From a distance, the sight of one striding ahead while the other chased after was almost comical.
"Hey, what’s up with Mr. Vincent and his girlfriend?"
Playing a little game of chase, that’s all."
Guess the old saying’s true—even the toughest steel bends for love, huh?"
"You were told to study more, but you insisted on being a pig.
That’s called ’tempering steel into supple silk.’"
Either way, it means brother Vincent’s done for."
"Can’t argue with that."
... Vicente’s footsteps came to a halt in front of the car.
Hearing the hurried footsteps closing in behind him, a flicker of resignation flashed in his eyes before he finally turned around.
Melissa hadn’t expected Vicente to stop so abruptly.
Unable to brake in time, she slammed straight into his chest.
The hard, unyielding muscle felt like running into a brick wall.
Her nose stung sharply as she staggered backward— Until a strong, steady arm shot out and caught her just in time, steadying her.
Clutching her throbbing, reddened nose, Melissa glared up at Vicente with watery eyes.
"Why’d you have to stop like that?"
The faint quiver in her voice made the complaint sound more like a petulant whine than actual reproach.
Against his will, Vicente’s heart softened.
"I’m here" on the tip of his tongue turned into— "My bad."
"It was your fault to begin with," Melissa gingerly touched her still-throbbing nose, her voice dripping with petulant accusation.
"What’s the point of having legs that long anyway?
And why are your muscles so ridiculously hard?"
Even this, she found a way to blame him.
Vicente couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle, utterly speechless.
The wind carried Melissa’s words in fragmented bursts to the small group standing not far away.
"Did... did I just hear sis-in-law say something about ’long’? And ’hard’?"
"...You heard right, because I caught those words too."
Are we really allowed to hear this for free?"
"You think Brother Vincent stormed off because he was frustrated, and sis-in-law chased after him out of guilt?"
"Heh, sounds about right to me."
... Vicente seemed to sense something and shot a sharp glance toward the group engrossed in their lively discussion.
The moment they met his icy glare, their expressions stiffened.
Without another word, they turned in unison and practically sprinted toward the nearest corner.
By the time Melissa followed Vicente’s gaze, the group had already vanished.
Vicente was speechless.
Those little brats sure knew how to make a quick escape.
Vincent’d make sure they got their fill of running later.
Her almond-shaped eyes, still glistening with unshed tears, blazed with fury as she glared at him.
"I’m talking to you, and you just ignore me—what’s with the thousand-yard stare?"
Vicente couldn’t explain, so he sidestepped her question entirely, turning the tables instead.
"Just what exactly are you following me for?"
"I want to know where you’re going, but you won’t tell me," Melissa said, tilting her head back to look at Vicente.
Finding the angle uncomfortable, she took a couple of steps back, finally easing the strain on her neck.
"Guess I’ll just have to follow you, then."
Vicente pressed his lips together, the shadow of his black baseball cap obscuring the sharp, chiseled lines of his face.
His voice was low, betraying no emotion.
"What you really want to ask is whether I’m meeting Calvin, isn’t it?"
"Yeah," Melissa admitted without hesitation, nodding.
"Since you already know, why beat around the bush instead of just telling me?"
Vicente watched her matter-of-fact expression, a vein twitching faintly at his temple.
"Melissa, I’m a man."
Any man with pride would find it unbearable to have the woman he loves pestering him relentlessly—just so she could see another man.
Melissa lifted her gaze, sweeping her eyes over Vicente from head to toe.
With a face like yours, no one would mistake you for a woman anyway."
A puzzled expression crossed her delicate, porcelain-like face.
"Besides, what does being a man have to do with my question?"
All he had to do was tell her whether he was going to see Calvin this time. Was that so hard?
Was she truly oblivious, or simply indifferent?
Vicente’s brows knitted tightly, his dark, fathomless eyes narrowing into an inscrutable arc.
Under his intense gaze, Melissa caught a rare whiff of something unusual.
Her thick lashes fluttered slightly as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Why—why are you looking at me like that?"
"What if I said yes?"
Vicente pressed his lips together, his voice low and measured as he studied Melissa.
An inexplicable, unreadable aura seemed to radiate from him.
"If I am going to see Calvin, what do you plan to do about it?"
Calvin hoped—no, prayed—her answer wouldn’t be what he feared.
Though Melissa couldn’t fathom why Vicente had suddenly become so moody, she frowned and answered truthfully anyway.
"What else would I do?
I’d go with you to see Calvin, of course."
Last time, his attitude had startled her into silence.
But this time, she’d make sure he put in a good word for her—anything to cool her brother’s temper.
Only then did she dare to take the next step—to make her relationship with Vincent public. The truth was, she still longed to see him.
"I understand," Vincent replied, his voice cool and composed, though a fleeting bitterness—one he himself hadn’t noticed—flashed deep in his eyes.
His expression remained as unreadable as ever.
"But I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.
I’m not going out to meet Calvin.
I’m having dinner with a woman."
Dinner... with a woman?!
Melissa’s breath hitched, her delicate eyes widening in shock.
An unfamiliar pang of something sour and aching twisted in her chest, rooting her to the spot.
When she didn’t respond, Vincent’s lips curled into a self-deprecating smirk.
"Go home," he said flatly.
"Don’t wait for me tonight."
Without another glance in her direction, he turned and stepped into the car.
The engine roared to life, and the vehicle pulled away, leaving Melissa standing there, stunned.
Don’t... wait for him?
Accompanying a woman for dinner isn’t enough—now he’s spending the night with her?!!!
Only then did Melissa snap out of her daze, whipping her head around to stare in the direction where Vicente had disappeared.
"Vicente, you stop right there!!"
His car had already driven some distance away—there was no way he could hear her now.
Didn’t he claim to love her?
How long had they even been together, and he already had the nerve to cheat so brazenly?
Melissa gritted her teeth, fury burning through her veins.
No way—she had to follow him and see for herself!
Fuming, she stormed toward another parked Jeep nearby, yanking at the door handle several times, but it wouldn’t budge.
A few men lingering nearby noticed her struggle and immediately rushed over.
"Sis-in-law, what are you trying to do?"
She had protested against this gangster-like address countless times.
But no matter how many times she corrected them, they’d forget the next second.
Eventually, she gave up—though by now, she had grown used to it.
"I’m going after Vicente," Melissa gritted her teeth and demanded, "Give me the car keys."
The group exchanged glances, identical smirks spreading across their faces.
*Tsk tsk*, looks like the game between Brother Vincent and his girlfriend wasn’t over yet?
But considering Melissa’s safety, they didn’t dare let her leave alone.
The buzz-cut guy at the front stepped forward.
"Madam, this isn’t San Francisco—it’s not exactly safe here. Let me drive you."
*And get a front-row seat to the drama while I’m at it.*
Melissa had always been reasonable.
Without hesitation, she agreed.
"You’re right. Thanks, then."
The man grinned wider at her quick compliance, opening the door for her.
I’m the best driver here—I’ll catch up to Brother Vincent for sure."
Melissa gave a stiff nod, lips pressed into a thin, furious line.
If what Vicente said was true, she was going to make him *pay*!
The car sped off in the direction Vicente had taken.
Meanwhile, Vicente was drowning in his own turmoil, oblivious to everything else.
The two cars raced through the streets, one after the other, until they reached downtown Luville.