Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1761-1770

Josephine could only placate her mother by saying, “Let’s go, Mom!”

“I’m sorry! My wife was in a hurry.” Connor appeared just then and apologized to them.

Selena took her mother’s hand and glared at Josephine and Heidi. “Let’s go, Mom!”

The two of them then crossed the bridge that connected the dock and the cruise ship. Behind them, Connor was astonished, not expecting Ellen’s wedding to be on such a big island.

“Look over there, Lena! The row of cruise ships is impressive!” Olivia said to her daughter and took photos with her phone.

“It seems that we’re in the right place, Mom.” Selena was excited. She wasn’t interested in Ellen’s wedding; she was there to look for a decent man to marry. All the male guests in attendance were wealthy. If she could marry one of them, that would be a life-changing event for her, and she was there to change her fate.

After crossing the bridge, they were greeted by cars that were meant to pick up the guests. Olivia was amazed by the row of cars. “These are all Rolls-Royces! Never in my life have I dreamed about getting into one of these cars!”

The three of them then entered the vehicle. The view along the road was magnificent. Although Selena appeared calm, she was more excited than her parents. She wasn’t there for the view but for the men.

Upon arriving at a villa, the driver helped them get their luggage into the house.

“Your suitcases are all inside the house. Have a great day, Mr. Aguirre.”

“Thanks,” Connor said.

After the driver left and closed the gates, Olivia immediately entered the villa. “Oh, my gosh! All the villas face the sea! It’s wonderful!”

Meanwhile, Selena ran to the balcony on the third floor and looked at the beach where the guests were taking a stroll or swimming in the sea. She was eager to mingle with them.

She quickly opened her suitcase and fished out her best-looking swimwear. After changing into it, she also put on a gauze jacket. Then, she told her parents, “I’m going to the beach now.”

Connor reminded her by saying, “Be careful!”

“Got it,” Selena replied and left the house.

On the other hand, Olivia sat down and looked at the interior of the villa. She also ordered food delivery and waited for her meal to arrive.

In the meantime, Josephine and her mother entered the villa beside Connor’s. Since Mills was swamped with work, only the two of them were there to attend the wedding this time.

Josephine’s grandfather used to be an influential figure in the political scene. Although he no longer held any important position, he was still powerful in Averna. Although Josephine was born into such a family, the Jacobsons were less mighty than they used to be.

“Get some rest, Mom. I’ll take a walk,” Josephine said to her mother, feeling vexed. While the others happily attended the wedding, she was there for work.

She picked up her camera and was ready to gather some information. Her team leader called her just then. After the call connected, she said, “Hello, Mr. Fox.”

“Hey, Joey! Would you mind taking some photos of the wedding venue so that we will have some news to report?”

“No one is allowed to take photos here.” Josephine turned him down.

“Just one photo will do, alright? The director has been mounting pressure on us,” said Mr. Fox in a threatening tone.

Josephine let out a breath. “I don’t want to tarnish my family’s reputation. Otherwise, my grandpa will kill me. I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Why are you so obstinate? Just take some photos and send them to us. No one will find out you took the photos,” Mr. Fox said.

“No.”

“I don’t care. Once the wedding is over, I want to see the photos within six hours.” Mr. Fox hung up the call upon finishing his words.

A speechless Josephine walked forward in a particular direction.

All of a sudden, she had a feeling that the team leader had lied about the infamous robber. She had been conned into coming to the wedding to take some photos.

How dare he lie to me?! I already know that the security at the wedding is top-notch. Even if a robber is indeed going to sneak into the venue, he won’t have the guts to steal anything. The elites of different fields have gathered in this place, so they can easily capture the robber.

At that moment, Josephine was no longer in the mood to work. All the same, she just couldn’t stay put and do nothing. Since the beach was so crowded, she decided not to go there. She wanted to go somewhere quiet and take some photos. After all, she was also an amateur photographer in her spare time.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

She hopped onto a sightseeing car and said to the driver, “Please take me to somewhere quiet and beautiful. I’d like to take some photos.”

“I know a place that few people are aware of. I can take you there.”

“Yeah, sure. Thanks.”

They moved along the beach, taking about 20 minutes to arrive at their destination. Finally, the driver pointed at the railings and said, “Just go over there. Rarely anyone will come to this area, and the view is terrific. There’s also a smaller island beside the main island.”

