Chapter 2028
Giselle’s words were as opaque as a foggy London morning, yet her intentions shone like the midday sun.
In her own cryptic way, she was nudging Ivy to voluntarily give up her ride home in the Howard family’s sleek sedan and leave it for her and Balfour.
Ivy was not opposed to stepping aside, but she just could not fathom why Giselle always danced around the point instead of speaking her mind. Everything about her seemed shady.
Stepping back, Ivy glanced around.
They were not far from downtown; surely, she could find another
way back.
And right she was. A bus stop was in sight, not too far away.
With a bus route at her disposal, she could make her own way back.
Let Giselle have her victory in snatching the ride with Balfour..
“There’s a bus stop over there. I can get back on my own,” Ivy stated, pointing to the nearby station. “Mr. Howard, you should take Giselle. After all, her film set is quite a trek from here.”
Giselle put on a show of gratitude, clasping Ivy’s hand with an overly theatrical thank you. “Oh, Ivy, you’re such a darling! You don’t mind me calling you that, do you?”
“Of course not. Well, I’ll be off then,” Ivy replied with a forced chuckle, gently pulling her hand away and heading towards the bus stop, not sparing a second glance at Balfour standing by.
Once again, Balfour found himself overlooked, seemingly pushed towards Giselle without a second thought.
That girl had made a choice for him without considering his feelings in the slightest.
“Shall we, Balfour?” Giselle’s spirits lifted as Ivy walked away, and she reached to link arms with him.
The man’s face was a mask of frost as he watched Ivy’s retreating figure. If she did not care, why should he?
“Let’s go,” Balfour said, sidestepping Giselle’s hand, yet he did let her get into the car.
The smugness on Giselle’s face was unmistakable as she followed him into the vehicle.
But as Giselle settled in, she noticed Balfour still standing outside the door. Puzzled, she asked, “Balfour, aren’t you coming?”
“I’ve got something else to take care of,” he replied curtly, signaling the driver and shutting the car door behind her.
“Balfour… You…” Giselle stammered, but the driver had already pulled away.
She saw Balfour heading towards the bus station through the window, and her expression soured like curdled milk. Her inner fury erupted like Mount Vesuvius.
Balfour, the pampered scion of the Howard clan, had tossed her aside like yesterday’s newspaper, preferring to ride the bus just to be with Ivy. When had Balfour ever set foot on public transit?
Giselle’s face turned an even deeper shade of thunderous gray, her bands clenching into fists so tight they could crush coal into diamonds. “Ivy!”
Having dispatched Giselle, Balfour made a beeline for the bus stop.
Fearing Ivy might leave before he could catch up, he quickened his pace.
“Balfour?” Ivy was more than just surprised to see him at the bus stop; she was flabbergasted. “What are you doing here? Weren’t you leaving with Giselle?”
Standing beside her in his crisp suit, Balfour was as out of place as a swan among ducks, his voice cool and detached. The driver’s taken her to the set already.”
