Chapter 2194
Sometimes, Balfour could swear he felt a flicker of affection from Ivy, a softness in her eyes that suggested she might still harbor feelings for him. So why on Earth wouldn’t she reconsider the tangled mess they called a relationship?
In a fit of exasperation, Ivy’s voice broke through her tears, “How can you be so blind to respect, Balfour? Why would I want to be with someone who doesn’t get that basic concept? Do you even know what respect means, or is it just a word you skim over in your fancy business books? Because you’re the great and mighty Mr. Howard, you think you can just stomp all over my dignity?”
As she shut her eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks, her shoulders trembling with each stifled sob.
Balfour paused, his hand halfway to her face, wanting to wipe away her tears, but she reflexively pulled back.
“Enough, Balfour. Stop mocking me… stop lying to me…”
Her voice was barely a whisper, drained of all its usual vigor.
“Lie? When have I ever lied to you, Ivy? You’ve got to give me more than this-I have no clue what you’re on about!”
Balfour withdrew his hand, his expression darkening as he towered over Ivy, who was weeping.
He didn’t understand how his plea for her to reconsider their feelings had twisted into an accusation of disrespect.
Ivy let out a bitter laugh. “You still don’t get it.”
Balfour’s frown deepened. “No, I don’t get it! How can I if you won’t spell it out for me?”
Why did she have to talk in riddles? If only she’d laid out all her thoughts, how could he possibly misunderstand?
All this time wasted, and here he was, being accused of disrespect.
“It’s precisely because you don’t see that you’re part of the problem that I feel disrespected! Tell me, Balfour, did you treat Mara with the same arrogance?”
Ivy clenched her fists, fighting hard to steady her voice, trying to keep the bitterness at bay.
Balfour frowned.
Why did Mara have to be dragged into their issues?
Balfour retorted, his patience wearing thin, “What does Mara have to do with us? She’s not
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as hard to understand as you!”
Hearing him compare her to Mara was a punch to the gut. “Of course, Mara’s perfect in your eyes, isn’t she? Not like me-so sensitive, so complex. Mr. Howard, I’m clearly not in your league. Don’t bother reconsidering ‘us.’ Just let it be.””
Ivy turned away, not wanting Balfour to see her tears betray her composure, her heart aching with sourness and self-derision.
But really, were her expectations that high? All she wanted was a bit of respect from Balfour.
Like earlier, when she and Ryan were discussing how to clear up some rumors online, maintaining a perfectly professional distance, and Balfour just barged in, accusing her of misconduct.
Surely, Balfour wouldn’t be so rude towards Mara’s colleague.
Yet, as Ivy turned away, Balfour read it as a dismissal, her back speaking louder than words. His frown grew heavier.
“So you say ‘let it be’ that easily? In your eyes, I’m less than the guy you were just chatting up? Fine, if you think he’s better, you’re free to run off with him. No need to use excuses with me. Ivy, with all this fuss, you just don’t want to be with me, do you?”
Ivy frowned, baffled as to why he always had to bring Ryan into this.
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