Chapter 2413


    Mara''s mind raced as she pieced together the puzzle. Something told her that Balfour had been


    onto her for a while now.


    Why else would he confront her so directly? He seemed to be waiting for her to slip up and


    confess.


    With a frustrated nibble on her lip, Mara cursed her luck. She had thought her scheme was


    foolproof, but Balfour''s intuition had sniffed something out after all.


    Yet, despite everything, seeing Ivy''s online reputation shredded to the point of universal disdain was


    a small victory she could savor.


    Whether Balfour knew the truth or not, as long as Ivy couldn''t hold her head high in public, Mara


    had won


    As for Balfour''s opinion of her, that was the least of her worries.


    For years, all she had to do was evoke the memory of herte sister, and Balfour''s defenses would


    crumble. He owed her that much, didn''t he?


    She had already rehearsed the perfect act of innocence and victimhood for their next


    encounter.


    However, just as she settled into her thoughts, her phone buzzed with a message from her friend,


    Olivia, urging her to call as soon as possible.


    "What could be so important now?” Mara muttered, exasperation creeping into her voice.


    Resigned, she dialed the international call, ready to face whatever came next.


    "What''s the big emergency? Didn''t I tell you I''m noting home this semester? You''re making it


    sound like I''m about to miss a deadline or something,” Mara quipped, trying to lighten the mood.


    But Olivia''s face on the screencked any trace of humor. “While you enjoy a joyful life and have


    people that you can rely on back home, I''m left here all alone, isted and


    forlorn.”


    Her hair was a mess, her clothes looked like they''d seen a scuffle, and her normally vibrant face was


    pale and drawn, her lips cracked. This wasn''t like Olivia, who took pride in her appearance.


    Mara’s concern spiked. “What''s going on? You look like you''ve been through the wringer. Did you


    hit the bars against night? I''ve told you a million times not to try to keep up with the drinking


    games those guys y. Look at you now, all hungover and miserable.”


    Mara’s attempt at yful scolding fell t when Olivia began to sob softly, covering her face. rm


    bells rang in Mara’s head as she sat up quickly, only to be hit by a wave of


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    Chapter 2413


    dizziness that forced her back down.


    "Ouch- I''m not feeling great either. What''s going on? Stop crying and talk to me!”


    It took a moment for Olivia topose herself enough to speak. “It''s a long story. I should''ve


    listened to you about not drinking with those guys.”


    “So, what happened that''s got you this upset?”


    Olivia bit her lower lip, struggling to start her story, but finally, she seemed ready to


    confide in her friend.


    “I didn’t mean to, but I think I pissed off some mob boss''s daughter. We were outst night, and I


    got chatting with this guy, and...”


    Suddenly, Olivia stopped, as if remembering something painful.


    “Turns out the guy had a girlfriend, and she came at me like a freight train. Gave me a couple of


    ps right across the face. It still hurts, look!”


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