âWhatâs that supposed to mean? Itâs exactly what it sounds like.â Ivy plonked down on the nearby stool, her gaze heavy with 1 reproach as she looked at him. âDo I really need to remind you of your own actions?â
Balfour sat up from the bed, his face stern. âIvy, make yourself clear. What do you mean by âIâm good at pretendingâ? What have L pretended?â
The man before her was like two different people, public and private.
He had done something and yet refused to own up to it. He really was not worth her time she had obviously misjudged him!
âDo I need to spell it out for you?â Ivy was ready to lay it all on the line today, not sparing Balfour any dignity. âYouâre a pretender, through and through. Balfour, can you not be genuine for once?â
Balfour genuinely had no idea what he had done to evoke such a statement. âGenuine? Like how?â
âYou and Giselle are clearly more than just friends, yet you pretend itâs nothing in front of me. Isnât that an act?â
Not this again!
Balfour felt agitated. He had explained this issue more than once, yet Ivy still did not trust him.
âIvy, for the last time, Giselle and I are just friends.â
With that said, Balfour stood up, frustrated. âThis is absurd!â
He left the room and headed straight to his study.
Ivy was left alone, frustrated, and unable to sleep all night.:
After two restless nights, she finally succumbed to exhaustion in the early morning hours.
The next morning, Alyssa spotted Balfour emerging from the study and knew instantly that he and Ivy had trouble.
âQuinton, come over to the Howard Mansion.â
Alyssa did not confront Balfour directly about the issue â knowing his temperament, he would not have opened up to her anyway. The matriarch had to find another way and decided to get the scoop from Quinton.
Upon receiving Alyssaâs call, Quinton, despite his reservations, made his way to the Howard Mansion.
Alyssa summoned him to the familyâs garden, where she was pruning the newly planted saplings, snipping away the unwanted. branches. âDid Balfour and Ivy have a spat?â
Quinton found the topic challenging to broach.
âUh⦠Mr. Howard and Ivy just had a bit of a misunderstanding, and itâll be fine once things are cleared up. You shouldnât worry too much, maâam,â Quinton replied with an uncomfortable smile, trying to downplay the issue.
Alyssa was clearly dissatisfied with his response, setting down her shears. âYouâre always by Balfourâs side, not just aiding him with work. Whatever is going on between Balfour and Ivy, I expect you to tell me right now.â
Alyssa turned her sharp gaze toward Quinton, âAre you ready to tell the truth now?â
Quinton was inclined to cover for Balfour, but faced with Alyssaâs determined stance, he knew he could not hide the truth.
âItâs not a big deal, really⦠Ivy simply misunderstood the nature of Mr. Howardâs relationship with Miss Giselle, which led to a small dispute.â
After hearing Quintonâs explanation, Alyssa finally understood the situation.
That indiscreet woman, Giselle, had always been too close to Balfour for comfort, and even Alyssa had once suspected that Balfour had feelings for Giselle.