Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1781-1790

“We’ve discussed it earlier. You just have to propose a toast to those at the first three tables, then you can head to the private room and get some rest. I’ll handle the rest,” Jared said. They had to avoid any activity that might exhaust Ellen.

“Okay.” Ellen felt warm in her heart. While staying on the island, she had gotten closer to the Presgraves and felt that they were truly caring and compassionate.

The guests were dressed to the nines and ready to attend the wedding. Connor and his family were wearing the clothes that Olivia had borrowed, making them look less ordinary.

“Mom, this dress is too small. It doesn’t fit,” Selena complained.

“Stop complaining when you have a nice dress to wear! Just don’t eat too much later,” Olivia retorted. Suddenly thinking of something, she turned to look at her husband anxiously. “Connor, did Ellen call you and ask you to walk her down the aisle?”

“No.”

“Every bride needs an elder to walk her down the aisle. You’re her closest relative, so why didn’t she call you?” Olivia asked in shock.

Connor was embarrassed as well. “Perhaps a luxurious wedding like this is different. Moreover, I’m too bashful to do that.”

“I suppose Ellen no longer regards us as relatives, huh? How is she going to walk down the aisle and go on stage without you? Is she going to do that on her own? That will be laughable!” Nothing good ever came out of Olivia’s mouth.

Connor shot her a stern look. “It’s Ellie’s big day, so don’t say any nonsense as there will be many guests at the wedding. You mustn’t embarrass her.”

“Do you think she’s still your dearest Ellie? She probably won’t spare us a glance again after the wedding.” Olivia sneered.

Selena was fed up with their argument, so she went to the yard and happened to see Josephine and her mother leaving the villa, ready to head to the wedding.

Presently, Josephine was clad in a light blue dress with her hair hung loose on her shoulders. She looked charming and refreshing. A hint of resentment flashed across Selena’s eyes. She had always been a crafty person, but the woman managed to snatch Ethan from her the night before. It was only natural that she was vexed.

Just you wait, Josephine. I’ll let you know the consequences of offending me!

Meanwhile, Josephine and her mother entered the car and headed to the wedding. As the breeze whisked through her, she looked out the window and spaced out. When they passed by the walkway where Ethan carried her in his arms the night before, she suddenly wondered why the man was willing to lend her a helping hand.

Has he fallen in love with me? Well, a handsome man like him isn’t husband material, and it’s not like he can look young forever. Moreover, many women will try to snatch him from me, and he might even cheat on me.

After the analysis, Josephine felt that she’d better remain single. After all, there were many single people at her station, and they were all capable people who lived their lives to the fullest.

Soon, Connor’s car was ready, and they went to the wedding together.

There was a long stretch of roses that extended from the area where the guests got out of their cars to the banquet hall roughly 600 feet away. The roses were beautiful and fragrant. As the guests walked along the path, they felt rejuvenated.

Olivia was dumbfounded. “How much does it all cost? A bouquet of roses is already worth a ton at the florist!”

Selena was walking in front when she heard her mother’s words, so she couldn’t help but turn her head and retort, “Mom, stop behaving like a poor person. Do you want everyone to find out we’re not rich?”

Olivia naturally wouldn’t admit that she wasn’t from a well-to-do family. Upon hearing her daughter’s words, she felt aggrieved, for she indeed behaved like one.

The banquet hall could accommodate 500 people, and it was full of guests now. Gold and red were the main colors, making the wedding look solemn and magnificent.

A wedding like this was every woman’s dream. Olivia was awestruck, whereas Selena was green with envy. Jared was willing to spend so much money to hold a grand wedding for Ellen. If any woman could marry a man like him, she would die with no regrets.

Meanwhile, Heidi was shocked as well. After all, she wasn’t born into a wealthy family, and she would be delighted if her daughter also had a grand wedding one day.

“Look at how magnificent the wedding is, Joey! Aren’t you envious?” Heidi started urging her daughter to look for a husband again.

Josephine let out a sigh. “Mom, I probably won’t ever get married. You’d better give up on that idea sooner.”

“Stop saying nonsense. You’ll get married one day.” Heidi was confident about her daughter’s appearance. On the other hand, Josephine didn’t even dare imagine that she would marry the man she loved at such a wonderful wedding one day.

“Mom, I don’t even have a boyfriend. Don’t you think it’s too early for you to urge me to get married?” Josephine said helplessly.

“Well, a person can dream. I’m sure that my dream of seeing you getting married will come true someday,” Heidi said optimistically.

Meanwhile, Selena and Olivia were looking for their seats. Coincidentally, they had to share the same table with Heidi and Josephine.

“How unlucky!” When Olivia saw Heidi, she couldn’t help but annoy her.

