?Chapter 1343:


    Gerard’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “If it’s not that, then why are you so loyal to her?”


    It was rare to see someone so devoted. Usually, it was either love or some major benefit.


    But Melvin didn’t fit either mold. He didn’t care about power or profit. And he didn’t seem romantically invested either. That only made Gerard more intrigued.


    “She’s always been kind to me,” Melvin said simply.


    That was all he offered. But the memory burned clear in his mind. It had been a brutal winter night during his childhood. His parents had fought viciously, and his mother had finally snapped, leaving the house in despair. His father hadn’t tried to stop her. Instead, he had looked Melvin in the eye and told him to get out too.<fndc3d> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? fin?novel</fndc3d>


    Melvin had only been five. Still, his father had locked the door behind him and left him out in the cold. His mother didn’t want him either. He had stood outside sobbing for what felt like hours.


    Eventually, his tears ran out. The cold seeped into his bones, and he began trembling, too weak to cry anymore. No one came.


    He would have frozen or starved if Freya hadn’t appeared.


    She had asked her bodyguard to hand him a warm drink—one that melted the chill in his chest. He remembered every detail.


    But Freya didn’t. She had only been a toddler herself. Still, that didn’t matter. He remembered. And that was enough.


    “She’s incredible,” Gerard agreed. “She really is the kind of person worth standing by.” He understood now why Melvin’s loyalty ran so deep. “But from now on, we probably won’t see each other much,” he added, almost wistfully.


    They would be living in different cities—Jeucwell and Alerith. And with Gerard settling down, his priorities would change.


    “Yeah.” Melvin nodded quietly.


    That night, the two spent the evening together.


    To be honest, Gerard wasn’t exactly thrilled about getting married. But he hadn’t had much of a choice. As the years passed, the pressure from his family had only grown heavier. Every visit home meant another lineup of blind dates. Eventually, he gave in. If he had to get married anyway, he might as well do it properly.


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    So he started dating seriously—and eventually, he met his fiancée. There was no wild passion or fairy-tale romance between them. But they got along, and they respected each other. And maybe that was enough.


    “Gerard,” Melvin said suddenly.


    “Yeah?” Gerard turned to him, sitting shoulder to shoulder on the couch.


    “Don’t turn into another Kristian Shaw,” Melvin said firmly. “Treat your wife well.”


    “I know,” Gerard said, adjusting the sses perched on his nose. “It’s basically a sh marriage, too, but since I’ve made the choice, I’m going to follow through properly. I’m not the type to do anything that would hurt her.” He had always imagined he would marry someone he was head over heels for—someone he truly loved.


    But now he hade to realize that there were things in an adult’s world he didn’t always get to choose.


    Melvin let out a quiet hum in response.


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