Mystery Bride's Revenge (Selina)

Ashley felt a pang of regret. Her situation with Edwin was not set in stone, but if it led to Joseph's disapproval, her already precarious position in the Harvey family would be in even greater jeopardy. Lloyd, Manuel, and Joseph might distance themselves from her, aligning instead with Selina.

If the truth about Selina being Sara's savior came to light, it was almost certain that Sara would switch sides to support Selina. Quinton, who had always been a devoted husband, would surely follow his wife's lead. Knowing that Selina had once saved Sara's life, combined with the natural bond between father and daughter, it was only a matter of time before Quinton's heart softened, just like Manuel's had.

As for Frederick, he had always maintained a welcoming attitude toward Selina's return, treating both Ashley and Selina equally, while for Patrick, since he took over the overseas branch of Harvey Group, Ashley hardly saw him, let alone Selina.

Deep down, Ashley feared Patrick because he was no longer the easy-going brother she once knew. Patrick was now impossible to control, far removed from the carefree boy of their youth. Perhaps the heavy responsibilities had hardened him, making him impervious to her whims.

"Goodness, what's gotten into Joseph? How could he lash out at Ashley like that?" Quinton could hardly believe his eyes and wondered if Joseph was still the same calm and composed son he had.

"Could it be because of Selina? Joseph, you've lost your mind." Sara's voice trembled with pain and frustration. Even though she now harbored immense guilt toward Selina, it did not justify taking it out on Ashley. This was unfair to her. Having already lost one sister, she wondered if Joseph intended to repeat the same mistake.

"I feel like Joseph is upset because Ashley was talking to Edwin... but I think Selina plays a part too. Joseph seems to care more and more about what Selina thinks." Manuel spoke from a place of deep empathy, understanding all too well the turmoil in Joseph's heart. Joseph must have been influenced by Selina, causing his current inner turmoil and frustration.

Gritting his teeth, Quinton declared, "We need to bring Joseph and Ashley back after this episode. They can't continue with the show. Who knows what might happen next?"

Quinton cherished them both and had never worried about them before. Yet, under Selina's influence, they had changed drastically. He wondered, 'Selina... what spell have you cast on them? How have you made them, who should have hated you, think of you and change themselves for your sake?'

When Selina returned with Trevon, Lydia informed her of what had transpired. "Selina, my instincts were right. Joseph's losing patience with Ashley. It's odd though, he's been deceived by her for so long, yet he never saw through her. Why the sudden change?" Lydia mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

"It's none of our business. Lydia, have you finished preparing the ingredients for dinner?" Selina asked, changing the topic.

"Of course! Do you think I'd come back to eat without being prepared? Oh, and something interesting happened... I heard that while we were out gathering supplies, Edwin and Ashley got a little too cozy. I doubt Edwin's sincerity. There might be some drama on the horizon," Lydia said.

Selina glanced briefly at Edwin, who noticed her gaze and smiled at her warmly. His eyes, however, held a depth of calculation that even Ashley could not fully decipher. It was a certain slyness that made her shake her head.

'There's always a bigger fish, she thought. She saw that Ashley, who prided herself on outsmarting everyone, had finally met her match, someone stronger and even more captivating. The hunter had become the prey, at last.

As night fell, Ashley brought the meal she had prepared into the tent. Upon seeing Joseph still lying, to her dismay, he did not respond. "I'm sorry, Joseph. I know you told me not to get close to Edwin, but I didn't listen. I know you're mad at me for it... But Edwin was the one who approached me first. I couldn't just turn him away. It's not what you think. I've been very careful. I promise!"

"Just leave it there. I'll eat it later. I'm just tired from the injury. Let me rest a bit longer, okay?" Though Joseph's tone lacked the harshness of his earlier rebuke, it was still far colder than it used to be. Ashley did not dare to stay any longer, fearing she might irritate Joseph again. She then placed the food down and quietly left.

Joseph's fists clenched tightly, knowing he was unjustly venting his anger on Ashley. His frustration was not solely about her disobedience in getting close to Edwin, it was his helplessness toward Selina that had him so agitated. He felt utterly ashamed of himself as he was acting like a petulant child, not the caring brother he ought to be. Yet, the turmoil within him was too overwhelming to control.

Outside the tent, Garrett had been standing guard. Upon seeing Ashley come out, he couldn't help but step forward to check on her. "Ashley, is Joseph okay?"

"Joseph is fine. It's all my fault. I didn't listen to him and made him angry..." Ashley sounded upset.

"Don't be silly. You did nothing wrong. It's Joseph who overreacted. But it's strange, though... He was never like this before. Could it be that his injury has put him in a bad mood?" Garrett tried to comfort Ashley, searching for an explanation.

"Garrett, could you stay with Joseph tonight? He's injured, and I'm worried about him... Please look after him for me," Ashley said.

"Of course, I will. If Joseph knew how much you cared, he'd be deeply touched. I'm sure he's just going through a rough patch." Garett tried his best to comfort her.

Yeah, Joseph has always doted on me. I've been at fault too, making him so upset," Ashley said. With Garrett's comforting words, Ashley gradually calmed down. Indeed, Joseph adored her dearly. Hence, there must have been something troubling him deeply to make him lose his temper like that Ashley fumed inwardly, It has to be because of Selina! If she hadn't continuously disrupted Joseph's plans and embarrassed him, he wouldn't have lost control so completely

Once the show ended, everything would slowly return to normal as long as Joseph no longer had to see Selina, or so Ashley thought. All she could do now was wait and avoid angering Joseph as much as possible.

"Ms. Harvey: A voice sounded, interrupting Ashley's thoughts. Just then, Edwin approached them. Garrett's gaze toward Edwin flickered with a hint of hostility. However, Garrett was in no position to comment on the situation. He could only stand by Ashley's side, silently asserting a claim of

sorts

Upon seeing Edwin, Ashley's eyes began to dart nervously. Deep down, she was already smitten by his looks, family background, and gentle demeanor. Compared to Timothy and Garrett, Edwin was leagues above. Unfortunately, Joseph was vehemently opposed to her being with Edwin. fearing he was connected to Trevon and could use her against the Harvey family.

Ashley thought. What should I do? Am I really going to miss out on such an excellent suitor? Damn it! It's all Selina's fault! If not for Selina's presence. Ashley thought she could openly date Edwin, with no one opposing the match. Instead, they would probably encourage the union.