?" Melvin asked, his tone

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his arm back and eyeing him warily. "Wait

was Gerard not drunk yet? That didn't

flat out by

grumbled, shaking his head like a

us. It's top

not Freya. You

with just enough

struggled to keep

"Yes."