Chapter 2507
Ivy, being one of the hosts, had returned early to the Howard Mansion with Balfour, slipping into an elegant gown that suited the occasion perfectly.
The dress hugged her curves just right, accentuating her graceful figure without revealing too much, lending her an air of nobility and sophistication.
Balfour was visibly pleased when he saw Ivy wearing the gown he had chosen for her.
“My dear lady, might I have the honor of asking you for a dance?” he inquired with a charming smile.
Ivy blushed, extending her hand and lifting her face with a swan-like elegance.
“Of course,” she replied.
They danced around the room several times, and it was only when Balfour held Ivy close that he felt a sense of grounding, reluctant to let her go.
Eventually, a servant’s knock on the door prompted Balfour to release Ivy.
“Feeling nervous?” Balfour asked her, his eyes searching hers before they descended the staircase.
Strangely enough, Ivy, who had previously felt her nerves chill her to the bone, found that Balfour’s interruption had calmed her. What did it matter if there were many people downstairs? She had faced crowds before while acting, sometimes forced to perform scenes far from “normal” in front of others. If she could handle that with composure, surely she could handle this.
“With you by my side, I’m not afraid at all,” she admitted.
Balfour smiled and brought her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss.
“Remember, I will always be by your side, no matter what.”
As they appeared hand in hand at the top of the staircase, guests below-each holding a flute of champagne-looked up to see the evening’s hosts.
“They make such a lovely couple, don’t they? Youth is a splendid thing.”
“She may be from the entertainment industry, but she carries herself with a distinction that’s rare among actors.”
“Such a handsome pair. No wonder Balfour invested a fortune in a studio for Ivy!”
The murmurs from below reached Ivy’s ears, but she paid them no mind.
Descending the ornate staircase, they approached Dean and Alyssa, who were adorned in matching evening attire.
Ivy embraced Alyssa first. “Happy birthday, Alyssa.”
Alyssa chuckled, patting Ivy’s back affectionately. “Thank you, dear. Seeing you two so happy brings me joy as well. I’ll certainly try my best to stick around for the great-grandchildren.”
At the mention of children, Ivy couldn’t help but steal a glance at Balfour, her cheeks flushing with color.
The onlookers were taken aback by the couple’s evident affection, especially Balfour’s gaze which never wavered from his wife.
Mara, in contrast, watched with eyes reddened by envy, wishing she could tear Ivy apart.
“Mara,” Olivia whispered, nudging Mara’s arm. Mara turned with a venomous look, snapping, “What?”
“I’m just reminding you to mind your expression,” Olivia said coolly. “Your face right now is giving your game away to everyone.”
Olivia would have rolled her eyes if she could. She couldn’t tell if she was just having an unlucky streak or if Mercury was in retrograde.
