Chapter 2031
Ivy had been pottering around on the balcony for what seemed like an eternity before she finally showered and collapsed into bed. Exhaustion swept over her in waves, the day’s hustle taking its toll, and she drifted off to deep sleep almost instantly.
The next morning, nothing had changed as the family gathered for breakfast, the same familiar routine playing out.
After breakfast, Balfour left for the office, and Ivy powered up her laptop to accept a friend request from Colton.
She sent a simple greeting, [Hey, Colton.]
Colton was quick to reply. [Hey Ivy, I’ll have my assistant drop off the script for you. What’s your address?]
The word “address” hung in the air. Ivy knew Balfour had intervened on her behalf to negotiate with Colton, but she was clueless about how much he had shared about their relationship. If Colton was in the dark, having him send something to the Howard residence would give the game away.
After much deliberation, Ivy typed back, [Colton, I’m actually heading out today. I’ll swing by and pick it up myself.]
[OK, just ask for my assistant, Juliana, when you get here,] he replied.
[Will do.]
Once she had finished dressing for the day, her grandmother, Alyssa, noticed she was on the move and offered to arrange a driver. “Ivy, do you have a driver’s license?”
“Yes, Grandma, why do you ask?”
Alyssa just chuckled and shook her head, “No reason, just curious. You go ahead, dear.”
Without a second thought, Ivy bid her grandmother farewell and left in the car waiting outside.
Upon arriving at the office, she was quickly ushered to Colton’s assistant, who handed her a folder. “Here’s the full script for ‘Ballad of Valor.’ Keep it under wraps, Ms. Dunhill, no leaks, okay?”
“Got it,” Ivy replied, eyeing the bold title on the cover. “Juliana, when do we start shooting?”
Juliana consulted a schedule, then said, “We’re pretty much set to start in a week.”
“A week? So I should read through the script and memorize my lines, right?” Ivy was new to acting and needed guidance.
“That’s the basics and what Colton expects of you,” Juliana confirmed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be prepared,” Ivy assured her. She was taking this opportunity seriously.
After ensuring there was nothing else to discuss, Ivy went home to begin her immersion into the script.
–
The more she read, the more Ivy realized how well the role fit her not just in appearance but in personality, too. She began to believe that being herself might be enough for this part.
She had little confidence initially, but diving into the script sparked a newfound belief in the project.
“You’ve been quite absorbed with that script, I hear,” Balfour suddenly appeared in her room, taking a seat on the bed. His work had kept him away these past few days.
He was home earlier than usual today, with Dean and Alyssa still up, the study was not an option, so he joined Ivy in the room.
“Yeah, I’ve been giving it my all.” Ivy set aside the script, feeling slightly awkward. “Are Grandma and Grandpa still awake?”
Balfour had been overworking and looked worn out as he lay back on the bed, “Yeah, they’re downstairs.”
“Oh.” Ivy could not help but feel a pang of sympathy seeing him so exhausted. “If you’re tired, you should get some rest.”
