Chapter 2400


    Balfour had never suspected Mara of foul y, not in a million years. The thought that she might


    have drugged him, let alone snapped intimate photos to sow seeds of doubt in Ivy''s mind, was


    beyond his wildest nightmares.


    He''d always figured they''d maintain a distance, just until he''d helped her find her Mr. Right, fulfilling


    what he saw as his duty to her.


    But to think, Mara had been coveting a spot by his side all along?


    As Balfour remained silent, Mara''s temper red. “Balfour, what is with you? Why are you giving me


    the cold shoulder after I poured my heart out to you? Don''t tell me you think I''m slinging mud at


    Ivy, and that''s why you''re ignoring me? Come on, put two and two together, Balfour. How could I


    have taken such a nasty fall all by myself if not for Ivy''s meddling?”


    Yet Balfour brushed off her petnt disy, his tone unnervingly calm. “That night, in the study,


    what did you put in that ss of milk you handed me?”


    Mara’s smile froze, herposure slipping into panic. “Uh, Balfour, what are you on about? I''m


    clueless here, really. What''s this about something in the milk?”


    “Mara, we''ve known each other for years. You know me-I don''t like beating around the bush.


    Grandma and Grandpa have already filled me in. They''ve got proof, so there''s no use hiding


    anything from me. I want to hear it from you.”


    All Balfour wanted was an honest word from Mara. Why had she done it?


    Mara’s smile vanishedpletely.


    "What do you want me to say?”


    Balfour couldn''t fathom her indifference. “Obviously, why did you do it? Don''t you realize your


    actions could cause Ivy to get the wrong idea about us? There''s nothing between us but


    innocence.”


    “Innocence?” Maraughed bitterly. “If we''re so “innocent, why did Ivy move out to the dorm? It''s


    because you care about me, Balfour, probably more than you care about her! You''ve got feelings for


    me, and I know it!"


    Faced with Mara''s interrogation, Balfour''s brow furrowed. “You''ve got it all wrong. My concern for


    youes from a ce of honor. I promised your family I''d look after you after your sister


    sacrificed so much for me. There''s no romance in that. As for Ivy moving, it''s just more convenient


    for hermute, nothing more.”


    Mara’s gaze was intense, locked onto Balfour. I''m a woman, Balfour. No one understands what Ivy''s


    feeling better than I do. And do you know why she chose to leave? Because


    she doesn''t love you. That''s why she so casually stepped aside for us.”


    1/2N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    08:46


    Chapter 2400


    She grasped Balfour''s hand, his familiar warmth enveloping her, and Mara didn''t want to let go. But


    Balfour pulled away forcefully.


    "What are you doing?”


    “Balfour, I know your rtionship with Ivy started as a charade for your grandparents, and I''m okay


    with that! If Ivy has chosen to bow out, why can''t you see the reality? She doesn''t love you!"


    Suddenly, Balfour felt like Mara had be a stranger during her years abroad.


    He often thought she''d changed and was no longer the Mara he once knew.


    And it was precisely because of this change that he could clearly see the difference between Ivy and


    Mara.


    His heart belonged to Ivy. Even if their rtionship had begun as a contract, no one else could hold


    a candle to her now.


    “I''m sorry, Mara. It doesn''t matter whether she loves me or not. As long as we''re married, I''m


    committed to her. I don''t want her to be upset over any misunderstandings between us. And I hope


    you''ll stop harboring those feelings for me. It''s not going to happen. Don''t let ite to the point


    where we can''t even be friends.”


    2/2