Chapter 1900
The moment the young lady, brought by her parents for a blind date, laid eyes on Balfour, she was stunned by his charm. Blushing, she stood up, shyly extending a hand towards him.
“Hi, I’m Alexa.”
“Hello, please sit,” Balfour responded, simply nodding without taking her hand.
Alexa felt awkward, sheepishly withdrawing her hand that had been hanging in mid-air and gingerly sitting back down.
Dean and Alyssa, exchanged a look, both exasperated with their grandson’s lack of social grace. How could he make the poor girl feel so uncomfortable? Balfour sat alone on an armchair, engaging in sporadic conversation with the guests. His demeanor was polite yet aloof, neither warm nor cold, until the visitors realized there was no chance and made an excuse to leave.
After the guests left, Dean and Alyssa turned to their grandson, glaring at him. Alyssa Howard said in frustration, “Balfour! You really need to learn how to interact with women. She was a nice girl! You could at least give her a smile!”
Balfour shrugged, “Granny, I’m not planning on getting married right now. You and Grandpa should stop setting me up.”
Dean huffed, “You’re not planning on getting married? When do you plan to? Going to stay a bachelor forever? You’re in your thirties; you’re not young anymore! Byran and Pearl are all paired up, leaving you as the odd one out. Don’t you feel embarrassed being the older brother?”
Balfour replied, “I think my current lifestyle is great, so why should I feel embarrassed?”
“You, you…” Alyssa suddenly clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.
Seeing his grandmother’s distress, Balfour quickly stood up to help her, “Granny, are you okay? Quick, get her heart medicine!”
Alyssa stubbornly refused, “I don’t need medicine! I won’t take it!”
Balfour frowned, “Granny, you have a heart condition, and you need to take your medicine.”
Alyssa looked at him resentfully, “Your bachelorhood is my greatest worry, and no medicine can cure that! Balfour, if you don’t want us to set you up, fine. But within a month, you must bring home a decent woman. If you don’t, I’ll stop taking my medicine and let the sickness take me!”
Balfour sighed in exasperation, “Granny, you…”
Alyssa didn’t let him make any more excuses, “Come on, Dean, let’s stop bothering with this stubborn boy until he brings home a bride.” Dean helped his wife to their room, giving his grandson a disappointed look, “Hmph, go ahead and upset your grandmother!” Watching his grandparents’ stubborn retreating backs, Balfour massaged his temples in frustration.
The next night.
As the evening fell over Greenhaven, inside a local pub.
“Come on, drink up! If you don’t, it means you don’t respect me!”
Clara Dunhill pushed her sister, Ivy Dunhill, urging her to down her drink.
After swallowing the strong liquor, Ivy felt a burning sensation in her throat, “Sis, I can’t drink anymore.”
“You promised you’d come drinking with me. You’ve barely had anything! Ivy, I just broke up with my boyfriend, and I’m really upset. Can’t you just keep me company without making me feel worse?” Clara said as she poured more alcohol into Ivy’s glass.
Ivy didn’t dare to upset her sister. If she did, it would make her life at home with her mother unbearable.
‘Fine, sis, but I can only drink one more.”
Clara’s eyes twinkled as she poured a different type of liquor into the glass, “Alright, just one last drink!”