Heidi also felt displeased that Olivia was seated with them.

A hint of resentment flashed across Selena’s eyes as she looked at Josephine. She sat down and ignored the woman. Josephine initially wanted to greet her, but since the woman refused to talk to her by looking at her phone, she gave up on the idea.

Meanwhile, she was wondering why Selena was seated with them. Since the woman claimed to be the bride’s relative, she was supposed to sit somewhere closer to the bride.

Just then, Luke came over and greeted Josephine. He somehow managed to persuade the guest beside Josephine to exchange seats with him. Just like that, he sat down beside the woman.

In the lounge behind the wedding venue, Ellen was getting some rest on the couch. She was already clad in her wedding dress and a veil. As the sunlight shone on her, she looked as beautiful as a doll.

An excited Willow took photos of Ellen from different angles with the camera in her hands. She also took some selfies and photos of the two of them together.

“You’re gorgeous, Ellen!” Willow said in amazement.

There was no doubt Ellen was a natural beauty. Although her face was small, it was delicate and glowing. Anyone would be drawn to her charm.

“Jared will be enchanted when he sees you,” Willow said exaggeratingly.

Upon hearing that, Ellen broke into laughter. “No doubt about it.”

Soon, the groom and the best man arrived. Jared was dressed to the nines, looking incredibly dapper. On the other hand, the best man was clad in a white suit, which made him look equally handsome.

Rarely any man could pull off a white suit. Although Ethan was wearing such a suit, he didn’t snatch the spotlight from the groom. He willingly played second fiddle in such a situation.

“Ethan, I’m sure many beautiful ladies will be smitten with you today. You have to be careful not to be surrounded by them,” Willow said while approaching him. She was a lovable woman who loved complimenting others.

All of a sudden, a woman’s face sprang into Ethan’s mind. It didn’t matter to him whether other women liked him; he just hoped that a certain someone would treat him better.

Jared walked up to Ellen and stared fixedly at her, looking as though he could never get enough of her. A blushing Ellen looked bashfully at him. “Stop looking. I’m already nervous, and you’re making me feel even tenser.”

The man squatted and held her hands before placating her gently, saying, “Stop worrying. I’m with you!”

Ellen seemed to derive confidence from the man’s gaze, so she nodded and replied, “Okay.”

With the camera in her hands, Willow said, “Come on, guys. Look in my direction and smile!”

Now, Willow was responsible for taking photos of everything and recording this wonderful day.

Anastasia and Elliot came over to take a look at them. The young couple was ready, and the wedding was about to begin.

“Jared, you have to hold Ellie’s hand tight later,” Anastasia reminded.

“I know, Mom. Don’t worry about it.” Jared dipped his head.

That was because the wedding was special.

The host came over and said, “The wedding will start in ten minutes. Get ready to enter the venue.”

Willow walked up to Ellen with a bouquet. “Take the flowers, Ellen. We’re going now.”

Since the wedding was about to begin, all the guests were looking forward to seeing the bride, for she was still a mystery. Many guests had been staying on the island for several days, but they hadn’t seen the bride yet.

They wondered what the woman looked like and what family she came from. No doubt she was lucky to marry Jared.

Even Josephine was curious about the bride’s appearance. Various media companies were aware of the wedding, and they had been trying hard to get into the venue to take some photos. If they managed to take some wedding photos, that would be big news across the country.

However, the Presgraves barred any media companies from entry, and even the guests were not allowed to take photos.

Therefore, as a reporter, Josephine felt lucky that she was there to witness the grand wedding.

“It’s going to start soon, Mom!” Josephine said to her mother excitedly.

“Yeah, I can’t wait!” Heidi was thrilled as well.

Josephine took a look at the family beside her. Although Connor was excited, Selena and her mother were expressionless.

The wedding finally started as the melodious music reverberated across the hall. All of them turned to look at the door that opened gradually.

Several page boys and flower girls who were as beautiful as angels stepped into the venue, followed by the bride and the groom. Unlike other weddings, the bride appeared while hooking her arm around the groom’s while holding flowers with her other hand. The long veil extended to the hem of the cloud- like dress. As the guests looked at the bride, they couldn’t help but feel that she was stunning and pure.

While everyone was watching their entry, there were two attractive figures behind the bride and the groom. They were none other than the young lady from the Presgraves Family and a handsome best man.

Everyone was genuinely happy for the married couple, but two people were extremely jealous. Although Olivia and Selena had shamelessly attended the wedding without an invitation, they didn’t want to give Ellen their blessings. Olivia even viciously thought that the Presgraves would probably start despising the woman someday. She wanted Ellen to be poor again, just like her.

Selena had been in love with Jared before, but the brilliant man was now walking down the aisle with Ellen. Certainly, she wasn’t happy about it.

