Chapter 2568
“Do you know Clara?” Balfour cut to the chase without any preamble.
Mara blinked in surprise, then blinked again. “Clara? Should I know her? The name somewhat sounds familiar, though.”
“She’s Ivy’s half-sister, sharing the same father with Ivy.”
Balfour’s gaze was piercing, as if trying to see right through Mara.
“Really? I’ve known Ivy for ages and she never mentioned a sister. What’s up with Clara?”
Balfour shook his head slightly. “You’re telling me you don’t know her?”
Mara frowned slightly. “I said I don’t know her, and I meant it. You don’t believe me? What’s there to doubt? I hardly have much to do with lyy, let alone her sister.”
“Is that so? But Clara said she knows you.”
“What?”
“Have you been home all day since you left the hospital? Why did you go there today, anyway?”
It wasn’t like Mara to make a hospital visit with a fruit basket in hand, especially since she’d never done this before. Why the sudden change?
“What are you implying? Is it wrong if I want to check in on Alyssa? Sure, she might not like me, but she’s your grandma, after all. Isn’t it just natural for me to pay her a visit?”
Balfour, what are you trying to imply? You’re treating me like I’m the culprit or something! What happened? I have a right to know. I shouldn’t be interrogated without even knowing what’s going on!”
Mara looked serious, her lips turned down in a slight pout as though wronged by Balfour suspicion.
“You should know you haven’t exactly been eager to visit Alyssa lately. Yet, the very day you do, something happens to Ivy.”
Balfour’s fists were clenched tight. If it weren’t for their years of friendship, he might have already dragged her to the police station.
Mara was a good actress, maintaining an air of shock even under Balfour’s harsh questioning.
“What are you talking about? How could anything happen to Ivy? Hadn’t she gone to the restroom and never came back? I still have no clue where she is. I went to visit your grandma but ended up sitting around all morning for no reason. If anyone is upset, it should be me!
Balfour, we’ve known each other for years. Sometimes I don’t want to make a big deal out of things, but ever since you got with Ivy, you’ve changed. After all this time, do you really see me as someone capable of such a thing? I told you I’d step back, be just a friend-and haven’t I done just that? What more do you want from me?”
Mara’s tears came on cue, welling up in her eyes, the very picture of being unjustly accused.
“Do you have any idea that Ivy was kidnapped? When I found her, she was covered in bruises, barely hanging on. The moment I saw her like that, I swore to myself that if I found out who did this, I wouldn’t let them off easy.”.
