Chapter And Joycelyn 82
Chapter 82 Chapter
82
Joycelyn hurried down the stairs, taking several deep breaths to alm herself as she slowly regained composure.
Ellison had saved her from trouble, and she had gotten a little top carried away.
"Joycelyn, calm down, she muttered to herself, her face turning serious as she headed to the kitchen, trying to ease her emotions by cooking.
About twenty minutes later, Ellison came downstairs.
The once empty, quiet mansion was now filled with the aroma of freshly cooked food.
Unable to resist, Joycelyn pulled out her phone and googled, "I girl confesses her love first, will the guy take it seriously?"
She scrolled through various responses, all mixed, which only made her feel more unsettled.
"Are you done?" Ellison's deep, clear voice broke through her thoughts.
Joycelyn glanced back, immediately turning off her phone and slipping it into her pocket. "Yes, it's ready Ellison, dressed in dark home attire with his hair still slightly damp, stood there with a relaxed aura. Gone was his usual businesslike demeanor, replaced by a laid-back, refined air.
Concerned that he might be hungry. Joycelyn grabbed a large bowl and began serving
Her hands, still raw from the earlier rope burns, accidentally splashed some hot broth while using the fork, causing the scalding liquid to burn her injured wrist.
"Ow..." she
gasped, wincing in
pain.
Ellison quickly stepped over, taking the fork and bowl from her. Put it down, I'll do it"
"No. I'm fine. I'm not that delicate," Joycelyn insisted, not letting go.
She didn't want him doing these small, insignificant tasks given is high status. Part of her felt it was inappropriate, and deep down, she still held some traditional notions of femininity.
Without saying a word, Ellison firmly grasped her hand that was holding the fork.
His large, warm hand enveloped hers completely.
Joycelyn's hand trembled slightly, and she looked up at him with a soft, pale face, her eyes innocent as she said, "Really, I'm fine...
But before she could finish her sentence, her gaze met his deep, steady eyes, and the commanding presence in his gaze made her instinctively hold her breath, biting her lip in silence.
She had no choice but to release the fork and bowl into his hands.
Standing to the side, she obediently watched him as he continued to prepare the food.
"Am I supposed to eat you up or something?" Ellison gave her a sidelong glance. 11:55 Fri, Feb 14 BDD
Chapter 82
Joycelyn sniffed and said. "No, I just think it's improper for you do these things, given who you are"
Ellison chuckled softly. The brief laugh was warm and magnetic almost indulgent.
But Joycelyn dared not think too much about it. She recalled what she had read on Google earlier. "If a man truly loves you. he would show it first."
She didn't want to overthink it. After all, they had agreed on a practical marriage to appease their families, and now it was unexpectedly shifting into something more serious
While she was lost in thought, Ellison slowly spoke up, "If serving you a dish is beneath your dignity, then what about when I personally take care of you? What does that count as, huh?"
Joycelyn froze, her lips tightening, her face flushing deeper.
"Alright. Be serious," she muttered, quickly pretending to be busy by washing her hands and tidying up the
counter.
Ellison's eyes stayed fixed on her small, busy figure as he smiled again.
"I don't eat much, so serve me a bit more." Joycelyn stood at the sink, cleaning up, while casually speaking.
"Joycelyn, you really are an avoidant type," Ellison remarked as he finished preparing the bowls of pasta, giving her a smaller portion.
Their conversation was light and intermittent, with no real tension.
"If that's how you see it, then there's nothing I can do," Joycelyn replied nonchalantly, throwing in a half- hearted comment.
Ellison snorted lightly in response..
A moment later, he brought the two bowls of pasta to the dining table.
Joycelyn followed behind, bringing over the fruit she had washed
Two simple bowls of tomato and egg pasta.
Ellison wasn't picky, and ate whatever was available.
Joycelyn, on the other hand, didn't dare to say anything, worried she might accidentally say the wrong thing.
The dining room was bright and peaceful, and the atmosphere was warm but quiet.
After finishing her meal, Joycelyn took the initiative to clean up in the kitchen, she washed and wiped down the dishes while Ellison sat at the table, eating the fruit she had prepared.
There was no forced small talk, nor was it awkward.
Once she finished cleaning and was washing her hands, Ellison finally broke the silence, "You should rest
at home for the next couple of days. If you get bored, maybe you could go visit Grandma."
Joycelyn wiped her hands with a towel, walked out of the open kitchen, took a sip of water, and replied. "I have some red marks on my hands. I'll go see Isolde after they fade. I don't want her to get the wrong idea."
She looked down at the bruises on her wrists.
11:56 Fri, Feb 14 BDB
Chapter 82
Ellison noticed and nodded. "Alright."
"Okay" With that, he got up,
He picked up the cherries from the fruit platter and handed the to her. "Go upstairs and rest.
"Okay," Joycelyn replied, taking a cherry and popping it into her mouth.
Ellison gave her a glance but said nothing as he headed upstairs, eading the way.
Joycelyn followed closely behind, step by step, like a little shadow, eyes focused on his trousers and shoes.
As they reached the stairs, Ellison turned to look at her and aske, Joycelyn, did you mean what you said earlier in the bathroom? About liking me?"
Joycelyn froze, her eyes widening as she met his gaze from a higher step.
From this angle, she looked up at him, her eyes filled with hesitation.
The grand chandelier above bathed the stairs in bright light, and Ellison stood there, exuding the calm, mature charm of a man who knew his worth.
His presence was commanding, almost like that of a god, untouchable and awe-inspiring. Joycelyn couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt.
'How could I, someone with such a past, ever expect him to retum my feelings! Joycelyn thought.
She shook her head, her face turning serious as she responded. Because... you saved me from danger. To me, you're like a superhero. After all these years, you're only the second person, besides my father, who's been kind to me."
At the mention of her father, Ellison's brow furrowed deeply. He didn't like the comparison.
"As for liking you....
Mr. Grant, I think I was rude. I've disrupted the nature of our marriage. I'll be more careful in the future. With that, Joycelyn turned and quickly rushed up the stairs. She was terrified of his sudden serious expression.
Ellison reached out, grabbing her arm. "What do you mean by disrupted? Explain yourself."
Joycelyn blinked her clear eyes, her voice trembling as she said. "Well, you said it yourself - we're just getting married to appease our families. Are we getting married because of love? No it's just because we're compatible in bed."
Ellison was taken aback, shocked by how his own words came back to bite him.