Chapter 81

“Why did they break up?”

“No clue. Mom reckoned maybe Willow thought Uncle was too broke Or maybe ’cause Willow wanted fame, so she took off,” Preston Turner shrugged, “I was just a kid back then, all hearsay from Mom.”

Jocelyn felt as if a heavy rock was pressing on her chest, making her hard to breathe.

Preston noticed her discomfort, “Don’t overthink II Mom says they’re ancient history. And hey, Uncle’s a peculiar guy. He doesn’t reheat old soup, Most importantly, the whole family of us don’t like Willow.”

“As long as she had chemistry with your uncle, that’s enough.”

“No way,” Preston shook his head with conviction, “If there were, they’d be together by now. Jocelyn, don’t sweat it about Willow Uncle won’t rekindle his love for her. They’re just friends at most, or maybe it’s a business thing.”

Preston’s words didn’t console Jocelyn

First loves are never easily forgotten, like a flint stone burning the back of your hand, always leaving a scar

Exiting the Martinez’s, Jocelyn dialed Melvin’s number.

After a few rings, he picked up

“Hello”

“Preston’s home now,” Jocelyn said, her voice steady

“Okay”

“When are you coming back? Fearing he might think she was prying, she quickly added, “School’s starting. You should be there for Preston’s registration

“He can handle it, Melvin replied. “If you’re free during the registration, could you help him out?”

Jocelyn detected the underlying message: he wasn’t coming back soon.

Perhaps she was silent too long because Melvin asked, “Anything else?”

“No.

“Bye then.”

“Bye”

The call ended with a click, leaving a hint of bitterness in Jocelyn’s heart.

for sorrow, throwing herself into work. Without love, she

Jocelyn a

her and that guy spending the night

leaning on Melvin as they entered the hotel, then heading into a room together. Ulla had somehow managed to capture images

and Melvin in a black dress shirt and slacks,

there were no intimate gestures, he had stayed

woman now. This kind of

about taking down Willow shone

calm at the sight of

Melvin’s girlfriend, nor prove he was taken. So the idea of Willow as

[I’m out Look

responded with a

after dirt on Willow? Why give up now?]

[Exhausted]

before jossing her phone face down on the desk and picking up

was

She

but the images of him with another woman made

Chapter

had enough

Willow, sometimes entering hotels together, sometimes in the same car looking inseparable, more like a real couple.

longer had

to keep her out of sight if he wanted to. As long as he didn’t want to embarrass Willow, no amount of dirt could prevent him from clearing a path for her. In the end, her standing against Willow all hinged on Melvin’s attitude.

she hadn’t won over Willow.

night, mind if I crash at your place for dinner tomorrow?” Preston asked in a low voice while handing

had been in session for a week, and

Now that he’d been gone for who knows how long. Preston’s chances of a decent meal

of it but eventually gave

to

behave. He sweet-talked Jocelyn’s parents, making them quite

a nephew takes

moment, Preston

game of chess, drawing praise from the old

was in town to stay with his unreliable uncle for school, felt sorry

Though Jocelyn felt it was improper, she knew refusal

keep bringing Preston home so often. Once Melvin

just for now

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