However, when she caught sight of the best man, her gaze became fervent.

Josephine was aware of Ethan’s presence as well, and she didn’t expect him to be the best man. Admittedly, without considering anything else, the man was indeed good-looking.

She also noticed how Selena stared fixedly at him while other young women whispered among themselves about the man.

They no longer had a chance with the groom, but the handsome best man was certainly unmarried.

Meanwhile, Luke was stunned. What?! I can’t believe the b*stard is the best man! In that case, he must be wealthy! Wait a minute; from what I’ve heard, he’s just a model!

Ellen felt blessed to walk down the aisle full of roses with the man she loved beside her. Not only that, she had the blessings of everyone.

As the music sounded in the background, Jared and Ellen slowly went on stage. Everyone watched as they completed the ceremony by exchanging rings and confessing their love for each other. They kissed and accepted the guests’ blessings.

Jared then narrated their love story to everyone. His voice was masculine, and every word he uttered was full of his love for Ellen, making all the women envious of her. Meanwhile, Ellen’s eyes were already welled up with tears as she gently held her chest. Willow promptly told someone to pass her a piece of tissue. Ellen took it and wiped the tears from her eyes, allowing her to clearly see the towering and loving man she was going to spend the rest of her life with.

The guests were touched by the young couple’s love. After hearing Jared’s confession, as she sat among the guests, Selena realized how much of a fool she was when she tried seducing Jared in the beginning.

Meanwhile, Josephine looked at the bride on the stage, astonished at how beautiful she was. The bride was also very mysterious, for the media hadn’t figured out her identity or background even until that point.

Just then, she met the gaze of a certain best man on the stage. Even though there was quite a distance between them, she could sense that Ethan was looking at her.

Luke noticed that Ethan had his eyes on Josephine, so he immediately reached out vexedly and put his arm on the back of Josephine’s chair, deliberately getting into a more intimate position with Josephine.

The man on the stage darkened his gaze. Just then, the host announced that the bride would be tossing the bouquet soon, so the ladies who wanted to catch some good luck could start getting ready to catch the bouquet.

“Go ahead, Joey.” Heidi nudged her daughter, insisting that she go and catch the bouquet for good luck.

Selena, who was sitting opposite them, was being urged by Olivia as well. “Hurry up, Lena! What are you waiting for?”

When Heidi saw her daughter feigning ignorance and staying silent, she got physical as she pushed Josephine into a standing position. Josephine turned around and asked exasperatedly, “Mom, do I have to go?”

The other girls were already scrambling to line up at the empty space in front of the stage. At that moment, Ellen waved toward the girls in greeting as the music played, then turned her back toward them and got ready to toss the bouquet.

Ethan looked at the girls gathered below the stage, then naturally caught sight of the girl who reluctantly walked toward the edge. His gaze locked onto her face. Everyone else tiptoed, fearing that they wouldn’t be able to catch the bouquet.

As for Josephine, it was clear from her expression that she didn’t want to catch it.

Just then, Ellen tossed the bouquet. Since she exerted more force, the bouquet in her hands soared lightly and easily, then traced an arc in the air before descending.

Josephine was standing at the edge, but two other girls behind her were enthusiastically trying to move forward by pushing her. Selena was one of them. She didn’t care about her identity anymore; she wanted to catch the bouquet and obtain the blessing from the heavens so that she could be the next bride.

At that moment, Josephine felt something hit her head. She almost instinctively reached out, and Ellen’s bouquet landed right in her arms.

The other girls couldn’t even catch it while tiptoeing, but as if fate had decreed it, the bouquet fell squarely into Josephine’s hands.

Onstage, Ethan was stunned, and he couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile.

Josephine held the bouquet in her hands, receiving looks of admiration from the girls around her. Selena, however, was filled with jealousy and hatred. She had worked so hard, but she couldn’t catch the bouquet in the end. How did Josephine do it?

Josephine didn’t know either. She looked up and met Ellen’s gaze on the stage. When Ellen smiled gently at her, her heart warmed up instantly as she held the bouquet and said to Ellen, “Thank you.”

Immediately after that, Josephine felt someone else’s profound and captivating gaze. She looked and saw that Ethan was staring at her with a half-smile on his face.

Josephine felt her heart skip a beat as she held the bouquet and turned around, returning to her seat at once. When Heidi saw that her daughter had actually caught the bouquet, she knew that it was a good sign, signifying that her daughter could be the next bride.

Similarly, Luke was overjoyed as he praised Josephine, “You’re amazing, Joey.”

Josephine treated the bouquet in her arms like some treasure. It wasn’t because of anything else; she just thought it was too beautiful, so she should care for it as much as possible.

