Chapter 1907
Finn stormed out of the house without giving Tessa a chance to explain herself.
Tessa looked utterly flustered until Clara stepped forward, took her hand with a sly smile, and said, “Don’t you worry, Tessa. I’ll talk to Dad. Ivy going off the rails is her own doing; it’s got nothing to do with you.”
Clara’s words were a relief, and Tessa, feeling touched, responded, “Clara, you’re such a sweetheart. I knew there was a reason I always liked you!”
After the call ended abruptly, Ivy felt utterly helpless. She hadn’t expected Clara to not only fail in her schemes but to also spread such nasty rumors about her at home.
Home was no sanctuary for Ivy, and with the turmoil there, she didn’t know where she could turn for shelter.
Even without any proof, Clara’s words were enough to convince their parents of Ivy’s guilt, rendering her explanations useless.
It was just like when they were in grade school; Clara would start a fight, but as soon as she cried and claimed Ivy was the bully, their parents would take her side without question.
She had never had a place in that house, no one to rely on.
If she went back now, she’d face her parents’ scolding, as well as Clara’s schadenfreude and insults.
For some reason, after dealing with this for over two decades, Ivy suddenly felt exhausted, just so tired.
She turned back to look at the villa for a long time before gathering her courage to return and knock on the door.
The door opened once again, with Balfour standing on the other side.
“About that agreement from earlier… can I still sign it?” Ivy asked.
Balfour was somewhat surprised by her return, but it wasn’t unwelcome.
He nodded subtly and let Ivy back in.
Sitting on the couch again, Ivy seemed uncomfortable. “I’m sorry for being indecisive. It’s just that I have
my
reasons.”
*Just read the agreement, Balfour said, not interested in her reasons.
Why Ivy returned or what made her do it didn’t matter to Balfour.
All he wanted was a wife who could appease his grandparents and help him avoid unnecessary complications.
“Alright,” Ivy sighed, feeling her previous explanations were redundant. She took the agreement and read it very carefully this time.
The marriage contract was clear. They would need to register their marriage legally and live together. To the outside world, they would appear as a real couple.
Balfour needed Ivy to play the part of an ideal wife in public to satisfy his family’s elders.
And Ivy would receive a fair amount of money, though that wasn’t her main concern; she just didn’t want to go home and needed somewhere to stay for the time being.
After reading the contract, Ivy placed it back on the table. “I’m willing to sign this and marry you, but I have one condition.”
Balfour had braced himself for her demands from the start, knowing that a woman agreeing to such an arrangement would surely have her terms. “Let’s hear it.”
