As Balfour stood up, his tall frame cast a shadow over Ivy.
âTake off your jacket, letâs see if youâre hurt anywhere,â he said with earnest concern; his gaze was clear of any ulterior motive.
Ivy blushed a deep crimson, âAh? No, Iâm really fine. Iâm not hurtâ¦â
Balfour knew Ivy was stubborn so he didnât quite believe her. His eyes narrowed slightly in disagreement.
He had just had a taste of what her parents were like.
Growing up in that kind of household, even getting hurt was considered a nuisance in their eyes â that was why Ivy had long learned to keep all her pain locked away inside.
And thatâs exactly why he was even more worried.
âCome on,â he commanded as he landed his hand on Ivyâs shoulder. His tone was softer than usual but still assertive. And his actions left no room for argument.
But Ivy still refused. Redness rushed up her neck due to her hastily, âI really didnât get hurt. I already explained to you in the car. When those thugs tried to lay their hands on me, I distracted them with money. In their scramble for the remaining cash, they didnât even lay a finger on me.â
Her eyes widened. She almost wanted to jump up and down to prove she was uninjured.
âThey couldnât have been too gentle when they kidnapped you at first. Maybe youâre hurt on your back and you just havenât noticed it. Let me check!â Balfourâs grip didnât loosen; he was insistent on making sure she was okay.
And Ivyâs face was now so red it looked like it might bleed.
They were only husband and wife in name, but why did Balfourâs actions seem so natural?
Even though he only wanted to take off her light jacket, beneath it she wore a tank top with not much fabricâ¦
Ivyâs head shook like a rattle, âReally, thereâs no need. Iâm not in pain anywhere.
Balfour frowned slightly, unable to understand why Ivy was being so stubborn.
He wasnât the kind of man to take advantage of a situation, so why did she distrust him that much?
âDo you think Iâd take advantage of you?â Balfour asked, his brows furrowed in displeasure.
âAhâ¦where did that come from? Of course I know youâre not that kind of person!â
Ivy hadnât expected Balfour to think that.
What was this-all about?
She was purely embarrassed, but in his eyes, it seemed as though she was afraid heâd take advantage of her. Then what are you worried about?â
Balfour tugged a little harder and slid Ivyâs jacket off her shoulders.
Ivyâs smooth skin was exposed to his eyes, and Balfourâs pupils contracted as his fingers involuntarily curled.
Before seeing Ivyâs skin, he had no other thoughts.
But as her fair complexion came into view, he found his mind racing uncontrollably.
Ivy didnât dare to look up at his expression, feeling the intensity of his stare could burn a hole through her jacket.
She tugged at her jacket which he held firmly, âSee? Iâm really not hurt.â
âI didnât see the back.â Balfourâs voice was husky.
They were standing very close, and the subtle aroma coming from Ivy drifted into his nostrils.
âWhat perfume do you usually wear?â Balfour asked despite himself.
Ivy looked up at him strangely, âI use the same bath products as you. What perfume are you talking about? Those designer fragrances are too expensive, and Iâm still paying off debts. I donât have the luxury to indulge in that.â