âWhat in the world happened to you? You were fine just a while ago, and nook at this mess. We need to get you to the hospital now!â
Balfour assessed the wound, recognizing the urgency.
âHa,â Mara scoffed, brushing off his concern, âBalfour, mind your own busines Even if it kills me, itâs my problem, not yours.â
With that, she attempted to shrug him off and retreat to her room.
âWhatâs with the attitude? Youâre hurt; you need to see a doctor. Before, when you werenât injured, sure, heading to the hospital wouldâve been a waste of resources! Was the doc wrong to say that? Donât you see the issue here?â
Balfour watched her bite her lip, enduring the pain with a mix of irritation and concern he couldnât dismiss.
Since she wouldnât listen, heâd just have to take matters into his own hands and haul her to the hospital.
With that thought, he grabbed Mara, ignoring her struggles, and dragged her toward the door.
âBalfour, leave me be! Let me die in my room if it comes to that! Stop it, let go of me, let go!â
Mara writhed in protest.
Ivy, overhearing the commotion from upstairs, thought to step out and check. She never expected to see Balfour gripping Maraâs hand so tightly.
Her own hand holding the railing clenched tightly, the back of her hand bruised.
âKeep it down, will you? Grandma and Grandpa are still resting. I donât want to wake them.â Only then did Mara comply, following Balfour out the door.
Ivy watched their retreating figures from above, only exhaling shakily once they were. gone, staggering back a few steps.
She wasnât supposed to put weight on her left foot, but in her distraction, she had stood on it, causing a sharp pain.
Sometimes, physical pain was the only way to release the heartache.
Ivy let out a breath and chuckled miserably before silently leaning against the wall, making her way back to her room alone.
There was no point in hoping. Balfourâs heart was always with Mara, even after the trouble sheâd caused that afternoon. He never had the heart to reprimand her.
Ivy knew their departure wasnât for a clandestine rendezvous, but the thought still stung, haunting her every time she closed her eyes.
Lying in bed, the vast empty space echoed her solitude. Alone wasnât a new feeling, but after being around Balfour, his presence had become a comforting constant.
Now, he had left without even looking back.
All Ivy wanted was to leave the villa, regardless of what was going on between Balfour and Mara. She was done looking back. Pulling out her phone, she messaged Margot.
[Howâs the cast doing? Have they resumed shooting yet?]
Margot replied instantly as if sheâd been waiting for Ivyâs message.
[Not yet. Whatâs the point without our leading lady? When are you coming back? Didnât you get discharged yesterday? Why not swing by the set and catch up with everyone?]
Ivy managed a weak smile, claiming she was tied up with something else.
[Is the accommodation the director arranged for the actors still available?]
Colton, ever the immersive director, had provided living quarters for the cast to help them get into character.