âCome on, man, itâs not too late to turn back. Your mom is still waiting for you to come home.â
However, Kaelâs mind was fixed on the stack of greenbacks that Balfour promised him and the escape plan he had all set up. He was past the point of returning.
âSave your breath,â Kael said with a scoff. âIâve already taken the point of no return. In my next life, maybe Iâll be the good guy!â
As Kael lunged at Colton and the others with a knife in his grip, Balfour sprinted over with unexpected agility. Before Kael could even process what was happening, this towering figure had him stumbling backward in retreat.
Caught off guard, Kaelâs grip on Thaliaâs hand slackened.
âYouâ¦â
Margot dashed over to catch Thalia, while Colton and the producer wasted no more time, rushing to Balfourâs aid.
Kael had pegged Balfour as some kind of corporate figurehead, all height and no muscle. But before Kael could even throw a punch, Balfour was on him, landing blows to his ribs.
After a few hits, Kael was reeling, with no chance to strike back.
âArgh!â
Fueled by frustration and shame, and still armed with a knife, Kael swung wildly. âIâll take you all down with me, weâll call it even!â
Balfour dodged the frantic swipes, ready to kick the knife from Kaelâs grip. However, in a desperate move, the craven man jabbed the blade toward his own belly.
âYouâre not going to take me alive!â
On the sidelines, Margot watched in disbelief. How could a man be so lacking in responsibility?
Who would want to be with someone like Kael?
Kael hit the ground, and Colton approached, frowning at the sight. The wound wasnât fatal; Balfour had already disarmed Kael and kicked the knife aside, preserving it as evidence.
Colton couldnât fathom why someone with potential would ruin his life like this.
âWas it Diana who put you up to this? You had no beef with Thalia. Was it her?â
Though they had caught Kael, he suddenly played the martyr, refusing to utter Dianaâs name even in the face of death.
âI did this on my own. Go ahead, arrest me. Sheâs innocent.â
Everyone present knew Diana had to be involved. Even if Kael wouldnât give her up now, they had a lead to follow.
The unprovoked attack on Thalia surely meant she knew something Diana didnât want out. The priority was getting Thalia to a hospital.
That night, the hilltop was abuzz like never before.
Upon waking up, Ivy found Balfour slumped beside her bed, his jacket in disarray and covered in mud.
She watched him sleeping in an uncomfortable but peaceful pose and didnât want to break the silence.
How nice it would be if they could always get along like this.
She wished they didnât have to be at odds all the time. She cared for him, so why the constant quarrels?
If only Balfour could give her a little more room in his heart.
Knock, knock, knock.
Balfour stirred at the sound of knocking. Ivy quickly shut her eyes, pretending to still be asleep.
Balfour opened the door quietly and whispered to Elara outside, âKeep it down; sheâs still resting.â
âOf course, sir. Itâs time for the morning blood draw for Mrs. Howard.â