The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 13

The next morning, Jocelyn did her makeup and changed into a chic, cream-colored, French-style tweed suit.

The sharp tailoring perfectly accentuated her tall figure, and her long, wavy black hair fell naturally over her shoulders. The look was elegant and poised, exuding an undeniable charisma.

She had a business meeting in the afternoon, after all. Appearance mattered.

When Jocelyn came downstairs, Maria's eyes lit up.

"Jocelyn, do you have an important appointment today?"

Jocelyn smiled faintly. "Yes, I have a meeting."

Maria didn't pry. She just said, "It's good for you to get out more. Staying cooped up at home all the time can make you sick."

Jocelyn understood the double meaning in her words.

"Oh, Jocelyn," Maria said, lowering her voice despite them being alone. "The matriarch, Michelle and Audrey too, they're all moving in here. They say it's to make it easier to take care of the baby."

Eleanor and Michelle hadn't been living with them before, and Audrey had originally lived in another villa with Arthur.

Now, because of Audrey, three households were merging into one.

This house was about to get very lively.

To make it easier to take care of the baby? What a flimsy excuse.

"Maria."

Maria brought her breakfast. "Yes, Jocelyn?"

Jocelyn said, "I know you care about me, but from now on, please don't stick up for me in this house anymore. You need to keep your job here. I can handle my own problems."

Adrian might overlook it, given Maria's decades of dedicated service to the Lowell family.

But Eleanor and Michelle were not kind women.

If Maria offended them, she could very well be thrown out.

Maria was getting older. If she were fired, it would be difficult for her to find another job.

Maria said, "I understand, Jocelyn."

Jocelyn took one bite of her breakfast roll, but her stomach suddenly lurched. She barely made it to the sink before a wave of nausea nearly took her off her feet.

Maria, having been through this before, saw it and gasped, "Jocelyn, are you..."

Jocelyn shook her head at her.

Adrian said, "I have to go to the office this afternoon. I don't have time. You go in my place."

Jocelyn replied, "I don't have time either. I..."

"Adrian, come quick, the baby spit up."

Audrey's voice suddenly came through the phone.

Adrian immediately said, "Alright, that's settled then. Make sure you go pick her up."

He hung up.

Jocelyn checked the time. It was still early.

She had enough time to stop by the jewelry store.

Forty minutes later, the owner of the jewelry store was personally attending to her, examining the colored diamond necklace with an air of disbelief, checking it over and over again.

Jocelyn waited patiently.

For something so valuable, it was only natural for him to be skeptical at first.