?Chapter 1370:


    Melvin shifted slightly under her gaze, stillposed but maybe a touch uneasy. “You don’t want me around?”


    “It’s not that,” Jessica said carefully, not wanting to pull him away from what mattered. “Couples don’t need to be joined at the hip. Go to work like normal. I’ll call if I need you.”


    They weren’t dating, after all. If he stayed glued to her side, it might start feeling like a chore. And if it became just another task, winning his heart would be a steeper hill to climb.


    “You don’t cook,” Melvin pointed out, trying another angle.


    Jessica grinned. “I may not cook, but I’m a pro at ordering takeout. I managed just fine before I moved in here.”<fn0d5b> This update is avable on Find[F]ovel</fn0d5b>


    Back then, she was overseas, figuring things out on her own. She had made it through those years without a hitch.


    Melvin went quiet, his expression unreadable.


    Jessica narrowed her eyes. “Are you keeping something from me?”


    “No,” he denied, his tone firm but brief.


    “Then why ditch work to stay with me?” she pressed, not letting him off the hook. “That’s not like you at all.”


    “I didn’t have a girlfriend before,” Melvin said, his words simple but final.


    “Really?” Jessica raised an eyebrow, skeptical.


    “Really,” he replied without missing a beat.


    Her voice softened, but her words carried weight. “If you’re not being honest, I’ll never find happiness in this life.”


    Melvin’s brow twitched, just barely. “No one bets their future on a lie.”


    “Then spill the truth,” Jessica urged, her eyes bright and earnest. She didn’t want to be just another box to check off his list—she wanted something real.


    “Why are you putting work on hold?”


    Melvin stayed silent, his gaze steady but guarded.


    She didn’t back down. “Not going to talk?”


    Finally, he sighed. “I want to keep you safe. Gerard mentioned a guy from a blind date was bothering you. I wanted to handle it.”


    “Why?” she asked, tilting her head.


    “What?”


    “Why do you want to protect me? Why step in like this?”


    Melvin’s answer was simple and honest. “You’re a good person. You helped me before. Now I want to return the favor.”


    Jessica’s heart sank a little—she wasn’t surprised.


    After a moment, she made up her mind. “I can deal with this myself. You don’t need to get involved.”


    “But—”


    “No buts,” she said firmly.


    “Okay,” Melvin agreed, backing off instantly.


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