Ellen and Willow went backstage, then changed into a different set of dresses for the remainder of the night.

The food was then served, and it turned out to be a sumptuous feast. It had been a long time since Olivia and Selena last had food as expensive as this. Even though they tried their best to suppress it, their table manners betrayed their identities.

“Try this, Lena.” Olivia helped herself to some food first, but fearing that her daughter wouldn’t get to taste it, she placed some on Selena’s plate as well. Every time a new dish was served, Olivia would be the first to dig in.

Heidi was upset by this, and her disdain was reflected in her expression as well. Meanwhile, Josephine wasn’t interested in the food. Instead, she felt that the wine served here was delicious and sweet, and she liked it a lot.

“Connor, Ellen will be coming over for a toast later, right? I don’t think we’ve prepared any gifts. What should we do?” It was only then that Olivia remembered they should prepare gifts when attending a wedding banquet.

“I heard it’s not necessary. We’re just here for a meal,” Connor replied.

Olivia couldn’t help but be amazed at the Presgraves’ generosity. She hoped that she could grab the chance to be on good terms with Ellen when the latter came over for a toast.

Soon, Ellen made her appearance at the banquet, and she accompanied Jared during the front-row toasts. Just as Olivia was wondering when Ellen would come over, she noticed that Ellen had already finished toasting and was being escorted away.

“Mom, Ellen isn’t coming here for the toast,” Selena commented in a small voice.

“She’s looking down on us,” Olivia said, secretly furious.

However, Jared and his best man were stopping by every table for the toasts. He treated every guest with proper respect, and the guests also got up and clinked glasses with the bridegroom as they gave him their best wishes.

Josephine had her head lowered as she looked at work-related matters on her phone. Suddenly, she felt some pressure on the back of her chair as though someone was pushing it. At the same time, Heidi gave Josephine’s dress a sharp tug under the table, signaling for Josephine to get up for the toast.

Josephine hastily pushed her chair back and took her glass as she stood up. Just then, she realized Ethan was standing right behind her. She couldn’t help the sudden hastening of her heartbeat.

“Uncle Connor, please enjoy yourselves. I sincerely apologize if we overlooked anything.” Jared singled Connor out by mentioning the latter, so Olivia could only plaster a smile on her face as she said, “You’re so handsome today, Jared! I hope you’ll have a happy marriage and have your own children soon!”

Selena wanted to clink glasses with Ethan, but she realized that Ethan was standing behind Josephine. Josephine sensed that someone had taken the initiative to touch their glass against hers, and when she turned to look, Ethan was raising his glass at her with a captivating smile on his lips.

“Congratulations, Mr. Presgrave.” Heidi gave her best wishes as well.

After the toast was over, Josephine finally let out a sigh of relief. The morning banquet ended at around 2.00PM, and she heard there would be another banquet at night accompanied by a dance hall, a show of fireworks, and a cruise.

In the wedding room, Ellen removed her makeup and changed into a comfortable set of pajamas. With Jared by her side, she took an afternoon nap. She was easily fatigued these days. Since she was in the early stages of her pregnancy, she couldn’t get much food down her throat, and her weight didn’t increase at all.

After Ellen had fallen asleep, Jared went out and spent time with his friends. He went to Ethan’s villa, and the two sat on the rooftop garden as they chatted.

“Jared, how much do you know about a girl called Josephine Jacobson? She’s one of your guests. Do you know her background?” Ethan took the initiative to ask Jared for information.

When Jared heard that, he glanced at Ethan with a teasing look. “What’s the matter? Have you fallen for her?”

“No, but after encountering her several times, she seems to be an interesting person.” Ethan would never admit that he had fallen for Josephine, for his pride wouldn’t allow it.

“The Jacobson Family? Could it be them?” Jared narrowed his eyes as he fell into deep thought. He had an impression that the Jacobsons were quite famous in the political scene.

“Which one?”

“If I remember correctly, Peter Jacobson is one of the higher-ups in politics, and his words are very influential. Our families are probably connected because of him and my grandfather, but I don’t know much about the Jacobsons right now.”

Ethan suddenly thought of something and said, “Does your wife have a cousin called Selena?”

Jared nodded, then cautioned Ethan, “Steer clear of her. She’s bad news.”

Ethan couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “What happened? Did she do something to you guys?”

“I once got her jailed for a year because she tried to harm Ellen. After she was released, she still went around and caused trouble. She and her family are unbelievably greedy.”

Ethan already had a bad impression of Selena, so when he heard that, he decided right then that he’d ignore her every time they met.

“Have as much fun as you’d like tonight. You can even ask Miss Jacobson out,” Jared said to his good friend, hoping that the latter would find true love soon.

