Fans had started to notice the sharply-dressed man sitting casually among them. Little did they expect that the man in the crisp suit was none other than the CEO of the Howard Group, mingling without a hint of pretension.
Typically, youâd expect a CEO to have an entourage of bodyguards flanking him, or at least to be tucked away in a private box. But here he was, seated among the regular folks like it was no big deal.
Ivy had thought about seating him away from the fans, where he could catch her performance from a unique, exclusive angle. But he had declined.
He felt that to truly see Ivy, the best perspective was at the front and center with the fans. His words made her blush.
âIâm just worried about you sitting with my fans. What if they recognize you and bother you? Or worse, what if someone decides to take a swing at you when no oneâs looking?â Ivy fretted.
Balfour raised an eyebrow. âDo I really have such a bad rep in your eyes? Or is it that your fans just donât like me?â
âHmmâ¦â Ivy pouted, âItâs only natural that they donât like you. After all, Iâm a rising actress and I married you. A lot of them were heartbroken. They think I have a whole forest of opportunities ahead of me â why hanging myself on this single tree right now?
Theyâre hilarious when they talk, you know? Theyâre so earnest, advising me not to drown in love with you, suggesting you might just be toying with me. Theyâve even said I should adopt a manâs mindset, play with your feelings, then dust off and walk away, treating itll as a spicy chapter in my memoirs. That way, I could swim through the entertainment industry more easily.â
Balfourâs face fell. He hadnât expected Ivyâs fans to be quite so⦠instructive.
Seeing Ivyâs mischievous grin, he couldnât help but pinch her cheek. âWonât you put in a good word for me?â
Ivy stuck out her tongue playfully, âThe more I defend you, the less theyâll like you, okay? I want peace between you, but the fans worry for my sake. I know me being with you is painful enough for them; I donât want to make it seem like Iâm taking your side too. So, youâll just have to tough it out, hubby.
Iâve been with you for so long, of course, and I know what kind of person you are. However, youâre also well aware of how many fans I have so youâd better watch out! If you dare do anything to hurt meâ¦â
Ivy playfully raised her fist in a mock threat, but Balfour caught it in his hand and pulled it to his lips for a gentle kiss.
âIâm happy to see that so many people care about you. I completely understand their concerns. To me, theyâre like guardians, watching over how I treat you. If I slip up, theyâll be the first to call me out.
As long as my intentions for you are true, theyâll eventually come to accept me, too. Donât worry, and donât feel like you need to soothe me on this. The day I decided to take your hand was the day I was ready for all this, wasnât it?â
âUhâ¦â Ivy was caught off guard. In truth, she was the one who found it hardest to face her fans and their expectations.