“Thank you so much for taking me here!”

“When you want to go back, just dial this number. Someone will come over and pick you up.”

Josephine quickly took a photo of the contact number and bid the driver farewell. As she took a stroll around the area, she couldn’t help but be amazed by the view. It was indeed a naturally aesthetic sight.

She lifted her camera and took some photos. As she walked along the beach, she suddenly caught sight of a living creature.

Oh, my gosh! Is that a mermaid?! An excited Josephine looked in the sea’s direction. Just then, a well- built figure emerged from the sea amidst the waves.

She hurriedly zoomed in with the camera in her hands and focused on a handsome face.

Her pupils dilated. Whoa! That’s a merman, not a mermaid!

The man’s chiseled face was covered with water droplets. It was apparent that he was a biracial man with both local and foreign lineages. He was the epitome of the best of both worlds.

He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen! Josephine couldn’t help but take photos of him sneakily. She focused on the man’s face and pressed the shutter repeatedly.

Meanwhile, the man had already come out of the sea. He had well-built muscles, defined abs, and an attractive Adonis belt.

As the lens lowered, Josephine gulped. The man was only clad in swim trunks, and his package was bulging.

While walking on the beach, Ethan caught sight of camera flashes, which prompted him to look in that direction.

The moment the lens moved to the man’s face, Josephine shuddered in shock, for she realized that the handsome man was staring at her.

Damn it! I’m caught red-handed!

She didn’t want to be regarded as a pervert, so she turned around and ran away. However, since she was running on a narrow path, she accidentally lost her footing and fell onto the beach. “Ah!”

At that moment, she was unable to get up, and the dazzling sunlight made her close her eyes. Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man looking down at her while clad only in a towel. He squinted his eyes and stared at her.

“Hi!” Although Josephine was a mess, she forced a smile and greeted the man.

“Do you love taking photos of men so much?” Ethan was displeased with the woman for taking photos of him without his consent.

If the woman uploaded the photos to some porn sites, his reputation would be ruined. Moreover, it wasn’t the first time he caught some paparazzi doing that.

He was only clad in swim trunks that day, so the woman had violated his privacy by taking photos of him. Therefore, he had to capture the culprit.

Josephine sat up at once and explained, “Please don’t get me wrong, mister. I’m just taking photos of the view around here.”

Ethan picked up the camera from the floor and went through the photos.

What a liar! Six out of ten photos are me! Furthermore, she has taken photos of me from head to toe, including my package. What makes her think I’ll believe her?

When Josephine saw the man going through the photos, she flushed. I shouldn’t have come to this place!

“Are you a paparazzo? Which company do you work for?”

“I’m not a paparazzo; I’m a reporter,” Josephine refuted.

Ethan sneered. If she’s not a paparazzo, why did she take sneak photos of me? What a liar!

He then started deleting the photos. When he was done with that, he tossed the camera back to her. “Don’t let me catch you doing this again.”

To him, Josephine was just a peeping Tom.

“Hey… I really didn’t mean to take photos of you.” Josephine patted the sand away and got to her feet. The next moment, she squatted, realizing that she had twisted her ankle.

“Ouch!” she exclaimed and looked at the man in front of her.

Ethan took a sip of water and was ready to go back. He had a beach buggy with him.

“Hey, mister. Can you give me a lift? I sprained my ankle,” Josephine pleaded.

“No.” Ethan turned her down directly.

“I’m a guest at the wedding too. Will you please lend me a helping hand?” Josephine asked politely.

Ethan entered the beach buggy and shot her a look. “Don’t try to use this trick to approach me. I’m not interested in women like you.” He then stepped on the gas pedal and left.

Josephine was dumbfounded upon hearing that. Although he’s handsome, he’s too narcissistic. Do I look like I want to approach him?

Although she felt like crying, she could only pick up her camera and stood up with difficulty. No longer in the mood to take photos, she dialed the number the driver had given her and waited for someone to pick her up.

Meanwhile, Ethan had returned to his villa. He was still displeased with the woman for taking sneak photos of him, so he had no qualms about leaving her on the beach, even though her ankle was sprained.

On the beach near the villas, Selena was having fun. Her curvy figure caught a lot of attention. Middle- aged men especially loved staring at her. Selena knew that the men sitting under the umbrellas, regardless of their appearances, were all wealthy.