Ethan curved his lips and crossed his arms as he said, “I never make the first move. Even if I were to go on a date, they would have to ask me out first.”

“Let me give you a piece of advice as someone with experience. If you insist on maintaining your pride, you won’t get the girl.” Jared glanced at the time, then got up and patted him. “I’ll be going back now.”

Around ten minutes after Jared left, Ethan took his phone and went downstairs. He unlocked his cool sports car and got in, then drove toward Josephine’s villa.

As expected, he ate his words quickly enough. He said he wouldn’t make the first move, but here he was, making the first move already.

After Josephine took the bouquet home, she even sprayed some water on the flowers so that they would stay beautiful.

“Joey, I’m going to nap for a while.” Heidi had a habit of taking afternoon naps, so she retired to her room.

Josephine sat on the couch, thinking of watching some TV when she heard a car honking outside.

It seemed to be summoning her.

As such, Josephine got up and went out to the garden. Then, she saw Ethan getting out of his sports car, which was parked by the road outside the fence.

“Why are you here?” Josephine asked him over the fence.

“Nice weather today. Fancy going out for a ride?” said the man invitingly.

Josephine felt tempted to accept his invitation, for she was indeed a little bored.

“Are you asking me out?” Josephine questioned with a raised brow.

Ethan nodded. “Yes. Care to humor me?”

Seeing that her mother had gone to sleep, Josephine said to Ethan, “Wait for me. I’ll get my camera and purse.”

Meanwhile, on a balcony on the third floor of the building next to them, a pair of eyes hiding behind curtains watched the scene unfold. Selena had also heard Ethan honking earlier, and when she saw Ethan coming over and asking Josephine out on his own accord, her heart was filled with jealousy.

When she saw Josephine decisively getting into Ethan’s sports car before the two disappeared off the roads of the villa garden, Selena was so mad that she almost lost her mind.

“You b*tch! I’ll make your life a living hell,” she muttered.

With that, Selena had already conjured up an insidious plot: she would frame Josephine. The wedding wasn’t supposed to be made known to the public, but Josephine was a reporter. If news of the wedding were exposed, Josephine would be the first to be suspected.

The other night, Josephine mentioned the TV station she worked for, and Selena had committed it to memory. Now, she would send an anonymous submission signed with Josephine’s name to the TV station.

Spurred by her hatred, Selena took out her laptop and went right to work. She would exact revenge on Josephine for snatching Ethan away from her.

Meanwhile, Josephine was seated in Ethan’s convertible, attracting many gazes along the way. Of course, the sports car wasn’t the only thing catching everyone’s attention; the good-looking young couple in the car was quite striking as well.

“Can you take me to where we first met?” Josephine asked him.

“Of course.” Ethan immediately drove onto a wide road by the sea, then took her to the almost deserted beach.

Back then, he had driven there as well, and he even went into the sea for a dip. Unfortunately, he bumped into her. Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

“Mr. Quarles, I have to clarify again that I didn’t mean to take photos of you that day.” Josephine felt like she needed to explain once more.

In truth, Ethan also felt a little sorry for leaving her alone that day.

“In that case, why did you take photos of me?” Ethan asked.

Josephine answered truthfully, “I accidentally came across you and mistook you for a model. You’re quite photogenic, after all.”

“So, you’re saying I’m handsome, have a good build, and have an outstanding aura?” asked the man while praising himself.

Josephine praised him generously, “You’re very handsome indeed.”

“Does that mean you like me?” Ethan was a little giddy now. This feeling was different from when he was praised by other women, and he was greatly pleased.

“Don’t misunderstand, Mr. Quarles, but I think personality triumphs over appearance. In other words, I like people who have good personalities,” Josephine answered.

The man was speechless. “Does that mean I have a bad personality?”

“I don’t mean it like that. I still don’t know you that well, so I won’t judge you.” Josephine smiled, her eyes narrowing.

“I’ll give you more chances to get to know me,” Ethan said, raising an eyebrow.

“We may never meet again after this wedding,” said Josephine. Ethan came from an extraordinary background, and he belonged to a world completely different from hers. Their paths were like parallel lines that would never cross.

“If I create more chances, we will meet again,” Ethan suddenly turned around and commented.

Josephine was stunned for a few seconds, and she suddenly felt her face turn hot. What did he mean? Was he trying to pursue her?

Soon, the car drove onto a deserted road, and the scenery was beautiful all along the way. The car pulled up at the pavement next to the beach, which was incredibly picturesque as it spread out below them.

Josephine took out her camera and snapped a few photos. Meanwhile, Ethan stood next to her and watched her. Compared to the pretty scenery around them, he was even more attracted to the woman’s beauty.

