Chapter And Joycelyn 169
Chapter 169
After listening to her simple explanation, Ellison asked, "Do you know what it's like to grow?"
"Hmm? Joycelyn looked at him.
The warm light from the crystal chandelier bathed his well-defined handsome face and tall frame which was dressed in a crisp shirt.
He seemed to glow as if touched by something divine - his elegance radiated from the piercing intensity
of his eyes. He exuded the kind of refined, almost untouchable power that commander respect. "Everything you experienced today... that's growth." Ellison continued.
Joycelyn was momentarily stunned, her gaze fixed on him as the meaning of his words slowly dawned on her. A surge of understanding began to swell in her chest.
When he lowered his head and spoke to Joycelyn, his voice was is natural as the rustle of leaves in the wind, and it hit Joycelyn with a weight of truth.
"Facing the storm and still being able to remain calm... that means you've truly grown up, murmured Ellison as he reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
It was the kind of gesture a wise mentor might give to someone struggling to find their way.
"The path. I'm walking on now is the same one you've walked before. That's why you know it so well, right?" Joycelyn's voice was soft and tender, her gaze filled with not just admiration, butalso a quiet and almost undetectable ache.
Ellison took time out of his busy schedule to call her. After the video went viral, the situation turned around almost immediately
Joycelyn knew that he had been quietly monitoring everything from the start. Besides the photos her mother had taken, alf the other images were either taken from the side or were blurred
He had always cared about her, giving her space to breathe and process the situation on her own. Perhaps he had lived through far more dangerous things in his life things no one else had believed he could survive, except for his grandmother.
"Why? Do you feel sorry for me?" Ellison tilted his head, his hand gently lifting her chin as he gazed down at her. His dark eyes shimmered with a light that made Joycelyn nervous.
"Can he read minds? Joycelyn thought, shocked that he seemed to know exactly what she was feeling. She only felt a little sorry for him, but she would never admit it
"You're so strong. I know you can handle anything. You don't need sympathy or pity," she said quickly. For a man like him, god-like in presence, he only needed admiration. Anything else seemed
unnecessary.
Ellison smiled, the corners of his lips curling up. He opened his houth slightly as he planned on teasing her. He wanted to say that she was not too heartless after all if she felt sorry for her husband. Before he could speak, the back of his hand was licked by the little black dog in Joycelyn's arms. His expression immediately hardened.
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Chapter 169
He pulled his hand back and stared at the wetness on liis skin. His voice, low and controlled, slipped out between gritted teeth. "Silly dog.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as an intense sense of disgust washed over him.
He felt like the germs were crawling all over him, and with a quick motion, he turned and marched to the sink. He poured half a bottle of hand soap into his palm and scrubbed his hands riously
By the time Joycelyn realized what was happening, sweat was already dripping down her forehead.
She looked at the little black dog in her arms baring its teeth in harmless smile.
Rocky was also completely stunned.
She scolded Lucky, "Why did you lick the big devil?! Aht"
The little black dog, previously so timid, now exuded a childlike nocence. It had no idea what kind of trouble it had caused. It was still playing around.
Joycelyn felt herself at a loss, and she gently placed both puppies back in their cage. She walked to the bathroom door and watched as Ellison continued to wash his hands, his face set with seriousness as he scrubbed his hands.
Joycelyn blinked her wide, doe-like eyes, biting her bottom lip, Her expression tinged with sadness. She whispered in a soft, pleading voice, "Um, don't be angry. Maybe just treat it as I licked you?"
She was genuinely frightened. The last time Rocky had peed in the house, Ellison had replaced all the furniture. Now, she was worried he might be equally harsh to his own hands..
Ellison, however, didn't respond. He gave a sharp snort, his cold eyes narrowing with visible frustration. His expression was dark, a deep-set anger that Joycelyn rarely saw.
Joycelyn's heart sank at the sight, her eyelashes fluttering. Slowly she approached him, careful not to get too close since she was holding the dogs earlier.
She knew Ellison didn't like small animals and had a strong aversion to germs. She could only imagine how difficult it was for him to bear the situation.
But Joycelyn, having grown up with a dog as a child and was healed by its presence, could never stand idly by when animals. were in distress.
"I apologize on Lucky's behalf," she said gently, her voice laced with sincerity. "Please, don't be angry. After all, this might happen again in the future."
She had clearly stepped into one of Ellison's pet peeves, and he shot her a piercing glance.
His expression was complex with too many emotions to read at once. After a long moment of silence, he exhaled sharply. his icy demeanor starting to thaw.
He muttered, "I must owe you guys something"
Joycelyn tried to suppress the smile that threatened to break through, her lips twitching with amusement. She praised him, "You're really a good person. Sharp on the outside, soft on the inside.
Ellison snorted dismissively at her flattery.
She said. Till go take a shower and cook for you."
Just as Joycelyn heaved a sigh of relief and turned to leave, Ellison reached out and grabbed her arm. With his other hand,
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Chapter 109
he closed the bathroom door
"Let's shower together," he said as he pressed her against the doc and began unbuttoning his shirt. Joycelyn stood frozen, her mind struggling to catch up with the tuation.
"Um... this..." she stammered, her eyes inadvertently flicking down to the chiseled, honey-toned abs that were now exposed.
He replied. "What do you mean? Lucky's mother should pay for Lucky's debt! Wash me." "No, wait, this, this." Joycelyn's eyes kept flickering as she glanced at his firm and sexy abs. Since that was the case, she would just suffer a little.
The next day, Joycelyn completed her enrollment process. As both a returning student and an employee
of the Grant Group, she was embarking on a new chapter of her life, balancing her academic pursuits with her professional role.
After years away from studying, she was stepping back into a world of higher education, but this time, it was at a prestigious
institution.
She had just gotten out of Ellison's car and was heading toward the lecture hall. Despite meeting the old professor online the day before. Joycelyn still felt a wave of nerves.
She was representing the talent sent by the Grant Group, and she couldn't afford to make any mistakes. As Joycelyn looked at the navigation map on her phone, she didn't notice Cecilia and Ruby were behind her.
"Why is she everywhere?" Cecilia muttered in frustration, rushing up and snatching Joycelyn's student ID card to inspect it.
Then, she commented, "Mr. Grant, must really have a lot of confidence in you to send someone with your reputation to such a prestigious school"
When Joycelyn heard Cecilia's mocking voice, she narrowed her eyes and shot an icy glance at Cecilia. She snatched her student ID back
"It's none of your business, Joycelyn said sharply, moving to the side.
But Cecilia wasn't about to let it go. She blocked Joycelyn's path and said, "You think you can compete in research and development? Ruby is the real leader in this field.
"Ellison even brought her professors from overseas over here with huge sums of money just to ensure she could continue her studies. Now, a piece of trash like you wants to take advantage of it. How unlucky!"
Joycelyn looked at Cecilia's self-important expression, feeling a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. Joycelyn wondered, 'What kind of delusion is this person living in?
"If you think that's the case, then there's nothing I can do about it Joycelyn quickly found a seat to focus on the first lecture.
She wasn't interested in arguing with someone like Cecilia.
Ignoring the jibes, Joycelyn walked past Cecilia and Ruby without engaging.
She was here to learn, not to argue with people who had nothing better to do.
"Cecilia Jones. There are a lot of reporters today. We'll deal with her later, murmured Ruby.
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Chapter 169
Cecilia glanced at Ruby's phone. A high-definition photo of Joycelyn on the front page of a news website caught her
attention.
"You want to... Cecilia glanced at Ruby's calculating gaze and instantly understood what she meant.