Chapter 40 A Chance Encounter at the Bar
Chandler sat back down on the stool beside the bed.
Melody, seeing him return, didn’t say anything. But she loosened her grip on the blanket and slowly pecked her head
out.
“Happy now?” Chandler checked the time and gently reminded her, “Get some rest. Weren’t you worried about your parents? The earlier you sleep, the quicker you’ll recover.”
Melody nodded obediently. As she tugged the blanket up, she suddenly smiled. “This bed’s pretty big. Do you want to come up and rest too?”
She looked at him, feigning concern. “It’s my fault. I knew you just got back from a mission, and still made you stay here with
- me.
“But you know, Chandler… after what happened, I really can’t stand being alone in a hospital. I hate myself sometimes for not having a healthy body. If only I weren’t such a burden to you.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, her voice trembling ever so slightly.
Before she could work herself up into tears, Chandler stepped in quickly, trying to comfort her. “When I’m on assignment, going
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a few days without sleep is nothing. And there’s a sofa right here. I’ll just nap there for a bit. Get some rest. Don’t worry about me.”
Melody realized he truly didn’t want to get in bed with her. Disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Still, she knew his personality–pressuring him would only backfire. Besides, he was already here with her. It was only a matter of time.
Content with that thought, she closed her eyes with a satisfied smile.
*****
“Sir, when I went to the apartment to get your clothes earlier, I noticed Madam’s luggage was gone.”
Early the next morning, the driver arrived with Chandler’s change of clothes and casually mentioned it.
The moment Chandler heard it, he thought of last night.
That liar.
Ginny had clearly promised she wouldn’t leave while he was
gone.
Childish.
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Did she really think she could still threaten him with something as juvenile as running away? He wasn’t falling for that.
In the bathroom, Melody overheard the conversation. A look of barely concealed delight spread across her face.
Ginny, couldn’t take it, huh? Ran away with your tail between your legs?
Smart girl.
If you go ahead and get that divorce, maybe–just maybe—I’ll stop making your life miserable. If not…
“This is your breakfast. Eat, then try to sleep a bit more. I’ll stop by around noon.”
Chandler was due back at the base for a meeting.
But when Melody heard that, she panicked, thinking he might
be going to see Ginny instead. She quickly grabbed his arm, eyes wide with worry. “Are you going to find Ginny?”
Chandler frowned.
Melody rushed to explain. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I went to the bathroom and overheard what the driver said.”
He remembered hearing the door earlier. His expression
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softened slightly.
(4) Lucky Draw
Seeing that, Melody pushed a little further. “Chandler, you don’t even like her. Sooner or later, you’ll need to make that clear to her. Why not now?
“Wouldn’t it be better for both of you to let go? And we’re not getting any younger. Maybe it’s time we…”
“Melody, you’ve got it wrong,” Chandler interrupted. “I’m not going to see her. I have a meeting with the Special Ops Unit. I’m running late. I’ve got to go.”
He grabbed his coat and walked out so fast it was almost a
retreat.
Watching his retreating figure, Melody’s expression darkened. She hurled her teacup to the floor.
Even if he was telling the truth, he had still cut her off deliberately. That much was clear.
Chandler refused to divorce Ginny. He also refused to promise her a future.
Why? Why did he always avoid the question whenever she brought it up?
Her mother had once told her–if a man truly loved her, he wouldn’t avoid her questions. Unless…
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No. She quickly shook that thought away.
Lucky Draw
Chandler did love her. Why else would he come whenever she called? Why else would he always choose her over Ginny?
Yes, he loved her. Maybe he just hadn’t realized it yet. Maybe he was still figuring out how to explain it to his family.
Wasn’t it his grandpa who pushed him to marry Ginny in the first place?
Ginny…
Melody had just barely managed to calm herself down when Ginny’s words from last night floated back into her mind. Her face soured instantly.
*****
By noon, Chandler was tied up with something urgent and sent lunch to Melody through the driver.
But neither he nor the driver showed up that evening.
Melody’s patience finally wore thin. After the nurse finished her rounds, she yanked out her IV, changed clothes, and caught a cab to a nearby bar.
*****
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Lucky Draw
“Shawn, eight o’clock. Look at that woman. She’s about to get groped.”
Sheila had just come back from the restroom and leaned over to whisper to Shawn.
Ginny, sitting beside them, heard her and instinctively followed Shawn’s gaze.
A man in his forties was gripping a young woman’s arm.
Something about the girl’s outfit looked familiar–like she’d seen her before.
Ginny squinted, trying to place her, just as the man jerked the girl toward him and turned her face into the light.
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