?Chapter 1418:


    Spotting Melvin blocking the entrance, she nudged him aside and ushered everyone in. “Come inside, all of you.”


    “Hold on,” said Melvin, stepping in front to halt them.


    The entire group looked his way.


    Melvin scanned the three well-dressed men before turning to Haley. “You’re allowed in. They’ll have to wait out here.”


    “Why are we not allowed inside?” one man asked.


    “Jessica, is your bodyguard always this over the top?” another chimed in.


    “That’s right!” a third voice joined in.


    Melvin’s eyebrows drew together in a small frown. He focused on the part that mattered and turned to Jessica. “Did you spend time with these guys before?”


    “Obviously.” With a hint of mischief, Jessica shrugged off his suspicion. “Whenever Haley and I went out, these three tagged along.”


    Among the group, her own cousin stood beside her, while Haley’s two cousins made up the rest. Most of their childhood had been spent together, always in each other’spany. Still, she had asked them to y along for the fun of it and to keep Melvin guessing.


    “Ignore him. Lately, his brain’s been out of sorts.” Jessica waved away Melvin’s objections and stepped in front of him, shielding the group. “Did you remember to bring the drinks I wanted?”


    “They’ll be here any minute,” replied Haley.


    Right as she said that, someone appeared carrying a few bottles.


    The group burst in,ughter and the sound of clinking bottles filling the entryway. Melvin’s brows drew together, the sight of all that alcohol making him tense. He reached out, pulled Jessica into a loose embrace, and questioned her quietly, “Why’d you invite them over?”


    “I’m not in the best mood. A drink seems like the only cure,” said Jessica, trying to act unfazed, though his closeness made her a bit uneasy. “You can head back. We’ll just be hanging out.”


    “So what exactly are you nning?” Melvin pressed.


    L??€$? ???t??я? Iη ?a?n?νεl?.c?m


    “We haven’t figured that out,” Jessica answered. “First, we drink. The rest wille after.”


    A heaviness settled in Melvin’s chest, but after a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “You’re really sure you want to drink?”


    “Absolutely,” said Jessica, giving him a confident nod.<fn0ebb> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? findnovel</fn0ebb>


    Melvin loosened his grip and stepped aside, letting her join the others.


    Jessica was puzzled. What was that supposed to mean?


    Melvin draped his jacket back across her shoulders, his demeanor shifting like the flip of a switch. “Aren’t you joining them for drinks? Why are you still out here?”


    Though confused by how quickly he changed, Jessica walked inside without another word. She reminded herself that if she wanted to keep up the act, she had tomit.


    The next ten minutes passed in a strange hush.


    All of them gathered around a small table, the energy in the room dampened by Melvin’s silent presence. He stood off to the side, eyes cool and unwavering as he watched the group.


    .


    .


    .