The Unwilling CEO's Love Game novel Chapter 141

After the last box was hauled in, Zephyr was ready to head out. The village kids, who had taken quite a liking to him, clung to his clothes, pleading for him to stay.

But Zephyr had to get back to his family for the holidays – there was no chance he could linger.

Uriah tried to hush the children and turned to ask Melvin, "Is Mr. Martinez leaving too?"

"He's not going anywhere," Zephyr said with a grin, glancing over at Jocelyn, who was trying to be invisible among the crowd. "His sweetheart's here. How could he possibly leave?"

His voice was so loud that Jocelyn could hardly ignore.

Jocelyn's face turned tomato red immediately and she quickly turned away.

Uriah was shocked, not sure who Mr. Martinez's sweetheart could be. He recalled overhearing some gossip from the womenfolk that there was definitely something brewing between Mr. Martinez and Jocelyn – their chemistry was off the charts.

But he wasn't too concerned with romances. Mr. Martinez’s willingness to uplift the village was all that mattered to him.

As Zephyr drove off in his SUV, the holiday feast was ready.

The setup was similar to Melvin's first visit, with five or six tables. But tonight the atmosphere was buzzed with excitement. They had prepared a lot for the feast.

Each table was laden with hearty dishes, served in humble style with no fancy plating. The aim was simple: a bountiful meal to fill everyone up.

Outside, the kids played with sparklers while Melvin and some of the village officials moved the fireworks to a dry field, setting off two boxes before dinner.

The fireworks whooshed into the sky and burst into a short-lived yet mesmerizing display that left everyone awe-struck.

Every face was turned upwards, watching the sky painted with colors, each expression unique.

A little girl clasped her hands together and whispered a wish, "I hope my mom and dad come home soon." Her voice was low, devoid of any particular emotion, yet brimming with feeling.

Ursula sighed, touched by the girl's simple and heartfelt wish.

Jocelyn watched the fireworks, pondering how many of them were silently missing family members who worked far from home.

But that's life. And that’s the challenge of adulthood. There's often no choice for adults.

"Melvin, what's your wish?" the village's oldest boy, Yuri, asked, unafraid to question him.

Melvin glanced toward a woman standing on the other side, gazing at the fireworks, and wondered about her wish.

"I don't have wishes," he told Yuri.

"Why not?"

"Wishes need actions to come true. That," Melvin nodded toward the fleeting fireworks, "is just for watching."

Yuri nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you’re right."

After the fireworks, everyone gathered around the tables for the holiday feast.

The festive mood was high. Those who drank alcohol had their fill, and those who didn't sipped on sodas. The children, encouraged by the adults, started dancing and singing together. Later, they all joined in on a new song they'd learned, "The Voice of Youth."

Jocelyn clapped along and led the children in singing. Their voices were powerful and moving, though a few of them were off-key.

They didn't watch any televised galas, but this was far more joyful.

The village's elder women sang ancient ballads filled with longing, while other women bashfully crooned old love songs, yearning for their husbands.

The crowd egged on Jocelyn and Ursula to sing. A child claimed Jocelyn had the best voice.

Unabashed, Jocelyn chose not a love song but an anthem, "Boundless Land". Its grand lyrics and melody weaved hopes of peace and prosperity, casting the brightest hopes on the small village.

Melvin couldn't take his eyes off Jocelyn. He hadn't really heard her sing before.

The other day when he watched her teach the children singing, he saw the sparkling glamour around her.

Now, with her effortless grace and captivating presence, she inspired everyone, convincing them that better days were in the near future.

"Melvin, do you like Jocelyn?" Yuri asked, sitting beside him.

Melvin raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his drink, "Is that a problem?"