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.

but not on the same day as Joycelyn’s birthday. We don’t want everyone to miss out,” Jerome said in

at Joycelyn, who was quietly eating and

a widening divide. Joycelyn looked at Bellina once, then went back to her

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

longed for that treatment, the adoration and attention that Joycelyn received without

you,” Bellina finally said, feigning compliance, though her mind was

you blame me?” Bellina asked, leaning close to Jerome’s ear, her voice barely a

crossing his face

across the room, a subtle smile tugged at his lips. But just as quickly, his face returned to its usual calm demeanor.

marry, let’s settle down abroad.

Bellina asked, her voice faltering with confusion.

Jerome replied, his

for him to bear the burden and protect this family’s stability, along with Joycelyn’s happiness, even if

clearly displeased, shot a look around the room. She fixed her gaze on

Richard specifically sought out

you and Belle have had your differences,” he began, his voice gentle. “She grew up lacking love and has always feared being

looked at her. “You’re both my daughters, and I don’t want to see you turn against each other. Can you promise me that?”

been few and far between. It wasn’t as if they shared some

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father–daughter bond.

slight nod. “Mm. I’ll

if a weight had been lifted

be covered by me.

simple acknowledgment,

in the shadows, Lily and Bellina had been quietly observing the conversation, unable

Bellina whispered, eyes fized

a smug smile. “Once you marry Jerome, you’ll get a share of the Schultz

Chapter 347

Chapter 347

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

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+45

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

afternoon and get the certificate, before things drag on,” Timothy said coldly, stepping forward with an icy expression.

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

you?” Bellina’s voice quivered with a hint of innocence, her eyes nervously darting

Day as a date. Jerome, what do you think?” Bellina

say,” Jerome responded, disregarding everyone else’s disapproval and agreeing to set

his mouth, Timothy and the Spencer brothers shot him looks full of disdain. Their brows furrowed in clear displeasure,

to speak, was stopped

Bellina seemed. After all, Richard was

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

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,

to me?” Zack sneered, unaffected by her plea.

eat,” Jerome said coldly, completely ignoring Zack’s remarks. His indifference made it clear that

leaned over and gently took Joycelyn’s hand, his voice soft and soothing.

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

girl. Your dad has spoiled you and even though you’re adopted by the Schultz family,

in

been so

eat,” Richard finally said, trying to ease the tension.

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the group focused on discussing Joycelyn’s upcoming birthday celebration, completely ignoring Bellina and Lily. Richard, too, was

princess by her family. Even Ellison, normally reserved, was kinder and

frustration. She kept biting her fork, unable to swallow the bitterness of being ignored. Eventually, she grabbed Jerome’s arm and