?Chapter 516:


    Otherwise, why would his friend have dragged him out for an impromptu night of heavy drinking?


    “Wait a sec.” Gerard said suddenly, his thoughts churning. “Weren’t you pretending to be Ms. Briggs’s boyfriend before? Could it be your actual girlfriend misunderstood and dumped you because of that?”


    “She doesn’t even know I like her,” Melvin said, irritation bleeding into his voice. He couldn’t believe Gerard was this thick.


    But to keep him drinking, Melvin let his emotions show—lips set in a bitter line, and he tossed out a carefully measured clue. Gerard mulled it over.


    So… it was a secret crush?


    The realization struck him, and he looked at Melvin with newfound curiosity. He hadn’t expected the cool and aloof Melvin to be harboring quiet affection for someone. But who was this woman? Why had he never heard a word? Melvin had never once mentioned her.


    “Who is she?” Gerard asked, thinking he was finally getting somewhere.


    Melvin nced at him, the look in his eyes clearing like a fog lifting. It was as though Gerard’s question had sobered him. Shaking his head, Melvin said quietly, “I can’t tell you.”


    “You can’t… tell me?”


    Gerard’s curiosity now bordered on obsession. He looked at the bottles between them and topped off their sses. “Alright, then. One more drink. Maybe it’ll drown your sadness.”


    “Sure,” Melvin replied, his voice cool andposed.


    Gerard doubled down, pushing drink after drink on Melvin, determined to wear him down.


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    He figured if Melvin just drank enough, he’d cave.


    His n was simple: let Melvin get wasted while he yed along and stayed rtively sober.


    But what Gerard hadn’t ounted for was Melvin’s stubbornness—even under the influence. Every time Melvin took a shot, he insisted Gerard match him.


    Ten minutester, Gerard’s head was spinning like a top, and the room felt like it was tilting.


    Seeing him like that, Melvin knew the moment hade.


    Before he could speak, Gerard threw his arm over Melvin’s shoulder again and slurred, “I’ve drunk more with you tonight than I ever do at Mr. Shaw’s business dinners. Can’t you at least tell me who you’ve got a thing for?”


    “I’ll tell you—if you answer one question first.” Melvin set his ss down, his drunken haze vanishing in an instant. In its ce was the calm, razor-sharp gaze of a manpletely in control.


    Just like that, he was back to his usual self—cool, measured, untouchable.


    Gerard squinted at him. “Huh?”


    “What did you and Kristian talk about with Freya’s grandfather today?” Melvin asked, his tone deceptively casual, though his eyes stayed locked on Gerard’s face.


    Gerard immediately recoiled, pulling his arm back and eyeing him warily. “Wait… are you trying to trap me?”


    Melvin was momentarily stunned. How was Gerard not drunk yet? That didn’t make sense. Gerard should’ve been t out by now. “I’m not telling you anything!” Gerard grumbled, shaking his head like a defiant child. “Mr. Shaw said this stays between us. It’s top secret!”


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