As Josephine took the photos, she sensed a pair of eyes staring at her from the side. She put down her camera and turned to look at Ethan. The man crossed his arms and met her gaze boldly. He wasn’t the slightest bit embarrassed that he was caught stealing glances at her.

Josephine was a straightforward person, so she asked directly, “Mr. Quarles, why do you keep staring at me?”

“Well, you’re kind of pretty,” Ethan answered, his eyebrows raised.

Josephine smiled and continued taking more photos. She wasn’t bothered by the fact that a man was next to her. As she walked forward with her camera, she didn’t realize the deep hole in front of her. When the man noticed this, he hastily stretched out his long arms to hold her back, pulling her into his embrace as a result.

Josephine was startled. When she came to her senses, she was already being held securely in the man’s arms. Her face was almost plastered onto his shirt, and she was slightly dazed from the faint scent of pines that wafted into her nostrils.

“Why did you pull me back?” Josephine asked him.

“See for yourself,” the man said exasperatedly.

Josephine lowered her head. Soon, she noticed a deep hole hiding among the lush grass. If she had stepped on it, she could’ve tripped and fallen.

“Thank you.” Josephine smiled gratefully, then continued walking forward.

Time seemed to grow listless here. Josephine took photos at the front while the man followed behind her. Josephine suddenly had an idea, and she turned around to point her camera at the man. She wanted to try and see if he would get mad if she took photos of him now.

The man seemed a little exasperated through the lenses, but he still put on a few expressions and even posed a little. As Josephine looked at him through the high-definition lenses, she felt her heart thumping wildly.

She was even charmed for a few seconds by the man’s brilliant smile through the camera.

He had shiny rows of teeth that gleamed attractively. His deep eyes also possessed an alluring charm like a black hole.

Josephine subconsciously pointed the lenses away and continued taking photos of the scenery. Soon, the man ran after her and suggested, “Why don’t I take a few photos of you?”

Josephine thought for a moment. The scenery was too beautiful not to take some photos of herself in it, so she passed him her camera. After Ethan took the camera, Josephine found a wall that served as the background, then gave the camera a lady-like smile.

“That’s too reserved. Act more naturally.” The man was complaining that she didn’t look natural enough.

Josephine didn’t need more prodding. She pursed her lips at once, then puffed up her cheeks shortly after. She even struck some poses to get rid of the awkwardness. Unbeknownst to her, as she adjusted

herself and struck different poses, the man was continuously clicking the shutter.

Hence, Josephine looked livelier and prettier in the photos now. The man curved his lips as he took the photos, and there was even a hint of mischief in his smile.

Josephine spotted an island in the distance, then asked immediately, “Can you take a photo so that I look like I’m holding up that island?”

“Of course,” answered the man readily.

Josephine held up her palms. The man only had to find a good angle to take the photo so that she looked like she was holding up the island. After the photo was taken, Josephine walked toward the man, but she realized he was still clicking the shutter. It was only then that Josephine realized something was wrong.

“Hey, why are you still taking photos?!” she asked in embarrassment, then rushed over to snatch her camera back.

Josephine grabbed her camera and began looking through the photos. When she saw the numerous photos of herself, she was instantly pissed. This man hadn’t been taking photos of her seriously!

“You—” Josephine reached out and tried to hit him.

Ethan immediately laughed as he ran forward. Josephine naturally ran after him, and they continued the chase for a dozen yards. Suddenly, the man turned around and stopped running. Josephine reached out to hit him, but she couldn’t control her momentum, so before she could hit him, she ran straight into him instead.

Ethan laughed as he enjoyed the feeling of a pretty woman running into his arms. He was also holding Josephine’s hands, so in an instant, the banter turned into something suggestive.

“Let go.” Josephine’s face turned red as she looked up, asking the man to let go.

“No way.” The man was mean.

“You—” Josephine laughed amidst the anger, and she could only resort to struggling in his embrace.

Ethan graciously let go of her. Josephine then took a small step backward and looked at him, complaining, “Do you like teasing girls that much?”

“You’re the first girl I’ve ever teased like that,” the man said with raised eyebrows.

Josephine didn’t believe him. Instead, she felt that this man had quite a lot of ways to showcase his allure. He looked like he was in his late 20s, so he didn’t seem like he lacked female company.

“Let’s go back!” Josephine looked at the time. It was almost 3.00PM.

“Don’t you believe me?” The man’s low voice sounded a little hurt.

Josephine couldn’t help but be stunned. Was it so important to him whether she believed him or not? Was it worth him using such an injured tone?

She thought that since they met each other despite everything, they should part ways peacefully.

“Yes, I believe you. Let’s go!” Josephine appeased him, going against her truest thoughts.

When Ethan heard that, he smiled as he shook his head. She didn’t believe him at all, but she still lied to him about it.

