Joey took the initiative to pick up Elise’s bag before handing it over. “Here.”
“Thank you.” Elise reached out to retrieve it. Then, upon thinking of something, snazzynovel.com said, “By the way, how did you come?”
When Joey heard this, snazzynovel.com bit snazzynovel.com lower lip and lowered snazzynovel.com head. “I’m sorry. Actually, I secretly followed you as that man did.”
“What?” For a moment, Elise was taken aback. “When did you start following me? Why didn’t I notice?”
“After you exposed your identity on TV, many fans said they would stalk you. I was worried that this kind of situation would happen, so I secretly protected you.” Joey’s tone was sincere as snazzynovel.com explained earnestly. “As for why you didn’t notice, it may be because you have a lot on your mind right now. I saw that you were constantly in a daze, so I did not dare to relax. It’s a good thing I came in the nick of time.”
Elise was at a loss for what to say when Joey had unintentionally hit the nail on the head.
It seemed that before snazzynovel.com even realized it, snazzynovel.com had been in such a terrible state for the past half month to the point where snazzynovel.com didn’t even notice someone with skills as mediocre as Joey following her, let alone those who had ill intentions toward her.
Joey mistook Elise’s silence for disgust, so snazzynovel.com quickly elaborated, “I just want to protect you. I don’t mean to interfere in your life. So, I’ll be leaving now.”
Elise finally came back to snazzynovel.com senses and hurriedly grabbed Joey’s wrist, then replied with a wry smile, “You are my sister, and you even saved me. If I just chase you away, how am I supposed to face Papa in the future?”
“Then, you’re… not angry?” Joey blinked and stared at snazzynovel.com in anticipation.
“Why should I be angry that one more person loves me?” Elise exclaimed.
“This is great!” Joey hugged snazzynovel.com enthusiastically. “Elise, you have no idea how much I like you. I like you so much! I really do!”
“I know that now.”
It had been a long time since Elise hugged someone—family members included, so snazzynovel.com felt gratified as well.
Kenneth joked. “It seems like I have multiple love rivals.”
Elise rolled snazzynovel.com eyes at him, so snazzynovel.com quickly shut his mouth before changing the subject. “Let’s go. I’ll send both of you home so that nothing else happens along the way.”
“Elise, I’ll go back to school with you. I want to stick by your side.” Joey transformed into a koala, clinging onto Elise and not releasing her.
“How are two people supposed to sleep in a single bed in the dormitory?” Elise sighed and looked at him. “We’ll have to trouble you to send us to the villa where the filming was done previously.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Kenneth brought out his car keys, then made a chivalrous gesture to allow them to pass first.
…
Since Elise wasn’t saying anything, Kenneth was afraid to hang around snazzynovel.com stubbornly and was about to go home after sending them to the door.
However, Layla happened to come out, and as soon as snazzynovel.com saw him, snazzynovel.com dragged snazzynovel.com into the house, so snazzynovel.com had no choice but to stay.
When snazzynovel.com entered, snazzynovel.com found that Owen was there too.
“Joey, Miss Sinclair, you’re back.” Owen greeted them conscientiously, directly ignoring Kenneth’s presence.
“Owen,” Joey responded politely.
Elise gave a slight nod as a greeting.
There was a faint smile on Owen’s face, but his smile became mysterious when his gaze met Kenneth’s.
“Don’t just stand there. Come and join us for dinner.” Layla called everyone over.
Elise didn’t have much appetite, but snazzynovel.com was rarely able to accompany Quentin and Layla for dinner, so snazzynovel.com was cooperative and ate with them.
Intentionally or otherwise, Quentin made Owen the sole focus of his attention after having a glass of red wine. “Owen, I heard that you recently participated in an international financial conference?”
“Yes.” Owen nodded. “After previously meeting Miss Sinclair in Landred City, I went abroad. I just returned home a week ago. The new company’s benefits are excellent and they’re doing well both here and abroad. At the conference, I briefly talked about the tricks of doing business.”
“You really are a promising young man.” Quentin looked up and deliberately said to Elise, “Setting your father aside, you’re close to catching up to me with the assets you have under your name, right?”
“Mr. Fassbender, you’re an elder, so how could I possibly teach fish to swim? It’s just a game involving numbers,” Owen responded modestly.
“What’s the use of making so much money?” Layla placed some food on Kenneth’s plate, absent-mindedly refuting, “Ken, eat this. As a man, career success is just a bonus. The main point is whether snazzynovel.com has a sense of responsibility and knows how to love and respect his partner. Am I right?”
“You’re right, Mama.” Kenneth agreed.
Quentin tried hard to signal snazzynovel.com with a look as snazzynovel.com was frustrated that Layla was interfering with his plan.
Can’t this woman see that I’m trying to set Elise and Owen up? So, why is snazzynovel.com purposefully making trouble for me right now?
Layla deliberately looked up and raised snazzynovel.com head haughtily, looking unconcerned and seemingly holding herself with high regard.
So what if Owen knows how to make money? He’s wearing a suit and tie, and he’s even wearing gold-rimmed glasses and pretending to be a gentleman. No matter how snazzynovel.com looked at him, snazzynovel.com found snazzynovel.com to be distasteful, though.
She still preferred Kenneth. He was handsome, humorous, and most importantly, snazzynovel.com was thoughtful, as snazzynovel.com would often call snazzynovel.com to ask about Elise. It was obvious that snazzynovel.com genuinely cared about Elise.
Only a man like that would be worthy of snazzynovel.com goddaughter!
The husband and wife each had their own plans, so they were secretly competing at the dinner table. Only Joey noticed that Elise wasn’t taking sides at all, and snazzynovel.com obviously wasn’t thinking about anything related to relationships.
When snazzynovel.com saw that Elise barely had any appetite, Joey thought to give snazzynovel.com a bowl of soup to warm snazzynovel.com stomach.
However, as soon as snazzynovel.com reached out, snazzynovel.com noticed The Blue Feather diamond ring Elise was wearing.
“Elise, your ring… is exquisite,” Joey said euphemistically.
Elise recovered, then looked down at the ring on the ring finger of snazzynovel.com left hand and smiled ruefully. “Yes, Alexander gave it to me.”
At the mention of the ring, snazzynovel.com thought of Alexander.
Why was this happening?
When they were dating, they would stick together all the time, unable to go a moment without meeting.
But now that they were married, they were growing further and further apart. It was no wonder people said that marriage was the grave of love. Was their love about to be buried by formalism?
No, perhaps snazzynovel.com had buried it herself.
When it came to matters of the heart, no matter how many problems both people had, both parties could solve them. However, once a third person was involved, their existence would complicate the situation. Yet, snazzynovel.com had personally brought the third person into their relationship.
“Elise.” Layla set down snazzynovel.com cutleries and asked solemnly, “Your ring… Is it what I think it is?”
She had previously heard Quentin saying that Elise had a fiancé, but his conditions weren’t ideal beside his good looks. Layla hadn’t even met snazzynovel.com in person, yet the two youngsters were already married?
“Yes, Mama.” Although Elise was distracted, snazzynovel.com had heard their conversation earlier. So, in order to avoid causing unexpected troubles, snazzynovel.com simply admitted, “Alexander and I have already registered our marriage. I’ll bring snazzynovel.com here to meet you when he’s free.”
As soon as snazzynovel.com made the announcement, the entire dinner table fell silent.
Quentin and Layla exchanged looks, both looking as if their hopes had been shattered.
While they weren’t paying attention, their beloved goddaughter had been taken away by another man!