Chapter 2344
“Alyssa, you can’t just go around thinking I’m some sort of floozy just because I care about my friend. I’ve been close with Balfour for years, and I had no idea he’d be snoozing here when I came down to grab a book. You’ve got me all wrong! And for heaven’s sake, I simply draped a blanket over Balfour because was worried about him. Was I supposed to let my dear friend freeze on the couch all night? You said you were off to bed, and if I’d known you weren’t asleep, I would’ve come to get you first.”
Mara’s explanation was reasonable, even impeccable, and Alyssa knew she couldn’t fault her on this one, so they both had to back down a bit.
“Is that so? Then I owe you an apology, Ms. Lewis. It’s getting late; you should head to bed. I’ll take care of Balfour here; after all, I am his grandmother.”
Having snagged the photo she wanted, Mara didn’t linger. She feigned a wounded look, biting her lip as she clutched her phone and the book before leaving the study.
Before heading downstairs, she cast a sly, mysterious smile back at the study.
No matter how shrewd Alyssa was, she couldn’t outwit Mara!
After Mara descended the stairs, Alyssa gently touched Balfour’s forehead. No fever, and he didn’t seem to have been given any hooch or something shady that would knock him out. How on earth did he end up asleep in the study like this?
Ever since Ivy moved out, Balfour had been coming back to their room later and later. Alyssa knew her grandson was hurting inside, each return to that room a reminder of the time spent with Ivy.
Now alone, he naturally didn’t want to stay there. Yet he insisted on sleeping in that room, clinging to the last traces of Ivy’s presence.
So it puzzled Alyssa why Balfour would fall asleep in the study.
And with no word from Quinton about the company being especially busy these days, how did he end up dozing off here?
“Balfour, Balfour?”
She nudged him a few times, but he didn’t wake up; he seemed to be sleeping deeply. Puzzling as it was, she couldn’t put her finger on it and decided to leave him be after making sure he was resting soundly.
As she passed the stairwell, she noticed a faint light coming from Mara’s room. She could only hope that woman wouldn’t stir up more trouble.
Still, Alyssa thought it wise to keep an eye on Mara’s movements.
Once back in her room, Mara tossed the book on the table carelessly and flopped onto her
1/2
08-16
Chapter 2344
bed, gleefully reviewing the photos she’d snapped on her phone.
“Hmm, this one’s good, that one’s not bad either. Which one should I send to Ivy?”
After taking so many shots, she had to make sure they were put to good use – it’d be a shame to keep them to herself.
After much deliberation, Mara picked out a selfie where Balfour was cozily leaning on her shoulder.
The best part was that you couldn’t tell he was knocked out. It looked like a photo that only a couple in a close relationship would take.
Mara befriended Ivy on social media when she first arrived at the Howard Mansion. But Ivy had never sent a single message to Mara.
[Balfour’s so tuckered out tonight. He fell asleep!] Mara typed with a smirk, attaching the chosen picture before hitting send.