These men were worth billions, respectively, which was why she had to show them she had an attractive figure.

A moment later, she approached a decent-looking middle-aged man and asked for a cold drink. As she took a sip, she threw flirtatious glances at him.

The guests were all restrained, for they didn’t want to cause any trouble before the wedding.

Until evening, Selena still hadn’t managed to get any contact number from the men.

Anyway, it was only the first day, and the wedding was still three days away. Furthermore, she could stay there for a week, so she still had plenty of time.

The moment she returned to the villa, she saw Josephine getting out of the sightseeing car. As their eyes met, Selena was surprised to learn that the woman who had argued with her mother stayed in the house beside theirs.

When Heidi saw her daughter tottering into the house, she was shocked. She promptly passed her a hot towel and reminded her not to leave the house before recovering.

Josephine decided to obey her mother and recuperate in the house.

In the meantime, Selena told her mother about Selena and Heidi staying in the villa beside theirs. A displeased Olivia said, “I don’t think they’re wealthy. Just look at their bags, which are worth less than 1,500 respectively. They’re probably some poor people who shamelessly came to the wedding without an invitation.”

Upon finishing her words, Olivia was startled for a moment, for she was also that kind of person. She quickly said, “We’re different, though. We’re Ellen’s relatives, so they can’t compare to us.”

Connor frowned. “Just keep your mouth shut, will you? They’re also guests, just like us. Please stop embarrassing Ellie.”

Olivia snapped. “Why did you even bring her up? We’ve been here for quite a while, but she has never come over and greeted us. Does she regard us as her seniors at all?”

“Ellie is busy, which is why she doesn’t have time to visit us,” said Connor, defending Ellen.

Olivia snorted. “Connor, you’re just refusing to admit that we’re no different from outsiders to Ellen now.”

Selena no longer wanted to listen to her parents’ conversation, so she went to the third floor and stood on the balcony. As she looked at the brightest spot, she realized that must be where Ellen stayed. She must be surrounded by many people who propose a toast to her and greet her. She’s Mrs. Presgrave now, after all.

She was bitter and jealous, but it wasn’t like there was anything she could do about it.

Unlike her speculation, Ellen didn’t meet many people since she was pregnant. Apart from the closest relatives, Jared didn’t let anyone else meet Ellen so that she could get some rest.

At this point, all the important guests had arrived. The Mansons, the Weisses, and the Lloyds were the Presgraves’ closest friends.

In the evening, a group of women were seated in a cafe by the beach and had a talk. They were Anastasia, Sophia, Angela, and Queenie.

Now, their children were all adults, and their careers were on the right track, so they were free to gather together from time to time. They were best friends who met up frequently, so their relationship remained robust.

Although their children worked in different parts of the world, they would come into contact often, which strengthened the ties between the four families.

The breeze brought with it the night’s coolness. Some waiters stood near these wealthy ladies, ready to serve them at any moment. The younger waitresses were envious of them.

These mature ladies were elegant and in their element. Apparently, they had loving husbands and brilliant children by their side. On top of that, they had successful careers and important social statuses.

Women like them were the winners in life.

As darkness descended, the entire island fell into silence. Some guests refused to go back to their rooms as they roamed around the beach and took in the night view. Some of them were in cafes and bars.

Ethan was one of those people who just couldn’t sleep. He initially wanted to ask Jared to come out and have a drink with him. However, he decided not to bother his friend since the latter had a wife by his side.

Therefore, he was seated in the bar alone as he drank beer and pondered his family affairs.

Just then, Selena elegantly walked into the bar. She was there to look for a potential husband. The wealthy men she came across on the beach in the morning made her think that all the male guests were middle-aged men.

Much to her surprise, she saw a man who was just as handsome as Jared in a bar in the middle of the night. He was seated under a chandelier as the dim light engulfed him. His black shirt added a layer of mystery to his stunningly good-looking face.

Selena was besotted with the man. As she looked at the man’s wristwatch, she realized he wasn’t just rich; he was ultra-rich.

Several women around the man were also drooling over him, and one of them got to her feet. Selena was someone who would achieve her goal at all costs, so she certainly wouldn’t let the woman approach the handsome man.

Seeing that the woman was walking toward Ethan with a glass of wine in her hand, she strode toward her.

Just as the woman was about to reach Ethan, Selena intentionally bumped into her, causing the wine to splash onto her chest.

