Chapter 2008


    Chapter 2008


    The party was in full swing, with some guests clinking beer bottles and others belting out hits on the


    karaoke machine.


    Giselle never left Balfour’s side, chatting up a storm with everyone around her, herughter ringing out


    like a melody.


    Ivy watched her, a pang of envy gnawing at her heart.


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    She’d never been like Giselle, so effortlessly sociable, chatting away with anyone and everyone, so


    utterly at ease.


    Around strangers, Ivy couldn’t shake off a feeling of awkwardness.


    Balfour, surrounded by a throng of well-wishers, couldn’t help but let his gaze drift to Ivy, sitting alone in


    a corner, her head bowed, her aura dimmed.


    He squinted at her thoughtfully.


    Originally, when Alyssa had told him about the movie tickets, Balfour hadn’t wanted to go with Ivy.


    They weren’t a couple, after all, so there was no reason to indulge in such things.


    But the tickets had been bought, and he couldn’t disappoint Alyssa. Having agreed, he really did want


    to watch the movie with Ivy, not expecting Giselle to spring a birthday surprise on him.


    It was only natural for Ivy to feel let down. Anyone would be upset by a sudden change of ns.


    From a distance, Balfour suddenly stood up and walked over to Ivy. “Let’s go,” he said.


    Ivy slowly rose to her feet, dazed, “Go? Where to?”


    “Do you really want to stay here?” Balfour didn’t wait for an answer. He grabbed her hand, ready to


    take off.


    Seeing this, Giselle’s face turned frosty, “Balfour, where are you off to?”


    She approached them, her eyes fixed on their intertwined hands, her expression slipping beyond her


    control, “Balfour, it’s your birthday. I’ve nned this party for a long time. If the guest of honor leaves,


    what’s left to celebrate?”


    Balfour looked around, “Thanks for the party, Giselle, but right now, I need some alone time with my


    wife. Don’t mind us, and carry on with the fun. Put all the expenses on my tab tonight. Don’t hold back.”


    The words “alone time with my wife” were enough to sting her, and seeing that he was serious about


    leaving, Giselle called out again, “Balfour, where are you and Ivy off to celebrate, then?”


    Ivy felt incredibly awkward as if Giselle’s re could set her on fire, “Balfour, maybe you should stay


    and enjoy the party with


    everyone.”


    She tried to pull her hand away from Balfour’s, but his grip was too strong, unyielding to her attempts.


    “Where we’re going is our business,” Balfour insisted, pulling Ivy away from the club.


    Giselle turned to watch them go, fury ring in her eyes.


    “Giselle, we…” The others watched Balfour leave, their expressions tense, fearing her wrath.


    Hearing their voices, Giselle quicklyposed herself, turning back with a smile, “It’s fine. Balfour has


    to handle something. Let’s just keep the party going.”


    With Giselle’s reassurance, everyone rxed and resumed their revelry.


    Giselle sat down in the corner where Ivy had been, swirling a ss of wine in her hand.


    The first time she’d seen Ivy at the party, she hadn’t considered her a threat.


    It seemed she had underestimated Ivy.


    Balfour pulled Ivy out of the club, and it wasn’t until they reached his car that she finally snapped out of


    her daze, “Balfour, walking out like that will make Giselle upset.”


    “Aren’t you upset?” Balfour looked down at her, “Why not speak up about your own feelings, instead of


    worrying about someone else’s?”