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.
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Chapter 347
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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.
“We’re not going. Belle, I think 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 in a lowered voice, trying to pacify her.
Bellina puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Joycelyn, who was quietly eating and listening to the conversation.
Their positions seemed set in stone, both of them sitting on opposite sides of a widening divide. Joycelyn looked at Bellina once,
then went back to her meal, ignoring her.
Everyone’s conversation revolved around Joycelyn, and she only had to offer her approval or suggestions. It was the kind of
treatment reserved for the beloved daughter of the family.
Bellina, though, had always longed for that treatment, the adoration and attention that Joycelyn received without even asking for

it.
“Okay, I’ll listen to you,” Bellina finally said, feigning compliance, though her mind was already planning something else.
“Jerome, do you blame me?” Bellina asked, leaning close to Jerome’s ear, her voice barely a whisper.
Jerome glanced at her, a brief flicker of something crossing his face before he shook his head. “No.”
As his eyes met Joycelyn’s graceful, serene expression across the room, a subtle smile tugged at his lips. But just as quickly, his
face returned to its usual calm demeanor.
“Belle, after we marry, let’s settle down abroad. We won’t come back,” Jerome said softly.
“Why?” Bellina asked, her voice faltering with confusion.

“Abroad is better for us,” Jerome replied, his tone gentle yet firm.
Jerome knew Bellina well. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. It was better for him to bear the burden and protect
this family’s stability, along with Joycelyn’s happiness, even if it meant turning his back on everything else.
Bellina, clearly displeased, shot a look around the room. She fixed her gaze on Joycelyn, her resentment bubbling beneath the
surface.
After lunch, Richard specifically sought out Joycelyn for a private conversation.
“Joycelyn, I know you and Belle have had your differences,” he began, his voice gentle. “She grew up lacking love and has
always feared being abandoned. When it comes to her and Jerome, I hope you can be understanding. Don’t take it to heart.”
His eyes were sincere as he 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?”
Though he was her biological father, their interactions had been few and far between. It wasn’t as if they shared some deep
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Chapter 847
father–daughter bond.
Joycelyn gave a slight nod. “Mm. I’ll wish her and Jerome well
“That’s good” Richard let out a relieved sigh, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“The bride price and dowry will be covered by me. Timothy and I have already discussed everything”
“Alright,” Joycelyn responded with a simple acknowledgment, not bothering to ask further.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Lily and Bellina had been quietly observing the conversation, unable to contain their curiosity.
“Mom, what are they talking about?” Bellina whispered, eyes fized on them.
“It doesn’t matter, Lily replied with a smug smile. “Once you marry Jerome, you’ll get a share of the Schultz family’s assets.
Everyone will have to come and congratulat

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.
“We’re not going. Belle, I think 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 in a lowered voice, trying to pacify her.
Bellina puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Joycelyn, who was quietly eating and listening to the conversation.
Their positions seemed set in stone, both of them sitting on opposite sides of a widening divide. Joycelyn looked at Bellina once,
then went back to her meal, ignoring her.
Everyone’s conversation revolved around Joycelyn, and she only had to offer her approval or suggestions. It was the kind of
treatment reserved for the beloved daughter of the family.
Bellina, though, had always longed for that treatment, the adoration and attention that Joycelyn received without even asking for
it.
“Okay, I’ll listen to you,” Bellina finally said, feigning compliance, though her mind was already planning something else.
“Jerome, do you blame me?” Bellina asked, leaning close to Jerome’s ear, her voice barely a whisper.
Jerome glanced at her, a brief flicker of something crossing his face before he shook his head. “No.”
As his eyes met Joycelyn’s graceful, serene expression across the room, a subtle smile tugged at his lips. But just as quickly, his
face returned to its usual calm demeanor.
“Belle, after we marry, let’s settle down abroad. We won’t come back,” Jerome said softly.

“Why?” Bellina asked, her voice faltering with confusion.
“Abroad is better for us,” Jerome replied, his tone gentle yet firm.
Jerome knew Bellina well. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. It was better for him to bear the burden and protect
this family’s stability, along with Joycelyn’s happiness, even if it meant turning his back on everything else.
Bellina, clearly displeased, shot a look around the room. She fixed her gaze on Joycelyn, her resentment bubbling beneath the
surface.
After lunch, Richard specifically sought out Joycelyn for a private conversation.
“Joycelyn, I know you and Belle have had your differences,” he began, his voice gentle. “She grew up lacking love and has
always feared being abandoned. When it comes to her and Jerome, I hope you can be understanding. Don’t take it to heart.”
His eyes were sincere as he 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?”
Though he was her biological father, their interactions had been few and far between. It wasn’t as if they shared some deep
2/3
Chapter 847
father–daughter bond.
Joycelyn gave a slight nod. “Mm. I’ll wish her and Jerome well
“That’s good” Richard let out a relieved sigh, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“The bride price and dowry will be covered by me. Timothy and I have already discussed everything”
“Alright,” Joycelyn responded with a simple acknowledgment, not bothering to ask further.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Lily and Bellina had been quietly observing the conversation, unable to contain their curiosity.
“Mom, what are they talking about?” Bellina whispered, eyes fized on them.

“It doesn’t matter, Lily replied with a smug smile. “Once you marry Jerome, you’ll get a share of the Schultz family’s assets.
Everyone will have to come and congratulate you, and they’ll have no choice but to hand over generous wedding gifts
After all, the guest list would consist only of the wealthy and influential–people who never gave anything less than extravagant.
“From now on, no matter what you do, there will always be someone cleaning up after you, Lily mused, her satisfaction growing
by the second.
She had no inheritance of her own, no claim to any of the wealth. But her daughter? She was about to become Mrs. Schultz.
Every single person present had been played like puppets, and in the end, they would be the ones paying the price for it. The
sheer triumph of it–the sense of victory and accomplishment–was the kind that would make her laugh in her sleep.
e you, and they’ll have no choice but to hand over generous wedding gifts
After all, the guest list would consist only of the wealthy and influential–people who never gave anything less than extravagant.
“From now on, no matter what you do, there will always be someone cleaning up after you, Lily mused, her satisfaction growing
by the second.
She had no inheritance of her own, no claim to any of the wealth. But her daughter? She was about to become Mrs. Schultz.
Every single person present had been played like puppets, and in the end, they would be the ones paying the price for it. The
sheer triumph of it–the sense of victory and accomplishment–was the kind that would make her laugh in her sleep.