Chapter 1933
Ivy forced a wry smile and nodded, “When I got here, they said they were stuck in traffic and told me to go on in. I thought, even if my own mother played favorites, she wouldn’t set me up like this. Turns out, I was just too naive! They never planned on coming. From the get-go, they intended to set me up to meet Vincent alone.”
Balfour squinted his eyes as he digested the story, suddenly finding the woman before him rather pitiful.
To be regarded by one’s own parents as a bargaining chip to advance a sister’s career!
What kind of parents would do such a thing?
And to think the events of their first night, was she also a pawn in her family’s schemes?
In her parent’s eyes, was Ivy nothing more than an object to be traded at will?
“If you need, I can go with you to confront your family,” Balfour finally broke the silence. “The influence of the Howards should be enough to warn them.”
Ivy looked up, surprised by Balfour’s offer.
She didn’t intend to come off as pitiful and certainly didn’t expect anyone to stand up for her, least of all Balfour. After all, aside from that one night, their relationship was nothing more than a fleeting encounter, not even close to friendship.
Yet here he was, offering to stand up for her, and Ivy was deeply touched, but still, she couldn’t accept.
Sure, Balfour could scare her family into not forcing her into the beds of other men!
But Ivy knew the character of her family all too well.
Once they caught wind of her connection with the Howards, they wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to latch onto wealth. They would do everything in their power to bleed the Howards dry through her, pushing her to leverage her status for her sister’s gain!
And she wasn’t truly Mrs. Howard; it was just a business arrangement!
She had no power, nor the desire to exploit the Howards’ kindness, especially not when the grandparents had been so warm to her. Ivy didn’t want to let them down or meddle with things that weren’t hers to touch.
After hesitating for a moment, Ivy shook her head, “No need, Mr. Howard. I appreciate the gesture, but this is a family matter. I should handle it myself.”
Balfour felt a surge of irritation at her stubborn refusal. He knew his solution was the simplest, yet she preferred to go it alone rather than accept his help.
Fine, let her be!
She was right; it was her family mess after all, and he, an outsider, shouldn’t interfere.
“Alright, Balfour said, barely concealing his displeasure. He grabbed his coat from the dresser and retreated to the bathroom.
Dressed in an incomplete suit, he left without looking back.
Ivy was left wondering what had just happened. She sensed she had somehow offended him without knowing how.
After Balfour’s departure, the hotel staff quickly delivered her clothes.
Ready to leave, Ivy changed and was about to walk out when something made her turn back to look at the large bed.
According to Balfour, he was the one who had brought her here last night. So, who had undressed her?
Could it have been Balfour?
Ivy’s cheeks flushed with the thought. Even though nothing else had happened, the idea of Balfour seeing her entirely was enough to make her feel utterly embarrassed.
