?Chapter 1391:


    “When do you want to get married?” she asked without skipping a beat. “I’m not getting any younger. We could do it this year or next—what do you think?”


    “No,” he suddenly cut in, firm and resolute.


    “Why not?” she asked, taken aback.


    “I don’t love you,” Melvin said, as if a realization had just struck him. “And I won’t marry you.”


    Jessica shot him a sharp look. “Say that again.”


    “I don’t…”


    “I’ve got something to do,” he said, clearly trying to switch topics under her intense stare.


    “Hold it right there!” She stepped in his way, locking eyes with him. “You’re not going anywhere until we clear this up.”


    Melvin didn’t know what to say.


    Jessica felt a stab of hurt—being rejected by someone she truly loved stung. But she wasn’t the type to give up that easily. She still had one card left to y.


    “Why don’t you love me?” she asked.


    Melvin answered, “No spark. No chemistry.”


    “You sure about that?”


    “Uh-huh…”


    The truth was, he didn’t really know. But one thing was clear—he believed she deserved someone better than him.


    Jessica’s heart sank. She stepped forward, cornering him against the wall.


    Under his steady gaze, she rose on her toes and kissed him.


    In that moment, he froze, his heart thundering like never before.


    “Still feel absolutely nothing?” she asked, her voice soft but tight as she pulled back just a little.


    Melvin didn’t respond, his lips still sealed.


    where stories grow


    They stood there, caught in the stillness.


    Jessica stepped back, her eyes falling with a touch of sadness and self-deprecating humor. “Was that kiss disgusting to you?”


    Melvin still didn’t say a word, too dazed from what had just happened.


    “I’m sorry.” Her voice was rough with hurt. “Didn’t mean to make you ufortable.”


    “No!” he replied quickly, his tone louder than usual.


    Jessica looked up at him, her usual sparkle gone. “How could you not be ufortable being kissed by someone you don’t like?”


    “Your kisses don’t make me ufortable at all,” Melvin said, answering from the heart. “I was just… a little nervous.”<fn123d> ?????? ???? find?novel</fn123d>


    That kiss had caught him off guard. He hadn’t been ready. He didn’t want to say it out loud, but the truth was—he didn’t hate it. Not in the slightest. If anything, he wished it hadsted a little longer.


    “You’re not lying to me?” Jessica asked, still keeping up her act perfectly.


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