Marcusâ teasing was met with an eye roll from Melissa as she picked up the call.
Jessieâs voice, strained with emotion, resonated from the other end.
âMelissa, how can you do this to me? My engagement is tomorrow.
Tell me youâll be at my bachelorette party tonight, please.
I need clarity.
â
Melissa suddenly remembered the significance of the date-
Valentineâs Day was also the day of Jessieâs engagement.
Sensing Jessieâs disheartened mood, Melissa asked with genuine concern, âHey, are you by yourself right now?â
Through her tears, Jessie lamented.
âTheyâve all left.
Itâs Like nobody cares about me anymore!â
Her voice trailed off into soft murmurs.
âs BunnyBookery
A somber tone replaced Jessieâs on the line as someone else took the phone over.
âMiss Brown, is this you? Itâs Elsie Miss Green has had too much to drink, and Iâm afraid to call Mr.
Watson.
What should I do, Miss Brown?â
Elsie?
The same Elsie from Albertâs villa-was Jessie there now?
A rush of urgency spurred Melissa into action.
âLook after her, Iâm on my way,â she said quickly before hanging up.
She turned to face Marcus, who was already watching her, wood shavings still clinging to his clothing.
âJessieâs not doing well.
Sheâs had too much to drink, and with her engagement tomorrow⦠I need to go check on her.
Would you mind watching Matthew while Iâm out?â Melissaâs request was timid, edged with guilt.
Marcus brushed the debris from his clothes in a deliberate, unhurried motion.
âAnd why should I do this for you?â he teased, challenging her.
Closing the distance between them, Melissa began to clear the sawdust from his shoulders.
âPlease, as a favor to me,â she asked softly, her voice a tender nudge.
His gaze locked onto hers, intense and probing.
As Melissa leaned in, hoping to coax him with a ki*s, Marcus cut through the tension with a gravelly ultimatum.
âBe back by midnight.
My house, my rules.
Understood?â
A flush of warmth spread across Melissaâs cheeks as she nodded, a mix of embarrassment and relief.
Marcusâ gesture was unexpected; he handed Melissa the car keys, declaring the vehicle hers from then on, citing its âtoo girlyâ interior as his reason for disuse.
Melissa, caught between surprise and the urgency of her mission, neither accepted nor rejected the offer outright.
Upon arrival, the servant-Elsie-rushed to her, urgency in her voice, âMiss Brown, youâre finally here! Miss Green has been in such a state-crying and yelling.
We didnât dare call her family.
Itâs best they donât know about this place⦠Theyâre likely unaware of her and Mr.
Watson.
â
Melissa nodded, a silent understanding passing between them, and headed straight upstairs.