“Ah!” exclaimed the woman. I’m supposed to chat up a handsome guy. How did I end up splashing my wine onto a woman?

Seizing the chance, Selena stood closer to Ethan and questioned, “What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m sorry! It was an accident.”

Selena secretly pulled her dress lower and revealed more of her chest. Even the bartender couldn’t help but glance at her. Meanwhile, Ethan looked in the same direction to find out what was going on.

When Selena caught sight of the man staring at her, she blurted, “Forget it. I know you’re a guest as well. Since my cousin is getting married, I won’t settle the score with you.

When the woman heard that Selena was Ellen’s cousin, she apologized to her again. “I’m truly sorry!” Everyone in the bar had fallen silent because of the incident, and now they had learned that Selena was Ellen’s cousin.

Even Ethan was surprised as he looked at Selena and asked, “Are you Ellen’s cousin?”

Since her identity had attracted the man, Selena pretended to be innocent and replied, “Yes, I am.”

Following that, she sat down beside Ethan and said to the bartender, “Give me a glass of cocktail, please.”

The bartender immediately prepared a glass of cocktail for her. All the services on the island were free, so Selena seized the chance and ordered her favorite drink.

After taking the glass, she turned to look at Ethan. “You must be Jared’s friend.”

“Yes, I’m his best friend,” Ethan replied.

Selena was shocked deep within. As expected, the friend of an outstanding man like Jared is also brilliant. She initially thought that she would never get to marry a wealthy man like Ellen, but the man before her eyes was a chance to get the life she had always wanted.

At that moment, she was determined to win the man’s heart.

Pretending to feel troubled, she gulped down the cocktail and told the bartender to prepare another glass for her. She soon chugged down three glasses of cocktails. Although she could drink more than that, she pretended to be drunk. The average woman would’ve been inebriated after drinking so many glasses of cocktails. All of a sudden, tears slid down her face.

Upon noticing that, Ethan asked caringly, “What happened, miss?”

Selena pretended to be tough and shook her head before smiling at Ethan with teary eyes. “I’m fine. See you.”

Then, she decided to leave. The moment she came down from the stool, she staggered and placed her hands on the bar. She shook her head and said, “I guess I’m a little tipsy.”

Then, she looked pleadingly at Ethan. “Mister, would you mind sending me back to the villa? I can no longer walk.”

Ethan was about to go back as well. Since the woman was Ellen’s cousin, and he was Jared’s best friend, it would be inappropriate if he refused to lend her a helping hand.

“Alright, I’ll send you home.” He didn’t turn her down.

“Can you help support my weight?” Selena asked in a small voice.

As his towering figure leaned closer to Selena, Ethan held her shoulders and left the place with her.

The women around them were jealous and bitter. They could tell that Selena had played a trick to get the chance, but she was Ellen’s cousin, after all. It was only natural that she could get some special treatment.

Since the villas were far away, cars were always at the ready to send the guests back. Both of them entered the backseat. Selena felt her heart pounding in her chest. The faint smell of alcohol from the man’s figure aroused her.

What excuse can I use to stay over in his villa?

She was no longer an innocent young woman. All she thought about was how to seduce the man. She certainly wouldn’t let the chance slip through her fingers.

A moment later, she pretended to fall asleep and rested her head on the man’s shoulder. Ethan stiffened in an instant. He turned to look at the woman and hoped that they would reach her villa sooner so that he could go back to his own place.

Before they reached the villa, Selena opened her eyes. Unwilling to go back, she said to the driver, “Please stop here, mister.”

“We haven’t reached your villa yet,” reminded Ethan.

“No, I don’t want to go back. I’m in a terrible mood.”

“It’s late now, so you’d better go back to prevent any accidents from happening.” Since Ethan was Jared’s best friend, he wouldn’t let anything happen to Ellen’s relatives. He had to send her back no matter what.

“Just let me be, mister. Why don’t you go back first?” Then, Selena obstinately left the car. When Ethan got out of the vehicle, he saw Selena holding her arms and walking under the lamplights, looking frail.

Since they were about to reach the villa, he decided to walk with her.

Since Selena wanted to get the man, she pretended that she couldn’t walk straight. Left with no choice, Ethan stepped forward and supported her weight. “Hold on, miss. We’ll reach your villa soon.”