They had only known each other for three days, and he would be asking too much of her if he wanted her to believe him.

After all, he didn’t know her that well either.

With that, Ethan sent Josephine home. When she got out of the car, Ethan passed her his phone. Confused, Josephine asked, “What are you doing, Mr. Quarles?”

“Give me your number,” he said.

“Forget it!” Josephine felt like it was unnecessary. After all, they would return to their own lives after the wedding.

“Even if you don’t give me your number, I have my ways of getting it. I hope you can give it to me on your own accord,” the man requested.

Josephine thought for a bit. Having extra connections wouldn’t hurt. Besides, what if she needed his help somewhere down the line?

Josephine took his phone and keyed in her number. Then, she dialed her number once before waving goodbye. “See you later tonight.”

When Josephine returned to the villa, her mother had just woken up. Heidi asked where she had gone, and Josephine merely said, “I went out for fun.” However, she didn’t tell Heidi that she had gone out with a man.

Now, Heidi wished Josephine could just get married already. She could even see a son-in-law in every decent-looking man she encountered.

Josephine went back to her room and was about to process the photos when her phone rang. She glanced at her phone to see that it was a call from her colleague, Wren Simpson. Thus, she reached out and answered the call. “Hello?”

“What the hell, Joey?! No wonder I haven’t seen you these days; you’re attending the Presgraves’ wedding!”

“Did Mr. Fox tell you that?” Josephine asked.

“He didn’t say anything. You contributed to the company, didn’t you? You helped our company get exclusive photos of the Presgrave wedding, and we just uploaded them! We’ve gotten so many shares already! Also, it’ll be included in our news program at 8.00PM tonight! You’re amazing!”

“What?” Josephine was so shocked that she stood up. “What photos? I never sent any photos to the company! Where did you get them from?”

“What? From you, of course! We all know what sort of person you are, Joey, so don’t worry, we won’t say that it’s from you. You sent them anonymously, after all!”

“That won’t do. No matter who sent it, you have to stop sharing it right now and delete the article. I’m serious! I wasn’t the one who sent the email,” Josephine said anxiously.

“We can’t stop it anymore. Let me see… We’ve hit over 100,000 shares already!”

Josephine was desperate now. Who had sent the photos to the company under her name? They were essentially getting her in trouble!

Josephine immediately ended her call with Wren, then contacted Mr. Fox, the leader of her team at work. Just as expected, Mr. Fox began the conversation with praise. “Joey! I expected no less from you! I knew you wouldn’t miss such sensational news. I’m going to get you that promotion this year!”

“Mr. Fox, I wasn’t the one who sent those photos, and I’m asking you to stop spreading this news right now. If not, the consequences would be unthinkable,” Josephine warned.

“What? Weren’t you the one who sent it to us? When we received the letter, the signature was yours!”

“It wasn’t me, I promise. I don’t know whom I offended to get framed like this,” Josephine explained earnestly.

“But Joey, don’t you know how many views we’re getting just because you got us the exclusive shots? This is all profit!”

“I don’t care about the money, Mr. Fox. Please stop spreading it!” Josephine begged.

“No can do. Some things just can’t be undone. Also, the photos have already been leaked, so even if we don’t cover this news as soon as we can, other TV stations will cover it anyway. Just let it be and enjoy the banquet!”

Josephine slapped her forehead in agony. Who on earth was trying to frame her?!

She was so mad that she went out to the balcony for some fresh air. She felt like she was sweating all over.

However, right at that moment, she noticed someone sitting in the garden. It was none other than Selena, and the woman was having some tea while playing with her phone. Selena caught sight of Josephine too as she looked up and narrowed her eyes at the latter.

All of a sudden, Josephine realized only Selena had a grudge against her. Could she have framed me? She then remembered mentioning her job and workplace to only Selena.

Josephine was filled with anger. She immediately went down the stairs and stormed right up to Selena’s villa. Then, she pushed open the gate and went in.

“Selena, were you the one who leaked photos of the wedding under my name?” Josephine interrogated.

Selena was prepared for this as well, and of course, she would never admit to it. She retorted with a sneer, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is that so? Of all the guests here, you were the only one I told about the TV station I worked for, so it’s definitely you! Do you know how much trouble you’re putting me in?” Josephine bellowed furiously.

“Why must it be me? Do you have any evidence? Also, I’m not the only person who knows about your job, am I? You have friends too. Don’t your friends know about your identity? Josephine, you shouldn’t accuse someone like that.” Selena stood up, adamantly refusing to admit it.

“I know it’s you. You’re the bride’s family, so how can you do this to her? The Presgraves forbid their weddings to be made public, don’t you know that?” Josephine was fuming. She couldn’t ignore the fact that a family member of the bride could be so nonchalant about the bride’s reputation.

