The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 1909

The name “the Howard Group” seemed to act like a magic spell on the waiter’s demeanor. No more than a moment had passed before he ushered the two guests to a plush booth, serving them a complimentary pair of ice waters.

“Please hang tight,” he said with newfound deference. “I’ll fetch the boss straight away.”

The stark shift in the waiter’s attitude was a clear testament to the might of the Howard Group’s influence in the city.

Ivy’s heart began to race; she had never mixed with such high-rollers before. Now, she was on the brink of being married to one of them for a whole year, and she couldn’t fathom what that might entail.

The bar owner arrived posthaste with a practiced smile on his face. “My apologies for the wait. I hear you had a bit of a mishap with some lost belongings. Looking to check last night’s surveillance footage, are we? This place is quite the maze, lots of angles to cover. Can you tell me where to start looking?”

Quinton glanced over to Ivy.

Standing, Ivy pointed to the booth nearby. “Around this area, and the corridor leading to your hotel.”

Will do. Give me a moment.”

instructed an employee to fetch a laptop and queued up the relevant

showed yesterday’s scene with Clara urging Ivy to drink, every

seemed intent on coaxing Clara

only surmise that it was then Clara had struck her deal with Vincent, promising to deliver her sister to his bed after the night’s festivities.

what a doting sister Clara

copy of this video. It’s important.”

behind them, the bar owner didn’t

footage in hand, Ivy and Quinton proceeded to her family.

of the grand estate and turned to Ivy with a respectful air. “Ivy, would you like

the altercation between Ivy and Clara the previous day and was concerned about her standing with her family. His presence as a Balfour’s assistant might afford her

the notion bitterly ironic; needing an outsider’s support to

need, I’ll manage. Just wait

stepped through the threshold