?Chapter 1452:


    “Oh, I care,” Jessica teased. She wasn’t about to let him off that easy.


    Melvin’s heart skipped in panic.


    “What I mean is, I’m way morepatible with Jack. Our backgrounds match. With you, I’d be the one people think married up.”


    “No one would say that,” Melvin answered, dead serious.


    “How could they not?” Jessica tilted her head, amused by his cluelessness. “Do you seriously not realize how powerful Anita International is?”


    “I know,” Melvin admitted quietly. “But it belongs to Freya. I’m just an employee.”


    “Yeah, an employee,” Jessica fired back, not giving him an inch. “An employee whose dividends beat my dad’s entire yearly business profits. I should ask my dad to quit and get a job there instead.”


    Melvin gave her a helpless look, finally catching on to her teasing. “Jessica…”


    “Still feeling insecure?” Jessica narrowed her eyes at him.


    Melvin pressed his lips into a thin line, saying nothing. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she deserved someone better. Someone without baggage.


    Jessica wasn’t having it. “No sulking in silence.” She pointed a firm finger at him. “From now on, you’ve got three seconds to answer every time I ask you something.”


    “You really don’t mind my background at all?” Melvin asked again.


    “I really don’t,” Jessica said, sharper this time.


    “What about my parents?” Melvin couldn’t help asking.


    “They don’t matter either.” Jessica didn’t hesitate for a second. “If they show up again, we’ll find them work. If Anita doesn’t have space, my dad’spany will. There’s plenty they can do.”


    Melvin’s hands twitched slightly at his sides.


    Jessica reached out andced her fingers through his, her grip steady. “I want you to stop carrying everything alone. Love is just between us. Nothing else matters. Got it?” She pinched the soft skin of his palm.


    “Yeah.” Melvin’s voice softened under her touch.<fn7aea> Read full story at Find1Novel</fn7aea>


    Jessica rxed a little, the corner of her mouth lifting. “So you’re finally admitting you like me?”


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    “Yeah.” Melvin nodded, his ears flushing with color.


    The way his cheeks pinked up made her want to tease him more. “So when’s the wedding? What kind of ceremony are we having?”


    Melvin opened his mouth to say “anytime,” but the thought of Jack crept back in. His expression shifted, shadowed by hesitation. Jessica noticed right away. “What’s with that face?”


    “Am I the other man now?” Melvin asked suddenly, shame burning behind his words.


    It felt like a p. He despised the thought of himself as someone who broke up a marriage. And yet, here they were.


    “Sorry, I can’t marry you right now,” Melvin admitted. “I’ll still be here for you, but until you and Jack are divorced, I won’t cross any lines. No flirting. No romantic talk. Nothing.”


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