Chapter 2418


    Chapter 2418


    Balfour stood alone in the sterile hospital corridor, his mind a whirlwind of recent events that left him


    with a pounding headache. Watching the doctors wheel Mara away for tests, he couldn’t help but be


    swamped by a sense of déjà vu, recalling the fraught days with her sister, Victoria, and the turmoil they


    had gone through.


    After a while, he let out a weary sigh, his thoughts drifting to Ivy. Despite her rise in the cutthroat world


    of showbiz, she had never lost her integrity. She never harbored intentions to harm others, focusing


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    solely on her craft, on being the best actress she could be.


    The thought of Ivy caught in a maelstrom of public scandal made his heart ache anew. The mess, he


    conceded, was his fault. If only he had steadfastly believed in her, trusted her words, they wouldn’t be


    in this heartbreaking standoff.


    He knew his hasty, hurtful words had cut Ivy deep. But seeing Mara on the ground had triggered


    haunting memories of Victoria’s kidnapping, and the helplessness he had felt then. His emotional


    defenses had crumbled in that moment.


    Ironically, it was Mara who had inadvertently set the stage for her own deception and, ultimately,


    exposed her lies.


    Looking up at the hospital ceiling, Balfour felt the wisdom in his grandmother’s words for the first time.


    If he had addressed the undercurrents of feelings between them earlier, could they have avoided this


    chaos?


    Had he acknowledged Mara’s affection sooner, rified his stance, perhaps their lives wouldn’t have


    spiraled out of control. Regret, an emotion alien to him, now gnawed at his conscience.


    Meanwhile, Leo’s investigation continued, the case unraveling with surprising ease.


    Seren, before bing a self-proimed insider, had left a heavy digital footprint. A look into her bank


    records revealed a recent windfall-money that could only be exined by a lottery win or something far


    more sinister.


    It all pointed to someone colluding with her to frame Ivy. The question remained, who would dare cross


    the formidable Mrs. Howard?


    Seren, having called Mara, felt a burden lift off her shoulders. Awyer would be arranged; she just had


    to show up in court when the time came. Her online provocations, after all, were just words, not direct


    insults aimed at Ivy


    What could possibly go wrong?


    Seren reveled in her online persona, basking in the anticipation her followers had for her next expose


    of the industry’s dark underbelly. Ignored in real life, she thrived in the virtual world, masterfully


    manipting her audience.


    Her newfound talent for stirring the pot was a revtion, and she had Mara to thank for it. True to form,


    after herst bombshell, Seren yed coy, staying silent for two days. Her followers, concerned for her


    safety, spected wildly.


    Thements section was abuzz with concern for Seren, the brave truth-teller, fearing she’d been


    silenced by powerful forces.


    [Howe Ivy’s fans have gone quiet? Where are they hiding now? They were so sure it wasn’t Ivy,


    remember? Look here, everyone, our truth-teller hasn’t been seen for two days. Who else would have


    a bone to pick with her? Well, I’ll leave myment right here. As long as that woman is free, I refuse


    to set foot in a theater to watch Colton’s new movie!]