Chapter 2305
As Alyssa waved her off, Ivy turned to look at her, a playful roll of the eyes accompanying
her gesture.
“Go ahead then.”
With Alyssa’s words, Mara couldn’t really decline. So, with their own thoughts silently brewing, the three of them went to the car.
Reaching the car, Mara immediately positioned herself in the passenger’s seat, causing Ivy to halt mid-stride as she was heading there herself.
Mara opened the door, beaming a bright, apologetic smile over her shoulder at Ivy. “I get carsick, and I’m sure Ivy wouldn’t mind me sitting up front, right? I’ve always sat here; it’s sort of my spot.”
Her face even flushed with a touch of embarrassment, as if the mere thought of sitting anywhere else would indeed make her uncomfortable.
“It’s fine, really. Doesn’t matter who sits where.”
With Mara already snuggled into the front seat, Ivy had no choice but to slide into the back.
“Alright, let’s strap in. We’re taking Mara to check out some other places to stay,” Balfour said, glancing in the rear-view mirror.
Ivy’s surprise was evident. “Ms. Lewis isn’t staying at the house anymore? Why bother with another place?”
Not that Ivy minded not seeing her around-it would certainly spare her some irritation.
But if Mara moved out, that meant Balfour would have to go out of his way to look after her. Work was hard enough without having to split his attention to cater to someone else. It would be easier if Mara just stayed put so Ivy could keep an eye on her too.
Ivy’s surprise wasn’t feigned, and Mara seemed slightly offended by it. “I bet Ivy would be thrilled if I moved out, huh?”
Ivy frowned, confused by the sudden aggression. “What? I don’t quite catch your drift, Ms. Lewis. Why would your moving out make me happy?”
She instinctively sought Balfour’s gaze for some clue as to what Mara was implying.
There she was, sitting quietly in the backseat, and suddenly she was being blamed.
Balfour echoed her sentiments. “How does this involve Ivy at all? You think she pushed you to leave?”
Mara’s silence almost seemed like an admission of guilt.
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09:26
Chapter 2305
Ivy was flabbergasted, thinking to herself, ‘Trouble really does come from where you least expect it.’ What had she done to be accused so unfairly by Mara?
She hadn’t even been home from the hospital for a full day.
“You must be mistaken. Ivy would never talk behind someone’s back, much less be petty. Besides, we’ve just come back from the hospital. If there’s been some misunderstanding, let’s just clear the air now, face to face,” Balfour insisted, his brows knitting together in concern but his eyes full of trust when he looked at Ivy.
At least he didn’t lash out at her without reason, like her family used to do back home.
Whatever her sister said was gospel, and the blame always fell on Ivy, even when she wasn’t at fault. Her attempts to explain were dismissed as excuses, a kind of injustice she was all too familiar with.
“I didn’t say it was because of Ivy,” Mara backpedaled, her tone defensive. “I just feel maybe I’m not that welcome, not necessarily by Ivy…”
Ivy was genuinely irked now. There she sat, right behind Mara, and still, she had the audacity to insinuate such things. Who knew what Mara might say or do when Ivy wasn’t
around to defend herself?
“Ms. Lewis, I’d appreciate it if you’d just say what you mean. I won’t admit to anything I haven’t done, but if I am at fault, I’ll take full responsibility,” Ivy stated firmly, her voice ringing with a mix of irritation and integrity.
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