Ivy couldnât understand why some people just couldnât take a hint. She had cut ties with the Dunhills long ago, yet they refused to let her live in peace, even spreading their family disputes online.
âIâm sorry, but Claraâs not my sister. Youâve got the wrong person.â
If they were going to ostracize her over this nonsense, Ivy decided she didnât need to waste her breath on them. She wasnât planning on returning to this dance studio anyway.
âHey, whatâs with the attitude? You mess up, and we canât talk about it? Even your own folks canât stand you, can they? With that personality of yours, Iâm baffled how someone like the CEO of the Howard Group could fall for you. Whatâs your trick?â Ophelia sneered, Though her domineering nature wasnât exactly a favorite among the other dancers, her words did strike a chord.
What did Ivy have that they didnât? Why would such a catch be into her? Sure, Ivy was a bit prettier, but she wasnât exactly Miss High Society.
Why on earth did Balfour pick her? Werenât the Howards about matching status and social standing?
It was the talk of the studio. If Ivy came from a remarkable background, they wouldnât dare to dream.
But with the perceived gap narrowing, even the most ordinary among them fantasized about such a chance.
It all boiled down to jealousy. Balfour was Ivyâs husband, and they couldnât stand it.
Ivy gave a faint, knowing smile. âI thought you might be defending someoneâs honor, wondering who Iâd offended. Turns out itâs just envy over my relationship with my husband. Pity, all the jealousy in the world wonât change a thing.â
Opheliaâs face turned beet red with embarrassment as her schemes were laid bare. She stuttered, âYou, youâ¦â
âWhat about me? Iâm telling the truth. Or would you rather hear some lie about my marriage being in shambles, that if you were in my place, heâd fall for you too? Isnât that what you want to hear? To be soothed by falsehoods?â
Ophelia had pegged Ivy as an easy target. She had been smeared online countless times without a public rebuttal, resorting only to legal letters through her work. Even in person, her greetings were polite, lacking the assertiveness of other stars. Thus, Ophelia thought she had found someone to push around.
The online vitriol painted Ivy as anything but moral, and Ophelia was convinced of it. At first, she had approached Ivy casually, feigning a fanâs interest. To her amusement, Ivy had taken it as a genuine attempt at friendship But the latest gossip had everyone exchanging gleeful glances. Ivy wasnât just exceptionally talented;
she had a boyfriend who picked her up after every session.
To them, it was the ultimate envy-Balfour Howard, the ever-busy CEO, making time to quietly wait for her each day. Not once had they heard a complaint from him, and in their eyes, it was something to covet.