“What’s your name?” asked Selena, looking drunk.

“Ethan Quarles.”

“That’s a nice name. You’re very handsome too,” Selena said in an over-the-top tone. She believed that all men loved compliments.

On the balcony of a nearby villa, Josephine was trying to capture some photos of the night view. Just then, she caught sight of a couple walking under the lamplights, which was a beautiful sight to behold.

She pressed the shutter and zoomed in on them, but when she realized who the man was, she was startled.

It’s him! Why is he walking with a drunk woman? That guy dumped me on the beach in the afternoon, and now he’s making out with a woman in the middle of the night. How inappropriate! Can’t they get a room or something?

Still feeling vexed over the incident in the afternoon, she was no longer in the mood to take any photos. Just as she was ready to go downstairs, the woman moved close enough for her to see clearly. That’s

the woman who stays beside our villa.

Regardless of how handsome a man was, Josephine wouldn’t find him attractive if he was licentious.

Under the lamplights, Selena pretended that she couldn’t walk stably. Although Ethan felt helpless, he had to send her back.

“Hold on, miss. We’ll be there soon.”

“Mister, can I stay over in your villa? I had an argument with my mom,” pleaded Selena as she lifted her head.

“I’ll ask someone to get another villa for you.” Ethan fished out his phone and was ready to contact someone.

“Let me stay over in your villa for one night. Please.” Selena pouted, pretending to be pitiful.

“There are other vacant villas. Just give me a second.” Ethan insisted on getting her another villa.

Seeing that, Selena had no choice but to give up. “It’s fine, Mr. Quarles. I guess I’ll just go back to my villa. Thanks.”

Ethan nodded. “See you.”

With that, he turned around and left. Behind him, Selena watched him leave while feeling ecstatic. Ethan Quarles… I’ll get you no matter what! The trip is worth it, for I’ve found such a handsome man.

The next morning, a cruise ship pulled up at the dock. While wearing a backpack, Willow stepped out of the vessel. The people in that area couldn’t help but be attracted to her youthfulness and beauty. She’s such a beautiful and elegant lady!

A wealthy young man had been trying to talk to her while on their way there, but he still hadn’t managed to find out her name. Since they were about to part ways, he bit the bullet and asked, “Can we be friends, miss? What’s your name?”

“Willow Presgrave.”

“Are you a Presgrave?” The young man was shocked.

“Yeah. What’s wrong?”

“What’s your relationship with Jared?”

“He’s my brother,” Willow replied.

Just then, the bodyguard, who had been by her side, said, “Miss, the car is ready.”

The young man was dumbfounded, for he realized he had been trying to woo a young lady from the Presgrave Family.

“Hey…”

The bodyguard lifted his hand and said, “Please stop right there, mister.”

With that, Willow headed to the car park with the protection of four bodyguards.

Josephine had woken up early to go out with her mother and have breakfast together. However, when Heidi came across some old friends, she started ignoring her daughter.

A bored Josephine sat down on a bench in the park and spaced out at the sea. Just then, she heard a man calling out to her excitedly, “Josephine!”

When Josephine turned her head and saw the man, she immediately leaped from the bench and ran away in a particular direction, as though a disaster had struck.

“Hey! Stop running!” The man quickly ran after her.

He was the man Josephine’s grandfather wanted her to go on dates with. He had been trying to woo her for over a year. Although Josephine didn’t love him, he was still zestful. However, some of his actions could be considered harassment.

The man had done things like waiting for her outside her company with flowers, proposing to her in front of many people, surprising her with lots of balloons, and putting up a banner outside the building opposite her company. He had even stalked her on several occasions.

However, Josephine’s grandfather was fond of him, so she could only run away whenever she saw him.

Although she didn’t expect to see him there, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the man was wealthy, and his family was powerful in Averna.

“Stop running, Joey!”

When Josephine heard the man calling out to her dearly, she started running as fast as her legs could carry her. However, the man was getting closer to her, so it was apparent he didn’t want to miss the chance.

Just as Josephine was running out of energy, she realized she had lost her way. She looked around and saw that she was on a golf course, so she ran directly into a lounge to hide.

Right then, she crashed into a man who was coming out of the lounge with a thud. She started seeing stars after her head bumped into the man’s firm chest.

Being a gentleman, he supported her weight and asked caringly, “Are you alright, miss?”

