Ellison And Joycelyn: A Love Beyond The Rules

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Joycelyn’s cheeks were burning as she stammered, “It’s clearly you!” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence and quickly fell silent.

Ellison’s voice was low and calm. “What about me?”

Joycelyn wanted to say it was because he was too domineering, too demanding. But those words, she only dared to think in her head, never to speak aloud.

“It’s fine. I’ll just drink it,” Joycelyn said, her face flushed. She tried to sound nonchalant, though she desperately wished the could bury her face in the soup bowl and gulp it down like water.

“I’m done.” Joycelyn said, wiping her lips with a tissue. “Now, shall we get to the work report?”

“Sure,” Ellison replied.

Joycelyn immediately stood up to get the report. Ellison ate his lunch at a leisurely pace, while she sat across from him, earnestly going over the details of her work.

As she spoke, Ellison listened intently, occasionally asking a question or two. By the time he finished his meal, she had wrapped up her report.

That’s everything. If there’s nothing else, may I go rest now?” Joycelyn held her folder tightly, her desire to leave written all over her face.

“Go ahead,” Ellison said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. His eyes lingered on her hand, where the ring sparkled on her slender finger.

Joycelyn stood up and was about to leave when something seemed to occur to her. She turned back around, her face serious and looked at Ellison.

“Mr. Grant, I heard this ring costs tens of thousands of dollars. It feels too flashy for me. I was thinking of swapping it for a similar, more affordable one. Is that alright?”

A ring worth over 20 thousand dollars seemed completely out of place on her hand, especially for someone like her, from an ordinary background.

“Is 20 thousand dollars really that much?” Ellison asked, his tone casual, almost indifferent, leaving Joycelyn momentarily speechless.

A brief shadow passed over her gentle, thoughtful eyes, but she quickly explained. “To you, it might be nothing. But for me, it’s a lot–it’s almost a whole year’s salary, I can’t afford it, and I certainly can’t pay it back.”

“I never asked you to pay it back,” Ellison replied, his eyes narrowing slightly, his gaze settling on her with quiet intensity,

In that brief moment when his cold, steady eyes met hers, Joycelyn felt a sudden sense of urgency rise in her chest.

His silent, commanding presence made her feel a little breathless. He looked so composed, yet when his aura shifted, there was a sharpness to him–like a hawk’s piercing gaze–that almost felt suffocating.

“I know you don’t care about these things,” Joycelyn hurried to explain. Her voice grew softer, and a slight tremor crept into her tone. “It’s just… I don’t feel right accepting it. And… I don’t want to get used to relying on things I haven’t earned.”

She spoke gently and patiently, her words almost a plea. “I just want us to live according to our own means. Is that okay?”

Chapter 39

Ellison didn’t respond right away. He simply watched her in silence, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes calm and steady. The bright midday sun streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow on his chiseled features that offered no hint of what he might be thinking.

Joycelyn swallowed, a wave of anxiety flooding over her. She wasn’t sure if her words had upset him. After all, Ellison was like a prince, and probably very few people dared to speak to him the way she had

As Joycelyn thought about it, she couldn’t help but feel a little regretful. Just as she was starting to feel uneasy, Ellison spoke up. “Got it.”

“What?” Joycelyn froze for a second, her clear eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Thank you for understanding, Mr. Grant.”

Clutching her folder, she couldn’t stop herself from giving him a quick bow.

* was left speechless. Before he could say anything else, Joycelyn quickly grabbed her folder and hurried out of the

roon

relieved sigh once she was safely in the elevator. She thought, “That was

to calm her racing heart. Her legs felt weak, like they might

past few days, she’d seen Ellison’s more domineering and calculating side, as well as his cool, aloof demeanor. But

deeply, trying to compose herself. Once she exited the elevator, she put

Joycelyn? Is Mr. Grant satisfied?” As soon as she sat down, Aurelia came up from

was a direct report to Ellison–something most people would never get the chance to do. Everyone was dying to

she picked up her water cup and took a sip. Her nervousness didn’t go unnoticed, and it made the others tense up

a hard time?” Selene lowered her voice, her tone filled with concern.

closely, clearly

and there are a few

said, furrowing her brow with a worried expression.

why do you look so pale? You: Everyone who knew Joycelyn knew she was usually calm and composed, so seeing her this

wouldn’t be nervous?” Joycelyn took another deep breath, her eyelashes fluttering. She didn’t dare look up at the concerned faces of her coworkers, feeling

chest.

think?” Aurelia asked, walking over to glance at the report. She noticed there

1708 Kie, FILED

Chapter 39

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who… well, he’s like a celestial being. His presence is something most people can’t handle.

lunch, the tension almost scared the hell out of me,” Selene said, recalling the meal with a rueful laugh as she patted her

the first time I’ve ever seen you so quiet. You barely said a word and

terrified. By the way, do you think Mr. Grant

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

you!” She couldn’t bring herself to finish

and

domineering, too demanding. But those words, she only dared to think in her head, never to speak

flushed. She tried to sound nonchalant, though she desperately wished the could bury her face in the soup bowl

a tissue. “Now,

“Sure,” Ellison replied.

immediately stood up to get the report. Ellison ate his lunch at a leisurely pace, while she sat across from him, earnestly going

Ellison listened intently, occasionally asking a question or two. By the time he finished his

may I go rest now?” Joycelyn held her folder tightly, her desire to leave written all over

wiping his mouth with a napkin. His eyes lingered on her hand, where the ring sparkled

to leave when something seemed to occur to her. She

It feels too flashy for me. I was thinking of swapping it for a similar, more affordable

thousand dollars seemed completely out of place on her

asked, his tone

might be nothing. But for me, it’s a lot–it’s almost a whole year’s salary, I can’t afford it, and I certainly can’t pay

it back,” Ellison replied, his eyes narrowing slightly, his gaze settling on

steady eyes met hers, Joycelyn felt

looked so composed, yet when his aura shifted, there was

you don’t care about these things,” Joycelyn hurried to explain. Her voice grew softer, and a slight tremor crept into her tone. “It’s

“I just want us to live according to our own means.

Chapter 39

midday sun streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow

of anxiety flooding over her. She wasn’t sure if her words had upset him. After all, Ellison was like a prince, and

it, she couldn’t help but feel a little regretful. Just

clear eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Thank you for understanding,

herself from giving him a quick

Joycelyn