The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 189

If Diana found out, it would only bring a tidal wave of unnecessary drama.

"Dad, you're going to be a grandpa. Are you happy?"

Marcus was absolutely thrilled. Watching his daughter get married and have a child was his greatest wish. Even though her marriage was a disaster, at least there was still time to make things right.

Marcus smiled from ear to ear. "I just wish time would fly so I could hold my grandson already."

"I don't want a boy," Jocelyn teased affectionately. "I want a little girl."

"Alright, alright, a girl then! She'll grow up to be just as beautiful as you."

Marcus looked at his daughter, his heart aching with an inexplicable sadness. He’d had a persistent knot in his stomach for the past two days, a nagging premonition that something terrible was coming.

After thinking it over, Marcus decided he needed to tell Jocelyn the truth. Regardless of whether she forgave him, he had to say it. Because if something happened to him...

"Jocelyn..." he began.

Jocelyn sat back in her chair and picked up an orange from the nightstand, starting to peel it. "What is it, Dad?"

"Haven't you always wanted to know—"

"Marcus."

Diana's sharp voice cut through the air as she marched into the room, instantly killing the conversation.

Jocelyn kept her eyes on the orange, casting only a fleeting glance in Diana's direction. "What were you trying to tell me, Dad?"

"What kind of secrets are you two whispering about?" Diana demanded. "Let me in on it."

Marcus sighed, deciding to drop it for now. "We were just chatting. There's no secret."

Diana scoffed, crossing her arms. "Right. You just don't want to tell the outsider."

Not wanting to stress her father out, Jocelyn stood up. "Dad, I'm gonna head home. I'll be back first thing in the morning, and I'll stay with you all day tomorrow."

She and Diana were practically enemies; being in the same room was suffocating.

"Alright," Marcus said softly. "Go get some rest."

Jocelyn walked toward the door.

"Jocelyn!" Marcus suddenly called out, an urgent edge to his voice.

Jocelyn turned around. "What's wrong?"

Marcus forced down his rising anxiety. "Nothing. Just... be careful on your way home. Drive safe. And make sure you bundle up when you go outside, don't catch a cold."

Jocelyn smiled warmly. "Dad, I'm not a kid anymore. Don't worry. See you tomorrow."

He called again. She declined it again.

Adrian was relentless, blowing up her phone back-to-back.

Annoyed, Jocelyn just powered the phone off entirely.

Exhausted from the emotional toll of the day, Jocelyn fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

When she finally woke up, it was already past 9:00 AM.

She turned her phone back on.

A barrage of missed call notifications flooded the screen.

Then, she saw the final text message.

Jocelyn felt like she had been plunged into freezing water. It was a lightning strike that shattered her reality, making it physically hurt just to breathe.

The text was from Jeremy.

It was only two sentences long, but it ripped her heart straight out of her chest.

[Why didn't you answer! Dad is gone.]