She turned around in fury and said, âThis has nothing to do with Ryan! And you, whatâs the big idea, going after him like that? Heâs my coworker. We were working, and you donât even have a clue about what we were doing!â
âI may not know what you were doing, Ivy, but Iâve got eyes, okay? I saw what I saw. Iâm not blind,â
Balfour retorted, clearly agitated as he yanked at his necktie.
âSo, you think Iâm fooling around behind your back with another guy?â Ivy couldnât believe the absurdity.
She hadnât even started on the whole Mara situation, and here he was, turning the tables on her!
What was she to Balfour anyway?
Just some pet kept at home for his amusement, to be played with when he felt like it and tossed aside when he didnât?
The more Ivy thought about it, the angrier she got. She pointed towards the door, her arm trembling. âI donât care what you think, and I canât make it clear to you right now. Please, Heave. I donât want to see you at my workplace again.â
Balfour was taken aback.
Was Ivy kicking him out for some stranger?
âWhat did you just say? Say it again!â He was livid.
Taking a deep breath, Ivy repeated herself.
âBalfour, let me be blunt with you â donât come to my set again! I want you to understand the difference between public and private spaces. Whatever is between us should stay within the family gatherings.â
Ivy had obligations towards Balfour, sure, but she wasnât about to dedicate every waking moment to him.
âFine, Ivy. Remember what you said. Next time you need something, donât expect me to come running back!â
With those harsh words, he still didnât leave.
There was a deathly silence between them, neither willing to back down.
Then his phone rang, piercing the stillness of the room. He glanced at it and picked up immediately, as if he couldnât bear the thought of making the caller wait a second longer.
Seeing his haste, Ivy knew it had to be Mara â that girl he cared so much about.
Despite his earlier fury, his face softened instantly as he answered the call.
May he said, pulling the door open and stepping out Balfour hadnât left whes luy asked him to, but Mareâs call had him instinctively avoiding men by was left alone to face the empty room and the bitterness welling up inside her..
She listened to Balfourâs retreating footsteps and felt a sense of relief mingled with a newfound sense of defeat She sank to the floor Once, y could have fooled herself into believing that Balfour harbored some fondness for her But now she couldnât lie to herself anymore.
If he really cared for her even a little bit, would he trample on her dignity so recklessly?
Where did she stand in Balfourâs life She was tired of competing for affection, of chasing after something that seemed forever out of reach.
The past with Clara had been enough of a bitter lesson.
It was only through her family that Ivy understood that there are times when you donât get as much as you give, especially when it comes to love-love always flows towards those who are not in need of it She had striven for straight Aâs, wan scholarships, competed and took home the gold, but to her parents, those achievements might never weigh as much as Claraâs whimsical charm.
These painful memories rushed at lvy and shellet out a long sigh.