Chapter 2062
“Word on the street is you’re quite famous now?”
Many blue-blood families often looked down their noses at the glitz and glamour of showbiz, considering it a breeding ground for
scandal.
With a dismissive wave, Giselle played it cool. “Oh, not at all, just riding a little wave of good fortune and gaining some fans, that’s all!”
She casually tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Besides, Balfour’s been such a dear, smoothing things over for me here and there. No one dares to give me a hard time. Mrs. Howard, you can rest assured when I’m not on set, I’m just enjoying my downtime, not mingling too much with the crowd.”
“Enough,” Alyssa said, her smile as lofty as the sky. “No need for such an elaborate defense, Giselle.
In fact, I don’t hold any bias against actors working in the limelight. Take our granddaughter-in-law, Ivy, for example. She’s quite an accomplished actress. I, for one, can’t wait to catch her next movie premiere!
And you saw the little exchange between Balfour and Ivy earlier, didn’t you? Those two are quite the lovebirds. No room for any flighty floozies to wedge their way in.”
The pointed remark about ‘flighty floozies’ could not be more apparent to Giselle, yet she feigned confusion, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Howard, I’m not quite following…”
Alyssa continued, “You’re a sharp one, Giselle; I’m sure my point isn’t lost on you. Some things in life just can’t be forced. I’m telling you this in hopes that you won’t obsess over a lost cause.”
Alyssa’s words were as clear as day, but Giselle remained willfully oblivious.
With wide, innocent eyes-though she was anything but-her acting seemed particularly unconvincing to Alyssa.
“Mrs. Howard, there might be some misunderstanding. Balfour and I are just good friends, and I also get along with Ivy. We truly are good friends!”
Her earnest nodding at the end was meant to underscore her sincerity.
Her act might have taken in anyone else but not Alyssa.
With a knowing smile, Alyssa said, “Giselle, I wanted to give you a bit of grace, but you seem reluctant to accept my generosity. Your intentions towards Balfour are as plain as daylight to anyone with eyes.
I’m warning you now: don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s not just your tongue that’ll get burned.
And Giselle, if you insist on making yourself unwelcome, don’t blame me for stepping in as the matriarch to clean house.”
The Howard family’s garden was in full view from the grand hall’s window walls, which offered a perfect vantage point to see Balfour with Ivy.
After dinner, Ivy usually liked to take a stroll in the garden to help with digestion, but since Alyssa and Giselle had already claimed the spot, she felt too awkward to join them.
Instead, Balfour kept her company on the living room sofa, engaging in idle chat.
He appeared aloof, but his hands told a different story.
As he played with Ivy’s hand, his voice was a low rumble, “How come your hands are so small?”
Unable to pull her hand away, Ivy huffed, “My hands aren’t that small for a girl, you know? It’s just that yours are so big…”
Though she grumbled, she did not pull away, considering they were still ‘in character!
Balfour’s hands were large, dry, and warm, with long fingers and well-defined joints-the kind that seemed destined to play the piano.
His single hand could engulf both of hers.
Ivy’s gaze lowered, scrutinizing his hand with serious intent, oblivious that her flushed ears were in full view of Balfour.
Finding it amusing, Balfour reached out to touch the tip of her ear, causing Ivy to jump. Suddenly, she felt entirely out of her element.
Now, with her whole face blushing furiously, she stammered, “Wh-What are you doing?”
