Chapter 269
Jocelyn had always thought that Harrison and Ursula's relationship was rock solid, even growing stronger by the day. She was blindsided by the bombshell Ursula had just dropped.
"Maybe you're overthinking it," Jocelyn said, at a loss for how to comfort her friend. If the issue had been Ursula's, it could have been addressed, but the problem seemed to originate from Harrison's end.
She couldn't very well confront Harrison about it. That would be way out of line.
"Ursula, you love Harrison, right?" Jocelyn asked. Her sincerity was shining through. "If you love him, trust him, believe in your marriage. I'm sure Harrison knows what he's doing and he understands the commitment he's made. You're a team now, husband and wife. If something's bugging you, you need to lay it all out for him.
There's an old saying that everyone deserves a chance to explain themselves before facing the death sentence. Maybe what you need isn't an explanation, but a chance to clear up a misunderstanding."
Once more, Jocelyn took her hand. "Stop jumping to conclusions. Trust in the person you love."
Deep down, Ursula knew she should trust Harrison, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was someone else who held a special place in Harrison's heart, even after their marriage vows.
"Fine, I'll listen to you," Ursula said. Her mood was visibly lifting. She didn't want to fall out with Jocelyn. After all, she had always known about Harrison's crush on Jocelyn.
It was her own selfish desire to grow close to Harrison through Jocelyn that had sparked this whole mess.
She understood that she had used Jocelyn to get close to Harrison. Perhaps Harrison had accepted her because of Jocelyn.
Back at the room, Melvin's gaze met Jocelyn's with pinpoint accuracy.
Seeing Jocelyn's troubled look, he frowned.
Jocelyn, sensing Melvin's approach, subtly shook her head and sat down next to Ursula.
"Do you want to call Harrison to pick you up? Or we could drive you home."
"I'll call him," Ursula said, looking at Jocelyn. "You go on with your evening. Don't worry about me."
"It's all friends here, and there's nothing pressing at the moment. I'll stay with you," Jocelyn said, feeling a weight on her heart as if a stone was lodged there.
As time ticked by, the once lively crowd had thinned out until only the three of them remained.
Melvin glanced at the time. "Let's just take her home."
"It's not necessary. Harrison is almost here," Ursula reassured them with a smile. "You two should get some rest too. You've got work tomorrow." Jocelyn didn't know how to face Harrison anymore.
She feared Ursula might resent any interaction between her and Harrison.
After a short wait, Harrison arrived.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Harrison apologized upon arrival.
Jocelyn could hardly bring herself to look at Harrison, let alone speak.
Melvin sensed that something was off since Jocelyn and Ursula had returned from their private chat. Even now, Jocelyn was avoiding greeting Harrison. He knew it had to be related to Harrison.
"Get your wife home and get some rest," Melvin said, wrapping his arm around Jocelyn tenderly. "Honey, let's head home and hit the hay." Melvin and Jocelyn's intimacy was natural. It was the kind that only came from deep affection.
Harrison turned to Ursula, reaching for her hand and noticing its coolness. "Why are your hands so cold?"
Ursula felt the warmth from his fingers. It seemed the warmth was seeping into her heart, trying to heat her from the inside out.
Her heart had always been warm for Harrison; it was his heart that needed warming.
“It's nothing,” Ursula said quickly, realizing she was wearing Jocelyn's jacket. She slipped it off. "This belongs to Jocelyn."
Harrison moved to take it, but Ursula gave him a look that made him pause. His gaze shifted away from hers.
As they left the hotel, Jocelyn was already seated in the car, with Melvin standing by as if waiting for them.
“Jocelyn's jacket,” Ursula said, handing it over to Melvin.
Taking the jacket, Melvin gave them a look and said, "We'll head out then."
"Okay. Bye," Ursula waved.
Jocelyn didn't want to show her face, but it felt too rude not to acknowledge the farewell.
Rolling down the window, she waved to Ursula, deliberately not looking at Harrison.
She had always been clear of conscience, but Ursula's words suddenly made her feel guilty.
The driver started the car as Melvin climbed in.
"What did Ursula tell you?" Melvin had been wanting to ask ever since they'd returned.
Jocelyn clung to Melvin's arm, leaning against him with a heavy heart. “Ursula is pregnant."
"Isn't that good news? Why do you both look so troubled?" Melvin was confused.
Jocelyn debated whether to share
Ursula's confidences about
Harrison's lingering feelings. She
feared Melvin would become
agitated after knowing Harrison
hadn't moved on. Content belongs
Two people were already upset; if another person found out, it would just add to the unhappiness.
Besides, Melvin already had a bone to pick with Harrison, viewing him as a rival. Learning that Harrison still had feelings for her would drive Melvin up the wall.
After a moment's thought, Jocelyn decided she just needed to manage the situation carefully.
“Ursula said Harrison isn't ready for kids yet," Jocelyn offered. It was a truth that was indeed hard to celebrate.
Melvin snorted, "So what? He doesn't want the baby now?"
"He didn't say. Ursula hasn't told him yet. She's afraid of his reaction," Jocelyn replied.
"What's there to be upset about? It's not like it's not his kid. That would be a different story," Melvin snorted with derision. "If his wife's pregnant and he doesn't want the baby, then he's a real scumbag."
Jocelyn didn't care about Melvin's rant about Harrison. If Harrison truly didn't want the child upon finding out about the pregnancy, then he deserved to be scolded.
But at the moment, everything was still a mystery.
After all, it was just Ursula's assumption. Harrison hadn't been asked yet.
Meanwhile, Ursula sat in the car. Her hand was resting gently on her belly.
She'd had the tests; the result was positive.
When she first got the news, she was over the moon, but recalling Harrison's words made her initial joy
quickly disappear. Her happiness quickly was washed away by a bucket of
cold water.
She still had no idea how to broach the subject.
"What's up? You seem down." Harrison had been keeping an eye on Ursula.
Ursula pursed her lips, "Nothing. Well, a colleague of mine is pregnant and she's scared to tell her husband."
"Why's that?" Harrison focused on the road ahead, driving attentively.
"Because it seems her husband isn't too keen on having kids."
Harrison pondered for a moment, "If they don't want kids, they should take precautions."
"Precautions aren't a hundred percent foolproof."
"If you're married, unless you're adamantly child-free, kids are probably in the cards eventually. If it happens, it's meant to be. You can't just reject it.” Hearing Harrison's response, Ursula felt a bit more at ease. She gripped her hands tighter and added, "The problem is, she feels that her husband doesn't love her."
Harrison couldn't help but glance at Ursula. “Is her husband having an affair?"
"No."
"Then why would she feel that way?"
"There's no affair, but there is a high school sweetheart." As Ursula finished her sentence, she lowered her head, not daring to look at him.
She didn't know if he would realize what she was hinting at.
As expected, there was a long silence from Harrison.
Ursula's heart raced with anxiety.
"No matter what, the person he married is her."
Ursula lifted her head to look at Harrison. His expression was composed, giving nothing away whether he was talking about someone else or about
himself.
"Should she tell her husband about the pregnancy?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
"I'm pregnant," Ursula said, locking eyes with him.