Chapter 2301
The moment by walked through the door, Alyssa had whipped up a feast that could put a Thanksgiving spread to shame. Her face shone with a joy that could light up the darkest of rooms
Balfour settled down next to box the warmth of home wrapping around him like a favorite
blanket
Dean and Alyssa took their seats at the head of the table. Mara, for reasons known only to her plunked herself down right beside Balfour.
To everyone but Balfour, her intentions were clear as day, Balfour, however, remained blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding. He was probably the last true innocent in a world of seasoned players
The meal passed in a haze of contentment for ly, interrupted only by Mara’s lack of appetite.
Post-dinner Ny and Balfour headed upstairs.
Mara’s glare could’ve cut glass as she watched their retreat. She was so consumed by her own fury, she didnt even notice Alyssa sidling up beside her.
“Ms. Lewis, are you busy?” Alyssa’s voice was like a cold draft in a warm room.
Mara snapped too, her face a quickly painted picture of innocence. “Alyssa, what’s up? I’m not busy at all.”
Alyssa had no patience for pleasantries. ‘Come with me. We need to talk.”
She led Mara into the glass conservatory, a place where it was eternally spring and the flowers never stopped blooming, Mara knew this little talk wasn’t for sharing gardening
tips.
“Alyssa, what’s on your mind? If there’s nothing urgent, I gotta go practice my scales,” Mara said, feigning busyness, hoping for a brief exchange or, better yet, none at all.
“Ms. Lewis, if you’re so engulfed in your studies, why don’t you fly back home? Staying here indefinitely doesn’t seem…appropriate.”
Alyssa cut right to the chase. She was ready to play the villain if it meant getting Mara out of their house.
Ivy, no matter how generous she was, wouldn’t want to see her husband associated with another girl.
Mara played dumb. “Alyssa, what are you talking about? I came back to snag an internship with a local orchestra. I’ve got a leave of absence sorted with my school abroad. Do you… do you not want me staying here? If it bothers you, I can pack up and
leave right now!”
Her eyes brimmed with tears, the picture of wounded innocence, but Alyssa wasn’t buying
“Balfour’s not here, so save the act. We both know why I’m pushing you to leave. It’s better for everyone if you head back. Sticking around here, don’t you feel like a third wheel? You’ve seen the dynamic between Balfour and Ivy. You can’t wedge yourself into that. Ms. Lewis, I’ll be frank. If I were you, I’d leave now while there’s still a chance to exit gracefully, If you linger around Balfour, do you really think it’ll end well? You won’t get past Dean, let alone me.”
Alyssa laid it all out, leaving Mara with a clear choice.
But still, Mara clung to her charade.
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