Selena feigned anger as she said, “Josephine, I think you’re the one who spread the news yourself! Reporters like you constantly try to attract attention and views, aren’t I right? This is your job too, so you’re just trying to get credit in your company!”

Josephine didn’t expect to be accused in return. She decided that she had to notify the Presgraves immediately so that they could deal with this matter as soon as possible.

Thankfully, Josephine had gotten Ethan’s number just now. She took out her phone, and as she walked away, she dialed Ethan’s number.

“Hello! Missing me already?” The man answered the call with a smile.

“Mr. Quarles, there’s something I need your help with. It’s urgent.”

“A request so soon? Go ahead,” the man said readily.

“Here’s the thing; I just received a call from a colleague at work. Someone leaked photos of the wedding, and I thought I should inform the Presgraves about it. If not, it’ll cause them trouble.”

“What? Who leaked them?”

“Someone sent an email to my company under my name.”

“Have you been framed?” Ethan instantly asked in concern.

“The most important thing right now is to inform the Presgraves. You seem to be close to them, so I was hoping you’d help me out with this.”

“Sure! I’ll talk to the Presgraves right away. Don’t panic,” Ethan comforted her.

Josephine was already back in her own villa. Seeing how willing Ethan was to help, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, in the garden, Selena was filled with glee. As expected, this tactic worked best on Josephine.

Even if the Presgraves started investigating this matter, she wouldn’t be suspected at all.

Ethan quickly informed Jared about this. Although Jared was rather surprised, he approached the matter calmly since Ethan was the one who had informed him.

“I’ll get my men to contact the TV station.”

“Jared, Miss Jacobson was the one who told me about this. She’s a reporter working for that TV station, but I can guarantee she wasn’t the one who leaked it.”

“I believe you, and I believe her too,” said Jared.

Meanwhile, Josephine was waiting for Ethan’s call at the villa. She wanted to know what the situation was, as well as if the problem had been resolved. She also wondered if the TV station would receive a warning.

At the same time, she was worried that her work might be affected.

Soon, Ethan’s call came in, and Josephine immediately answered it. “Hello, Mr. Quarles.”

“I’ve informed the Presgraves, and they’ll contact your TV station soon. Also, I’ve clarified things for you, so don’t worry!”

“Thank you!”

“Do you know who leaked the photos?”

Josephine wanted to say that it was Selena, but since she didn’t have any evidence, she could only say, “I’m not sure either.”

“Alright, the Presgraves will investigate this matter. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you so much, Mr. Quarles.” It was only now that Josephine realized how beneficial it was to have a friend like him.

“I’ll inform you immediately if there are any updates from the Presgraves,” said Ethan.

“Okay.” Josephine was extremely grateful. After hanging up, she received a call from Wren.

“Joey, the Presgraves contacted our TV station. It was so sudden that the director had to answer the call himself.”

“What happened, then?”

“The Presgraves asked us to delete those photos, but they’ll provide new ones for us later. They’ve decided to give our TV station exclusive permission to share them. Joey, I’m pretty sure that the director will reward you handsomely when you return.”

Josephine was stunned.

Did the tragedy turn into a fortune?

Even if this matter was resolved, Josephine would never forgive the person who did it. She then asked Wren to get her the login details of the public submission mailbox account.

She would reply to that email and announce that the sender would be rewarded for submitting those photos, inviting them to come forward and receive their remuneration. She wanted to see if the sender would fall for the bait.

Wren went ahead and acquired the login details for Josephine.

After ending the call, Josephine let out a relieved sigh. She felt that Ethan must be helping out behind the scenes too. If she had time, she would treat him to a meal in the future.

By the time she returned to her senses, her mother was already urging her to get ready for the banquet at night. Josephine still felt guilty toward the Presgraves, for the despicable person had leaked photos of the wedding without any care just to get revenge on her.

Josephine wanted to catch this perpetrator. Even if she couldn’t do anything about them, she wanted to expose this person’s identity.

Josephine believed that the person was none other than Selena.

When Josephine arrived at the banquet venue, Selena was sitting there as well. When Selena saw Josephine, there was a gleeful look in her eyes, and it seemed as though she was waiting for horrible

consequences to befall the other woman.

Josephine sat down next to her mother, and she returned Selena’s gaze with a fierce glare. Just then, her phone rang with a notification.

It was a message from Wren. Josephine took her phone out and logged into the account. Then, she found the anonymous email along with the photos attached to it.

Josephine immediately replied to the person to test it out. She replied professionally with a text that read, ‘Dear sender, congratulations! Your submission has brought profit to our company, and we would like to reward you for that. Please call the following number to receive the reward.’

Then, Josephine keyed in her phone number.