It would be a huge shock for everyone else to marry off right after her first film.
Yet, Ivyâs fans seemed to have a pact, initially quiet but eventually unanimous in their blessings.
They had seen enough heartaches; the last thing they wanted was to deny their beloved actress her happiness.
But for Balfour, Ivy felt a pang of guilt. He, a man who once shunned the paparazzi, now found himself in the relentless glare of the spotlight beside her.
In past interviews, he could remain an enigma, faceless to the public. Now, his image was splashed across the pages of tabloids.
She had broached the subject, suggesting they go their separate ways in public to avoid the frenzy. But Balfour refused.
âBesides,â he said, gripping her hand with a tenderness that belied his firm tone, âIâve waited so long for you to take my hand in front of the public. Now you ask me to let go? Iâm sorry; I canât do that.â
Ivy murmured her agreement and nestled into his embrace. She believed that time would smooth things over.
She believed he would prove to her fans that her choice was sound, that they would come to see who the man he truly was.
The upcoming fan meet-and-greet was the perfect opportunity, and Balfour had his own agenda.
He chose to sit among the fans, craving the chance for closer contact, hoping theyâd see him for who he was beyond the headlines.
Before the event even wrapped up, the internet had been buzzing with posts about Balfour, now affectionately dubbed âConsort of the Year.â
The title took off, with comments piling up like snowflakes:
[Can it be that man Iâm thinking of? Saw him at the meet-and-greet today. Canât believe the big boss was right next to me!]
[Shocked! Doesnât a CEO usually have bodyguards? Whatâs he doing in the stands? Didnât Ivy get her man a private box?]
[LOL, itâs hilarious, but Ivyâs fan base is huge! I thought those 5,000 tickets would take ages to be sold, but they vanished in seconds! Sheâs the only actress with that kind of pull nowadays. Her fans even got the first tickets. Guess she isnât hurting for cash, not a scalper in sight.]
[Ha! Even I couldnât snag a ticket to her fan event. Iâm a scalper, by the way. Heard her studio made it clear: hands off the tickets; theyâre going straight to her fans.]
Netizens were astounded; it was an unwritten rule that scalpers got their hands on most tickets of every concert. That was how the celebrities made money.
But thinking of Balfourâs backing, Ivyâs lavish approach made sense. Backed by the Howard Group, she wasnât concerned with petty profits.
[How jealous the comments are, though! This event was paid for with Ivyâs âBallad of Valorâ salary. She wouldnât take a dime from her man for career-related expenses. Sheâs independent and can earn her own way, thank you very much! And letâs not forget arranging private transportation, ensuring fan safety, and having a chef preparing snacks for everyone. Isnât that a sign of her dedication to her fans?
But you only see the man behind her, and thatâs pretty sad.]
Some of Ivyâs fans were especially annoyed by the constant references to Balfour, especially when Ivyâs achievements seemed overshadowed by his presence, making her successes appear effortless.