Chapter 48
Joycelyn came across a chat log online between someone and their blind date. Usually, these kinds of narcissistic and straightforward remarks were a turn-off for most people, but when it came to Ellison, it was different.
It was hard to imagine someone who was usually so cool, composed, and aristocratic also having a bit of a dark side. Despite his cold, aloof demeanor, there was something about him that made him seem less distant. She understood what some people meant when they said your worldview follows your appearance.
Ellison didn’t tease her anymore. He lowered his gaze, sat down, and said, “Let’s have breakfast.”
Joycelyn glanced at the beautiful, appetizing breakfast on the table and said, “It’s your birthday today. Let me cook for you. When I was little, my dad would always cook for me on my birthday.” Talking about her dad made Joycelyn feel a pang in her heart, and, by extension, seeing Ellison just made her feel a little more bittersweet.
The regret of a love unfulfilled—the kind that one tried to nurture but was never reciprocated—always left her heart aching to the point of breathlessness. By chance, Ellison had become the second person in the world to show her kindness, and slowly, her emotions had begun to shift toward him.
Joycelyn rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for the pasta. She valued the ritual of this moment even more than Ellison did. Knowing that Ellison liked seafood, she specially prepared a seafood pasta for him. She even fried two eggs and added a bit of green vegetables on the side. In less than 15 minutes, a steaming bowl of homemade pasta was ready.
Ellison patiently waited for her to finish without eating anything else. When Joycelyn placed the pasta in front of him, she said, “Happy birthday, eat up.”
“It looks good,” Ellison commented, eyeing the simple yet heartfelt dish. He couldn’t resist snapping a photo of it with his phone before picking up his fork.
Ellison also put a fried egg on her plate and said, “Eat with me.”
As Joycelyn sat down, she looked at the egg on her plate, then at Ellison across from her, and said, “This one’s for you. I can’t eat it. If I wanted one, I would’ve made another.”
“It’s fine, just take a bite for good luck. Don’t always be so unlucky,” Ellison replied with a smile before putting a shrimp in his mouth.
There was something about it—the flavor was different from what you’d get in a fancy restaurant. It was simple but full of warmth and homely charm.
“How’s it taste? Is it good?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Want to try?” Ellison asked, lifting his gaze to meet Joycelyn’s eager expression.
Joycelyn smiled gently and said, “As long as you like it, that’s all that matters. Go ahead, there’s probably too much for breakfast anyway. I’ll have the same as you.”
After she said this, Ellison slid the bowl a little closer and put some pasta and shrimp on her plate.
Ellison said, “Let’s eat together.”
“Thanks.” Joycelyn gazed at the pasta on her plate.
In the past, she would never have thought that she would one day share a bowl of noodles with the president. It felt surreal, but as soon as she took a bite, the warmth felt so real.
Joycelyn asked, “Did your good friend come back yesterday to celebrate your birthday?”
“No,” Ellison replied in a low voice.
His tone was as calm as always, and it was hard to read his emotions. But it made Joycelyn look up at him, and with a hesitant voice, she asked, “Can I ask why?”
Ellison paused for a moment before answering, his face darkening slightly. “I used to celebrate when I was a child, but I stopped caring about it as I got older.”
Hearing this, Joycelyn instantly empathized. When you’re a kid, birthdays are filled with love and companionship. But as you grow up, things change. It must be painful for him.
“It’s okay. You’ve got me now. I’ll celebrate your birthday with you. I even ordered a cake and will sing Happy Birthday to you,” Joycelyn said, laughing lightly.
Ellison’s deep eyes were fixed on her.
The moment their eyes met, Joycelyn instinctively tightened her grip on the fork and said, “Next time, when it’s my birthday, you can come celebrate with me, if you don’t mind. I used to love birthdays when I was a kid. But after my dad passed away, I haven’t celebrated since.”
As she spoke, her nose suddenly tingled, and her eyes turned red. The feeling of losing a loved one was so painful. It felt like a scar that would never heal, and every time she thought about it, her heart ached.
“When is your birthday?” Ellison asked.
“End of November,” Joycelyn sniffed, her eyes downcast as she continued eating her breakfast.
“I’ll remember,” Ellison said.
“Okay,” Joycelyn nodded.
After a brief chat, they ate in silence.
Once breakfast was over, Ellison got up, preparing to leave. His phone rang twice. He checked the message from Carmelo, asking if he liked the watch he’d given him yesterday and if it fit well.
It was a message in a group chat where Carmelo had tagged Ellison, and Leon had been teasing about how expensive the new watch was, saying it was something to show off.
He’d forgotten to wear his watch today, so he slipped it on and took a photo, sending it back.
Ellison: Thanks, you’ve got a good eye.
Carmelo immediately responded with a congratulatory emoji.
Just as Joycelyn came out of the kitchen, she saw Ellison wearing the watch and sending the photo.
“Was he wearing it just to show off to that rich girl?” Joycelyn couldn’t help but wonder, and her imagination ran wild.
The strangest thing was that, with all the women Ellison was surrounded by, she couldn’t understand why he’d choose to marry her.
Thinking about his earlier words, Joycelyn suddenly froze, shocked by her own thoughts. She wondered, Could it be that Ellison is only attracted to me because of some physical reason? Is he incapable of feeling anything for other women?
