âAlyssa, you canât just go around thinking Iâm some sort of floozy just because I care about my friend.
Iâve been close with Balfour for years, and I had no idea heâd be snoozing here when I came down to grab a book. Youâve got me all wrong! And for heavenâs sake, I simply draped a blanket over Balfour because was worried about him. Was I supposed to let my dear friend freeze on the couch all night?
You said you were off to bed, and if Iâd known you werenât asleep, I wouldâve come to get you first.â
Maraâs explanation was reasonable, even impeccable, and Alyssa knew she couldnât fault her on this one, so they both had to back down a bit.
âIs that so? Then I owe you an apology, Ms. Lewis. Itâs getting late; you should head to bed. Iâll take care of Balfour here; after all, I am his grandmother.â
Having snagged the photo she wanted, Mara didnât linger. She feigned a wounded look, biting her lip as she clutched her phone and the book before leaving the study.
Before heading downstairs, she cast a sly, mysterious smile back at the study.
No matter how shrewd Alyssa was, she couldnât outwit Mara!
After Mara descended the stairs, Alyssa gently touched Balfourâs forehead. No fever, and he didnât seem to have been given any hooch or something shady that would knock him out. How on earth did he end up asleep in the study like this?
Ever since Ivy moved out, Balfour had been coming back to their room later and later. Alyssa knew her grandson was hurting inside, each return to that room a reminder of the time spent with Ivy.
Now alone, he naturally didnât want to stay there. Yet he insisted on sleeping in that room, clinging to the last traces of Ivyâs presence.
So it puzzled Alyssa why Balfour would fall asleep in the study.
And with no word from Quinton about the company being especially busy these days, how did he end up dozing off here?
âBalfour, Balfour?â
She nudged him a few times, but he didnât wake up; he seemed to be sleeping deeply. Puzzling as it was, she couldnât put her finger on it and decided to leave him be after making sure he was resting soundly.
As she passed the stairwell, she noticed a faint light coming from Maraâs room. She could only hope that woman wouldnât stir up more trouble.
Still, Alyssa thought it wise to keep an eye on Maraâs movements.
Once back in her room, Mara tossed the book on the table carelessly and flopped onto her bed, gleefully reviewing the photos sheâd snapped on her phone.
âHmm, this oneâs good, that oneâs not bad either. Which one should I send to Ivy?â
After taking so many shots, she had to make sure they were put to good use â itâd be a shame to keep them to herself.
After much deliberation, Mara picked out a selfie where Balfour was cozily leaning on her shoulder.
The best part was that you couldnât tell he was knocked out. It looked like a photo that only a couple in a close relationship would take.
Mara befriended Ivy on social media when she first arrived at the Howard Mansion. But Ivy had never sent a single message to Mara.
[Balfourâs so tuckered out tonight. He fell asleep!] Mara typed with a smirk, attaching the chosen picture before hitting send.