With a red face, Josephine looked up and saw an attractive face. What a coincidence! I didn’t expect to crash into him!

On the other hand, Ethan frowned when he realized who the woman was. I can’t believe the Peeping Tom is here! He immediately retracted his hands.

“Joey!” called out a man anxiously as he panted. “Where are you?”

Josephine no longer had any strength to run, so she racked her brains while panting. As an idea sprang into her mind, she hooked her arm around Ethan’s and pleaded, “Please lend me a hand.”

Before Ethan could react, he saw a man in a suit entering the place and looking at him and the woman beside him in shock.

“Joey…”

“I’m sorry, Luke. Let me introduce my boyfriend to you,” said Josephine charmingly as she ran her fingers through her hair.

Luke looked at Ethan and felt that he couldn’t compare to him. He didn’t expect Josephine to have a boyfriend. What was more, the man was tall and handsome.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Luke asked in disappointment.

Josephine nodded firmly. “Yes, he is.” Then, she flashed a sweet smile at the man beside her, hoping that he would play along.

Curling his lips, Ethan looked teasingly at her and said in a masculine voice, “Dear, why don’t you tell him what my name is?”

The smile on Josephine’s face froze. Why is this man making things difficult for me? How am I supposed to know his name?

On the other hand, Luke was waiting for the woman to introduce her boyfriend. He had to find out the man’s name so that he could look into his background later. If the man was handsome but poor, that meant he still had a chance.

“What’s his name?” Luke directly asked.

Josephine forced a smile and questioned the man beside her, “Why don’t you tell him your name, dear?”

“Since you’re my girlfriend, you’re supposed to know my name. Hurry up. Tell him proudly what my name is.” Ethan gaped at her playfully.

Josephine gritted her teeth while trying to come up with a random name. She then said to Luke, “His name is Wayne Bowen.”

I hope he won’t expose my lie!

Just then, Ethan snapped his fingers, after which a staff member came over and asked, “Do you need anything, Mr. Quarles?”

Ethan directly pushed the woman away and sneered. “You’re pretty good at acting, huh? Stop trying to use all sorts of tricks and approach me, will you?”

Josephine was dumbfounded. He’s got quite an imagination there!

Ethan said to Luke, “My name is Ethan Quarles. I don’t know this woman, nor am I interested in knowing her.”

With that, he turned around and left. Luke was astonished, while Josephine was embarrassed.

Josephine bit her lip while flushing in embarrassment. Luke looked sympathetically at her and placated her by saying, “Ignore him, Joey.”

Not wanting to run anymore, Josephine let out a sigh and said, “Let’s grab a drink or two.”

Instantly, Luke was elated. It seems that being persistent is useful, after all.

Presently, Josephine was in a terrible mood. She couldn’t blame anyone for the humiliation as she had asked for it.

On the other hand, Ethan was returning to the villa. As he looked out the window and took in the view along the road, he couldn’t help but recall the woman he had just taught a lesson. For some reason, he was pleased.

Rarely anyone could affect him emotionally, but the woman was an exception.

Jared called him just then and invited him to his place. Therefore, he turned the steering wheel and went over. When he arrived, he bumped into a young woman who was coming from a different direction. He curled his lips and called out amiably, “Willy.”

“Ethan!” Willow approached him with a smile.

“We haven’t met for quite a while. Have you grown taller?” Ethan asked with a smile.

“I think so!” Willow was now five-foot-four, which was tall enough for a woman.

Although her father wanted her to grow to five-foot-five, she just couldn’t manage to achieve that. Anyway, she was just as tall as her mother.

“Do you have a girlfriend now, Ethan?” Willow asked, liking gossip about other’s love life.

A helpless Ethan shook his head. “No woman is interested in me.”

“There are many beautiful ladies around here. Why don’t I arrange some dates for you? I’m sure you’ll find a girlfriend in no time.” Willow didn’t believe his words at all. Since he was a brilliant man, he must be fastidious when it came to women.

“You’re as mischievous as ever!” Ethan guffawed. Since he didn’t have a sister, he regarded Jared’s sister to be his own. Every time he met the woman, he had the urge to tease her.

“Stop teasing him, Willy.” Anastasia appeared just then.

Ethan greeted politely, “Hi, Miss Tillman.”

Anastasia responded with a smile. “Come on in.”

