Chapter 2428
“Are you for real, Balfour? Is today April Fools’ Day? Are you just pulling my leg? Where’s the hidden camera? Don’t mess with me, Balfour. Seriously, don’t. I’ll take it to heart,” Ivy said, clutching Balfour’s hand, her rapid-fire questions hitting him hard.
“Silly girl, of course I’m serious,” Balfour replied after a moment, and with those words, Ivy’s tears, which she had been holding back, finally broke free.
She had cried alone, felt small and insignificant without anyone to share her burden. While Alyssa and Dean believed in her, and she had friends who supported her quietly, she never voiced was her deep need for Balfour’s care and belief in her.
She never imagined Balfour would say such things to her, finally acknowledging her pent-up grievances finally.
He said he believed her.
Balfour held Ivy as she cried silently, his mind replaying past events.
“I’ve never told you this, but back in my school days, Mara’s sister and I were kidnapped. The kidnappers initially targeted just me, but Mara’s sister got caught up in it. Later, because of that incident, she lost her life, in a way, saving mine. I’ve always felt so guilty about it! And when I saw Mara lying there motionless, just like her sister had been, those old regrets came flooding back. My thoughts were jumbled, leading me to speak out of turn and be harsh with you. I’m sorry. No matter what, I shouldn’t have let my guilt make me blame you,” Balfour confessed.
Ivy looked up at him from his embrace. “You hardly ever talk about your past with me.”
She didn’t dare to guess what Balfour was thinking, but could this mean she was one step closer to being part of his world?
Balfour leaned down to meet Ivy’s gaze, tenderly ruffled her hair and asked, “Are you cold? Let’s get under the covers. If you want to know more, we have all the time in the world. I’ll tell you everything, bit by bit.”
Without another word, Balfour scooped Ivy up and carried her to the bed, where she snuggled contentedly against him, resting on his arm.
Taking a rare initiative, Ivy urged him to continue, “I want to know everything about you.”
“Why didn’t you ask me before? If you had asked, I would’ve told you everything,” he said.
Ivy looked down, fiddling with the buttons on Balfour’s shirt. “I never asked because I thought maybe you didn’t want to tell me. I was hoping you’d choose to bring me into your world, not because I asked you to.”
1/2
11:41
Balfour sighed inwardly recogning that hy s dn’t feel completely sure with han
sowever they had all the time in the world had of them, and he was determined to
gradually incit in her the age of security she craved
Do you want to know about Mara Mo
This time, withet waiting for Ny’s ned Balfour continued 1 won’t lie to you we only recently learned about Mara’s feelings for me But I want to assure you that my feelings for her are purely platonic, stemming solely from the guilt: bear for her sister. That’s why Tve looked after her. Can you trust me on this
vy didn’t respond right away, but deep down, she knew that if Balfour truly had feelings
for Mara, he wouldn’t be here with her sharing these truths. Besides, they had known each other for years, if there were any romantic feelings between them, they would have gotten together already.
“So, are you saying you want to be with me now she ventured.
2/2
Balfour sighed inwardly, recognizing that Ivy still didn’t feel completely secure with him. However, they had all the time in the world ahead of them, and he was determined to gradually instill in her the sense of security she craved.
“Do you want to know about Mara, too?”
This time, without waiting for lvy’s nod, Balfour continued, “I won’t lie to you. I’ve only recently learned about Mara’s feelings for me. But I want to assure you that my feelings for her are purely platonic, stemming solely from the guilt I bear for her sister. That’s why I’ve looked after her. Can you trust me on this?”
Ivy didn’t respond right away, but deep down, she knew that if Balfour truly had feelings for Mara, he wouldn’t be here with her, sharing these truths. Besides, they had known each other for years; if there were any romantic feelings between them, they would have gotten together already.
“So, are you saying you want to be with me now?” she ventured.
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