Ellison And Joycelyn: A Love Beyond The Rules

Chapter 347

Chapter 347

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

60%

+45

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.

1/3

14:32 Wed, 19 Mar

Chapter 347

+45

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.

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 in a lowered voice, trying to pacify

her cheeks, glaring at Joycelyn, who was quietly eating and listening to the conversation.

stone, both of them sitting on opposite sides of a widening divide. Joycelyn looked at Bellina once, then went back

revolved around Joycelyn, and she only had to offer her approval or suggestions. It was

always longed for that treatment, the adoration and attention that

Bellina finally said, feigning compliance, though

do you blame me?” Bellina asked, leaning close

crossing

eyes met Joycelyn’s graceful, serene expression across the room, a subtle smile tugged at

we marry, let’s settle down abroad. We

her voice faltering with confusion.

for us,” Jerome replied, his tone gentle

knew Bellina well. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. It was better for him to bear the

She fixed her gaze on Joycelyn,

Richard specifically sought out Joycelyn for a private conversation.

has always feared being abandoned. When it comes to her and Jerome, I

both my daughters, and I don’t want to see you turn against each other. Can you

interactions had been few and far between. It wasn’t

2/3

Chapter 847

father–daughter bond.

nod. “Mm. I’ll wish her and Jerome

out a relieved sigh, as if a weight had

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

Joycelyn responded with a simple acknowledgment, not bothering

Lily and Bellina had been quietly observing

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

marry Jerome, you’ll get a share of the

Chapter 347

Chapter 347

in the room was awkwardly silent, unable to process the

60%

+45

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

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

and didn’t dare to oppose

do you?” Bellina’s voice quivered with a hint of innocence,

Valentine’s Day as a date. Jerome, what do you think?” Bellina added,

disregarding everyone else’s disapproval and agreeing to set the

brothers shot him looks full of disdain. Their brows furrowed in clear displeasure, but Jerome acted as if he hadn’t

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

After all, Richard was the one who would have to deal

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

and you can’t favor one over the other. Otherwise,

go ahead and be heartbroken. What’s it to me?” Zack sneered,

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

and gently took Joycelyn’s hand, his voice soft and

know exactly how to manipulate him. She quickly offered him his favorite sweet–and–sour pork, saying, “Dad, eat. No

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

in that car accident,” Lily added, bringing up the past without missing

had been so favored–it was because of

eat,” Richard finally said, trying

1/3

Wed, 19

Chapter 347

+45

Joycelyn’s upcoming birthday celebration, completely ignoring Bellina and Lily. Richard, too, was left to cat in silence, his presence

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

unable to swallow the bitterness of