No, no,â Claraâs lips twitched nachvourously, her voice laced with desperation. âYouâve got it all rong!
Ivy might have said scinothinihing in the heat of the moment-donât take it to heart! ut Iâm her sister, after all. Itâs only nly natural for us to have our little spats now and then, nât it?â
y had long been aware of Claraâs truditeloolors Unfortunately for Clara, her affections ere wasted on Balfour, who showedved inbeiraterest in her whatsoever.
sters having occasional little spats? WhWevoever they quarreled over a toy in their hildhood, their mom would invariably side welwila Clara without a question.
ears of this biased treatment had steeled lay, laydathd there was no way she would step aside or Clara again, especially not when it came tocraterstof the heart.
re you really that dumb?â Balfourâs voice wasvicy y las the towered over Clara, his imposing ature causing her to step back involuntarily.rily.
Mr. Balfour, whatever do you mean? I havenât donecareyaniyhingyto you. Thereâs no need for suks,â
Clara protested, her voice quivering with indigidacination.
As. Dunhill, perhaps itâs time you did a little soul-searchinging Douyourhonestly believe I anât see right through you? Iâm not a fool. Whose wordside youydurthink hold more weight ith me-lvyâs or yours?â
ith that, Balfour grasped Ivyâs hand, clearly done with the confrontatitation, and made to ave.
Sisten up, from now on, steer clear of this kind of company,â he advisedsey, Ivy,thot bothering dowen his voice.
lara overbeard and clenched her fists in fury. Who did they think theyheeraeftauita lationship like that right in front of her? What did he mean by âthis kind odcocoa hatcort of person was she being made out to be?
sensining Batfourâs fingering irritation, playfully swayed their joined arms backarnican th:00way, Iâli distendo whatever you say!â
foonglalabedd at her, well aware she did not want him to be angry with her. Buthowhow ld hebbeangry with her when all he felt for her was tenderness?
me peoplela welatak. Do you really think I still trust you? If I hadnât come when adid,did, might have bber hurt by her once again.â
felt a pang obgott/howwas to know sheâd lunge at me out of nowhere? SheShe med son. so tamiawwwhen we were talking. And please, donât be mad at Colton and the the ers. They checked tbcbbag and made sure it was safe for us to meet-right there in the the Balfour let out a snort. He would have had a few choice words for them if he hadnât known theyâd been cautious.
âTo be honest, I wanted to see her grovel. I wanted to be there to witness whatever tricks she had up her sleeve,â Ivy confessed.
They stopped in front of Ivyâs dressing room, and Balfour ushered her inside without further ado.
âDo you ever think Iâm just⦠a lot of trouble?â Ivy murmured, her eyes downcast, fingers nervously intertwined.
But then Balfourâs hands enveloped hers. âTell me whatâs really on your mind,â he gently urged.
Ivy nodded, and they squeezed together onto the loveseat.
âIâve always been the one to back down, to apologize, to yield to her. But this time, she came begging for my help for the sake of her future. I just wanted to see her stoop, to see her plead.â