Chapter 2340
Ever since Ivy left, Balfour found himself lingering in the study until the wee hours before dragging himself to their shared bedroom.
Balfour felt hollow in the room without Ivy’s presence, and he only returned to it when
sleep claimed him, each moment within its walls a stark reminder that she was no longer by his side.
“Knock, knock, knock-”
The sound at the door jolted Balfour from his thoughts. For a fleeting second, he imagined it was Ivy, but the harsh reality quickly set in. Ivy had moved into her dorm, and there was no way she’d be standing outside his study. With a sigh, he masked his
disappointment.
“Come in.”
Mara entered with a warm smile and a glass of milk in hand. “Balfour, are you swamped tonight? You barely touched your dinner and headed straight here. Althea asked me to bring you a glass of milk.”
Balfour watched her place the glass before him, wordlessly. His mind wandered back to when Ivy had first mentioned moving out. Would she have stayed if Mara hadn’t come into their lives?
Mara blushed under Balfour’s intense gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that, Balfour? Is there something on my face?”
Realizing he wouldn’t find his answers in Mara’s face, Balfour exhaled, shaking his head. “It’s nothing. If you’re done, please leave. I have work to finish.”
But Mara, seemingly oblivious to his request, scanned the impressive study and asked, “Do you always work in here, Balfour? You hardly spend any time in the bedroom these days.”
Balfour frowned, puzzled by Mara’s idle chatter. He needed to focus on the documents in front of him, not engage in small talk.
“I have work to get through, Mara. Please, if there’s nothing else, I need to concentrate.”
Undeterred, Mara excitedly bounded to the bookshelf, grabbing a book. “I’ve been searching for this original edition back home forever! I can’t believe you have it! Balfour, may I stay and read it here? I promise I’ll be quiet.”
Seeing no harm in letting her stay, Balfour nodded and returned to his paperwork.
Since making his mark in the business world, no one dared to challenge Balfour blatantly. The document before him was an anomaly, signaling an unexpected instance of malicious competition.
1/2
09.15
Chapter 2340
Initially, Balfour hadn’t taken this rival company seriously, but their recent underhanded tactics forced him to act. He had already sent Quinton to investigate. The findings were intriguing; the company was foreign, and Balfour couldn’t pin down the shadowy figure targeting the Howard Group.
If the people behind all this were locals, they would surely know better than to provoke Balfour. It was akin to courting disaster.
Lost in thought, Balfour was pulled back by Mara’s cooing reminder, “Balfour, the milk’s getting cold. It’s best to drink it warm, especially with your stomach troubles. Althea reminded me to let you drink up before it cools down.”
Balfour then remembered Mara’s presence. After downing the milk, he suggested she take the book to her room, signaling her to leave.
Mara’s eyes flickered hesitantly, but this time she heeded Balfour’s request without protest. She picked up the milk glass and left somewhat hurriedly, even forgetting the book she claimed to be so eager to read, which now lay abandoned on the couch.
