Chapter 1924
Ivy yanked the comforter from the nearby bed to cover herself, her voice a mix of surprise and mortification. “You… How could you just walk in? Didn’t even knock!”
Balfour cleared his throat, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Well, it seems to me this is my bedroom.”
“Oh, I…” Ivy’s realization dawned on her that this was indeed Balfour’s room. “I’m sorry, I forgot! I was considering since grandma and grandpa are back, if we kept sleeping separately, they might get suspicious.”
Feeling embarrassed, Ivy tried to explain herself promptly.
Balfour closed the door, leaned against it, and looked at her with a slight squint. “You’re thoughtful. I’ll knock if I come in from now on.”
“I’ll lock the door when I change too,” Ivy said, dropping the comforter and straightening her clothes before standing up. She glanced at the bed, feeling awkward. “Maybe… I should sleep on the couch tonight, and you can have the bed.”
Hearing her, the corner of Balfour’s mouth quirked up in a faint, protective smile. “Why should we sleep apart? Didn’t you assure grandma today, with utmost conviction, that you were going to work hard to give the Howard family some grandchildren?”
“I…” Ivy’s face flushed like a ripe red apple at the mention of the earlier incident. “I was just trying to put their minds at ease, saying what they wanted to hear. Besides, it’s not like we’re actually going to have kids!”
Looking at her blushing, her fair skin tinged with pink, he found she seemed really adorable.
Balfour’s eyes narrowed playfully, and he decided to tease her a bit. He stepped closer, bending down to her level. “Who says we won’t have kids? Are you doubting my abilities? Or yours to bear children?”
His proximity accelerated Ivy’s heartbeat uncontrollably.
She couldn’t help but recall their encounter the night they met, and Balfour’s so-called ‘abilities’.
Ivy shook her head sharply and pushed him away, taking several deep breaths to calm herself. “Mr. Howard, please, show some self-respect! We only have a contractual relationship!”
Her reaction was a bit disappointing to Balfour, who let out a light chuckle and left the room.
With Balfour gone, Ivy locked the door and finally felt at ease to change clothes. Just as she finished, her phone rang.
It was Finn Dunhill, the last name she wanted to see, but nevertheless it was her father, and she couldn’t ignore this call.
Walking to the balcony, Ivy answered the phone. “Hello, Dad. What’s up?”
“Ivy, you ungrateful little brat!”
Finn’s opening line was an accusation, and Ivy’s heart sank. Trouble from her family was the last thing she needed.
“Dad, if you have something to say, say it. If you’re just going to yell at me, I’m hanging up.”
“Don’t you dare hang up on me! Ivy, do you realize because of your little stunt, your sister lost a lot of opportunities in the entertainment industry? Acting is her dream, and you’ve crushed it!”
If Ivy didn’t know the full story, she might have believed she was at fault.
The truth was clear as day to her. Clara had schemed against her and faced the consequences of her own failed plot. Yet, nobody cared about Ivy’s side, no one defended her, and they only cared about Clara.