“I’ll make the arrangements right away, Ethan!” Willow said cheekily.

As expected, Ethan turned around nervously. “Alright, I’ll give you a gift later. Stop messing with me. Go out and play.”

Since Willow would be receiving a present, her eyes brightened. “Sure. I’ll be waiting for your gift.”

“Where are you going, Willy?” Anastasia asked.

“I’m going to the beach.”

“Don’t wear revealing swimwear and be cautious,” Anastasia reminded.

“I got it, Mom.” Willow waved her hand and left the place.

Meanwhile, a car pulled up in front of Connor’s villa. A bodyguard left the vehicle and opened the car door before a woman in a light yellow dress revealed herself.

Her fluffy pleated dress was made from silk, and her lacy sleeves added a hint of romance to her appearance. Her long wavy hair was loosely tied with a simple hairband. What was more, her silky hair made her skin glow.

After the bodyguard pressed the doorbell, Connor came over and greeted them, followed by Olivia and Selena.

As they looked at the woman outside the gates, they were shocked.

The woman was none other than Ellen.

However, she now looked like a princess who had stepped out of a medieval castle and arrived at their door in a fancy dress.

Connor quickly opened the gates, exclaiming, “Hi, Ellie!”

“How are you, Uncle Connor? Have you gotten used to the place?” Ellen asked.

Behind him, Olivia and Selena felt their emotions undulating in their hearts. Selena was especially green with envy when she saw how elegant and noble Ellen looked.

On the other hand, Olivia regretted treating Ellen badly in the past. If she had been kinder to her, would she share some of her happiness now?

Nonetheless, what was done couldn’t be undone. It would be laughable if she even tried to make up for her mistakes.

“We’ve been wondering when we’d see you, Ellie. You’re gorgeous! Come on in!” Olivia still greeted Ellen with a zestful smile.

“Yeah. Please come in,” Connor said.

However, Ellen shook her head. “I won’t be going in. I’m just here to take a look at you. If you need anything, you can contact the staff members here. They’ll assist you.”

All of a sudden, Olivia wanted to take Ellen’s hand, but the bodyguard raised his hand and stopped the woman from approaching. In an instant, Olivia’s face stiffened. She’s put on airs, huh?

Jared had told the bodyguards to stop the Aguirres from approaching Ellen. She was pregnant, after all, and he was worried that the Aguirres might accidentally hurt her.

“Is this how you treat us now, Ellen? With all the bodyguards around you?” Selena snorted, feeling displeased over her mother’s treatment.

“Don’t say that, Lena!” Connor scolded.

Ellen didn’t tell them that she was pregnant, and it was indeed inappropriate for Olivia to try pulling her.

“I’ll take my leave now, Uncle Connor.” With that, Ellen turned around and walked toward the car.

After she was gone, Olivia’s face fell. “It’s just as I expected. Since she’s wealthy now, she no longer regards us as relatives.”

On the other hand, Selena’s gaze was full of determination. Ellen’s noble demeanor had agitated her. At that moment, she decided to get the man she had bumped into the other night at all costs.

A joyful Connor said, “Ellie looks so elegant and noble now.”

“So what? She looks down on relatives like us now.” Olivia snorted.

…

The wedding would be held the next day, so the entire island was filled with a blissful atmosphere. Wedding decorations could be seen everywhere, and all the guests felt at home.

Meanwhile, a frustrated Josephine was drinking coffee. Seeing that she was still vexed, Luke appeased her by saying, “Joey, why don’t I teach that man a lesson for bullying you? Perhaps you’ll feel better that way.”

Josephine shook her head. “I offended him first.”

Luke was attracted to Josephine as she spaced out. The woman had a conflicting temperament; she looked obedient while spacing out, but aggressive and full of energy when she worked.

What was more, whenever she blew her top or argued with other people, she was mean and willful, but she also appeared confident at the same time.

More often than not, Luke felt that he could never have any control over the woman, and that was what made her attractive. He had the urge to conquer her and make her his.

Furthermore, even though her grandfather was retired, he was still influential.

“I have to work now.” With that, Josephine rose from the chair and left.

Luke ran after her and said, “Do you want to go to the beach, Joey? The water is clear. Why don’t we take a stroll?”

“There’s no need for that. I’m swamped with work.” Josephine came up with an excuse and headed to the pedestrian walkway.

