Chapter 66
At those words, Joycelyn almost choked.
“It’s just a coincidence. With Mr. Grant’s wealth, there’s no way he’d wear such a cheap ring.” Joycelyn sat up straight in her chair.
At this point, she didn’t dare to pull her hand away from Selene’s grasp. Doing so would make it seem even more deliberate and make her look more guilty.
Joycelyn maintained a calm facade, but in her mind, she was cursing Ellison to no end.
Linda’s assistant, Anna, overheard the conversation and came over to join the crowd. She grabbed Joycelyn’s hand, closely examined the ring for a while, and then said in a snide tone, “This is clearly a fake from some discount website. A genuine one would cost over 20 thousand dollars. Didn’t know you were so vain.”
Normally, Joycelyn would’ve snapped back at Anna, but right now, Anna’s comment was actually helping her avoid further embarrassment.
Joycelyn didn’t respond; she simply withdrew her hand, pressed it down with her other hand, and smiled softly. “Maybe so. My boyfriend isn’t very rich, but I care more about the meaning behind the ring than its price.”
Her heart was racing, but after a brief moment of calm, she no longer felt as shocked as before.
Anna’s mocking tone grew more pronounced. “You really are a country bumpkin, so easily fooled. But, if you like it, then whatever.”
Selene, hearing this, immediately snapped back, “What’s it got to do with you? You talk like you’re so rich. Can’t you tell she’s just joking around? And by the way, do you think every woman wearing the same ring is Mr. Grant’s girlfriend?”
Selene, like a firecracker, was clearly provoked by Anna.
Anna scoffed, but when her phone rang, she checked it with a smug look and showed the screen to Selene. “Ms. Wilson posted a picture of that ring. So, clearly, Mr. Grant’s girlfriend is Ms. Wilson. Someone like Joycelyn, working a regular job, is not someone Mr. Grant would look at. Dream on, thinking she’s dating him.”
Anna said this with a mocking laugh, as though she were watching a joke unfold.
Joycelyn didn’t feel embarrassed at all; if anything, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Selene was just making a joke. Why are you so worked up about it? Do you have a crush on Mr. Grant and wish you were dating him?”
Joycelyn shot back at Anna.
Her words made everyone look at Anna with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
“Of course people like Mr. Grant, he’s perfect. We’re just gossiping, unlike some people who act like they’re in a relationship with him.” Selene mimicked Anna’s tone, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Anna’s face turned from red to pale as she glared at Selene. The two had never gotten along.
When the crowd dispersed, Joycelyn reflected on Ruby’s social media post earlier. It was obvious that Ruby had her allies within The Grant Group.
The incident of wearing the same outfit at Ellison’s birthday party was likely not a coincidence either. Ruby must have found out about the outfit and intentionally dressed the same way.
Joycelyn thought. What a paranoid woman.
After taking a sip of water to calm herself, Joycelyn opened Ellison’s secret account, sent him a picture of the ring, and asked, “Why did you wear the same wedding ring to the office?”
She added a meme of herself with hands on her hips, looking furious.
Ellison replied almost immediately: [What?]
Just seeing those two question marks made Joycelyn feel his confusion.
But it only made her angrier.
Joycelyn: “I almost had my colleagues find out about our relationship…”
Ellison lazily responded: [Oh, I did it on purpose.]
Joycelyn: [What?]
When he saw the question mark, Ellison’s response made her pause. He added: [After all, I haven’t experienced it. Hmm.]
The possessiveness in his message stunned her.
Joycelyn thought, What did that mean? It seemed like a bit of teasing pride, with a touch of petulance.
Joycelyn: [You’re such a petty man.]
Ellison: [Are you sure you want to provoke me? Hmm?]
Even though it was just text, Joycelyn could feel two completely different types of pressure from his words.
She quickly deleted the message and rephrased it: [Mr. Grant is the most handsome man in the world, and it’s an honor for me to get your first kiss.]
She sent a cute, playful emoji along with it–dancing on Ellison’s nerve.
After sending the message, Joycelyn couldn’t help but laugh. She quickly typed another explanation: [I remember my first kiss was with the little puppy at my grandma’s house. You’re the second.]
Ellison looked at the phone, a slight movement in his eyes.
So, she was calling me a dog now? Well, well, Ellison thought.
