Ellison And Joycelyn: A Love Beyond The Rules

Chapter 347

Chapter 347

Everyone in the room was awkwardly silent, unable to process the situation.

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Turning from siblings to spouses, it was a sudden, jarring shift that even without blood ties, was nearly impossible to accept.

“Valentine’s Day is too far away. Let’s just go this afternoon and get the certificate, before things drag on,” Timothy said coldly, stepping forward with an icy expression. His voice was void of warmth.

Belina flinched, clearly intimidated, and didn’t dare to oppose him.

“Timothy, do you dislike me? You don’t want me to marry Jerome, do you?” Bellina’s voice quivered with a hint of innocence, her eyes nervously darting towards Timothy, testing his reaction.

“I just like Valentine’s Day as a date. Jerome, what do you think?” Bellina added, looking at Jerome with a forced sweetness.

“Whatever you say,” Jerome responded, disregarding everyone else’s disapproval and agreeing to set the wedding date on Valentine’s Day.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Timothy and the Spencer brothers shot him looks full of disdain. Their brows furrowed in clear displeasure, but Jerome acted as if he hadn’t noticed, holding Bellina’s hand and sitting down.

Joycelyn exchanged a glance with Ellison. Ellison, about to speak, was stopped when Joycelyn gently shook her head, holding his hand.

Bellina was deliberately antagonizing her. The more they opposed, the more triumphant Bellina seemed. After all, Richard was the one who would have to deal with the fallout.

But Zack, unable to keep his anger in check, scoffed, “If you two want to get your marriage certificate on Joycelyn’s birthday, that’s fine, but don’t expect us to be at your wedding celebration. We’ll be busy celebrating her birthday. Just get the certificate and skip the banquet.”

“How can that be? Marriage is a big event. Though I’m not Zack’s biological niece, Jerome is your nephew, and you can’t favor one over the other. Otherwise, Jerome will be heartbroken,” Bellina sweetly retorted, flashing an innocent look with her red–rimmed eyes as if she had been wronged.

“Then go ahead and be heartbroken. What’s it to me?” Zack sneered, unaffected by her plea.

“Let’s eat,” Jerome said coldly, completely ignoring Zack’s remarks. His indifference made it clear that he was living in a world of his own.

Ellison, sensing the tension, leaned over and gently took Joycelyn’s hand, his voice soft and soothing. “Two people remembering the date is good enough.”

Richard, who had been silent, sat quietly with his face pale. His frustration was palpable, and Bellina seemed to know exactly how to manipulate him. She quickly offered him his favorite sweet–and–sour pork, saying, “Dad, eat. No matter what, I’m still your precious daughter, and I’ll be a good daughter–in–law.”

Before Richard could respond, Lily jumped in with her praise, “Belle, you’re such a good girl. Your dad has spoiled you and even though you’re adopted by the Schultz family, you’ve been his savior. You’re his lucky star.”

“If it weren’t for your bravery back then, your father might have died in that car accident,” Lily added, bringing up the past without missing a beat.

The mention of the car accident made Joycelyn pause. She understood now why Bellina had been so favored–it was because of this incident. No wonder her father had always indulged her.

“Everyone, let’s eat,” Richard finally said, trying to ease the tension.

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The rest of the group focused on discussing Joycelyn’s upcoming birthday celebration, completely ignoring Bellina and Lily. Richard, too, was left to cat in silence, his presence barely acknowledged.

Joycelyn, however, was the clear center of attention, treated like a princess by her family. Even Ellison, normally reserved, was kinder and more affectionate than usual.

Bellina, however, could hardly contain her frustration. She kept biting her fork, unable to swallow the bitterness of being ignored. Eventually, she grabbed Jerome’s arm and said, “Jerome, they don’t care about you.”

“Eat your food, and after we finish, we’ll head back. I’ve already booked our flight for the afternoon,” Jerome responded, uninterested in the drama.

“Are we leaving this early? We’re not going to the Spencer family’s?” Bellina, who had hoped to stir up more chaos, was taken aback by Jerome’s decision to leave so soon.

it’s better if we just go ahead and get the certificate, either before or after, but not on the same day as Joycelyn’s birthday. We don’t want everyone to miss out,” Jerome said

at Joycelyn, who was quietly eating and listening

of a widening divide. Joycelyn looked at Bellina once, then went

she only had to offer her approval or suggestions. It was the kind of treatment reserved for the beloved daughter of

adoration and attention that Joycelyn received without

feigning compliance, though her

close to Jerome’s ear, her voice

of something crossing his face before he shook his head.

Joycelyn’s graceful, serene expression across the room, a subtle smile tugged at his lips. But just as quickly, his face returned to its

let’s settle down abroad. We won’t

asked, her voice faltering with

is better for us,” Jerome replied, his

better for him to bear the burden and

She fixed her gaze on Joycelyn, her resentment

out Joycelyn for

his voice gentle. “She grew up lacking love and has always feared being abandoned. When it comes to her and Jerome, I

sincere as he looked at her. “You’re both my daughters, and I don’t want to see you turn against each other. Can

had been few and far between.

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father–daughter bond.

nod. “Mm. I’ll wish

relieved sigh, as if

bride price and dowry will be covered by me. Timothy and I have already

a simple acknowledgment, not bothering

been quietly observing

they talking about?” Bellina whispered, eyes fized on them.

a smug smile. “Once you marry Jerome, you’ll get a share of the Schultz family’s assets. Everyone will have

Chapter 347

Chapter 347

was awkwardly silent, unable to

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jarring shift that even without blood ties, was nearly impossible

things drag on,” Timothy said coldly, stepping forward with an icy expression. His voice was void

didn’t dare to oppose him.

don’t want me to marry Jerome, do you?” Bellina’s voice quivered with a hint of innocence, her eyes nervously darting

what do you

say,” Jerome responded, disregarding everyone else’s disapproval and agreeing to set the wedding date on

the words left his mouth, Timothy and the Spencer brothers shot him looks full of disdain. Their brows furrowed in clear displeasure, but Jerome acted as if

Ellison. Ellison, about to speak, was stopped when Joycelyn

was deliberately antagonizing her. The more they opposed, the more triumphant Bellina seemed. After all, Richard was the one who would

want to get your marriage certificate on Joycelyn’s birthday, that’s fine, but don’t expect us to be at your wedding celebration. We’ll be busy celebrating her birthday. Just get the certificate

be? Marriage is a big event. Though I’m not Zack’s biological niece, Jerome is your nephew, and you can’t favor one over the other. Otherwise, Jerome will be heartbroken,” Bellina sweetly retorted, flashing an innocent

it to me?” Zack sneered,

remarks. His indifference made it clear that he was living in a

voice soft

pale. His frustration was palpable, and Bellina seemed to know exactly how to manipulate him. She quickly offered him his favorite sweet–and–sour pork, saying, “Dad, eat. No matter what, I’m still

you’re such a good girl. Your dad has spoiled you and

your bravery back then, your father might have died in that

mention of the car accident made Joycelyn pause. She understood now why Bellina had been so favored–it was because of this incident. No wonder

finally said, trying to ease the tension.

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rest of the group focused on discussing Joycelyn’s upcoming birthday celebration, completely ignoring Bellina and Lily. Richard, too, was left to cat in silence, his

was the clear center of attention, treated like a princess by her

unable to swallow the bitterness of being ignored. Eventually, she grabbed Jerome’s arm and said,