As soon as she rounded a corner, she saw a fancy convertible charging toward her. She was so shocked that she stood rooted to the spot. Her face paled in an instant, and her soul almost left her body.

Damn it! Who would drive a car on the pedestrian walkway?!

“Joey!” Luke rushed over and pulled her back. The man in the convertible immediately stepped on the brake pedal, after which their eyes met.

“It’s you!” When Josephine came to her senses, she was infuriated. So what if he has a convertible? He’s not supposed to be driving on the pedestrian walkway!

“You again!” Ethan took off his sunglasses and revealed his chiseled face before looking at her mockingly.

“Do you even have a driver’s license? If you had crashed into my girlfriend, I would’ve never let you off!” Luke promptly defended the woman.

“Huh? Has she even agreed to be your girlfriend yet?” Ethan arched his brow.

Suddenly, Josephine landed a fist on the bonnet and warned, “Drive your car away. It’s the pedestrian walkway!” Then, she approached the driver’s seat and crashed her elbow into the door with a thud.

A dumbfounded Ethan turned his head and watched as the woman strode away in a fury. As he looked at her slender figure, he felt speechless. That woman is so feisty!

At any rate, he was in the wrong. Since he was in a hurry to go back and attend an online meeting, he took a shortcut and drove onto the pedestrian walkway.

As Luke looked at the woman, he was secretly elated. Haha! Handsomeness doesn’t matter to Josephine. She doesn’t even have any regard for such a good-looking man.

Josephine was a rebellious and obstinate person, which was why she managed to gain a footing in the world of mass media.

While returning to the villa, Ethan looked out the window and took in the view, but all he thought about was the brave and beautiful woman.

Since the wedding was around the corner, everyone on the island was shrouded in a sense of happiness. The guests enjoyed themselves as though they were on a vacation.

Meanwhile, Olivia had been taking Connor to try out different restaurants on the island for the past few days. One thing had been bothering her, though—she had no idea what to wear to the wedding the next day, for she did not have any expensive clothing.

Although she had a few dresses from luxury brands, they were outdated. She would only be a laughingstock if she put on any of those.

Therefore, she came up with a solution. Since they could borrow formal clothes from the staff members, she decided to bite the bullet and make such a request. She claimed that she and her family members had forgotten to bring formal clothes, so they wanted to borrow a few outfits from them.

The staff members would always try to fulfill the guests’ requests. Although they knew that the woman was lying, they still served her with a smile.

Just like that, Olivia managed to borrow some proper clothes for her family members and herself.

In the evening, Selena returned to the villa after having fun outside. When she saw that her mother had borrowed a formal dress for her, she was pleased. Now, she could put on the dress and meet Ethan with confidence.

“You know what, Mom? There will be a bonfire party on the beach later. It’ll be fun. Would you like to come with me?” Selena asked.

“The party is meant for young people, so I’m not going.” Olivia wasn’t interested. Then, she asked her daughter in a small voice, “Have you come across any man you like?”

A smile formed on Selena’s face. “Yes. Not only is he handsome, but he’s also from a wealthy family.”

“You must seize the chance and get him while we’re here, then.”

“There’s no rush, Mom. I’ll come up with a way,” assured Selena as she looked forward to bumping into the man at the bonfire party.

“You’re my only hope.” Olivia sighed.

“Don’t worry. I won’t disappoint you.” Certainly, Selena hoped to marry a wealthy man as well.

As she looked at the view outside the window, she felt fidgety. Looks like it’s going to be an unforgettable night.

Unlike Selena’s eagerness, Josephine was being nagged by her mother in the adjacent villa.

“Why aren’t you going to the party, Joey? It’s a good chance for you to meet new friends and even find a husband,” said Heidi, persuading her daughter to go to the party.

She heard that all the young people on the island would be attending the bonfire party. Initially, she thought that her daughter was going as well, but when she realized that it wasn’t the case, she was vexed.

“Why are you in a rush, Mom? I’m only 25, and I don’t want to get married yet,” Josephine replied while reading a book.

“Yes, you’re only 25, but if you keep putting off finding a boyfriend, you’ll be 30 in the blink of an eye. You have to look for a decent man and get married while you’re in your prime. When you get older, you’ll have fewer choices.” Heidi felt helpless. Since Josephine was her only child, she certainly hoped that her daughter would get married sooner.