The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 1970

Nolan had been closely observing Ivy’s face.

If Ivy’s expression during the phone call raised suspicions for him earlier, now her demeanor was practically screaming at Nolan that something was off about her supposed marriage to Balfour.

“Balfour seems a bit cold, doesn’t he? It must be tiring dealing with him on the daily, huh?” Nolan casually probed, masking his intense scrutiny as idle

chit-chat.

Ivy nodded vigorously as if she had found a kindred spirit, “Oh, absolutely. He’s really aloof, and his mood swings! Like, one minute he’s all ice and the next he’s a tempest. It’s frustrating!”

“Mood swings?” Nolan arched an eyebrow, “Balfour might be like that with strangers, sure, but he married you. He’s gotta like you, right? How can he be cold to you too?”

Ivy let out a sigh of resignation, “Who knows! Sometimes I don’t even know what ticks him off. Communicating with him is like walking through a minefield!”

doesn’t make sense. If Balfour treats you that way, why would you agree to marry him?” Nolan’s suspicions were thickening like a plot in a dime novel, convinced that their relationship wasn’t as straightforward as it

“Nolan, you have no idea how difficult

to vent further but suddenly sensed it, snapping

guard down around Nolan, and in a rare moment

for the sham contract it

she hit the brakes in time and didn’t let

the verge of unraveling the mystery when Ivy clammed

nervously, “Oh, nothing. I was just kidding! Of course, I married him because

seemed flawless, Nolan sensed that Ivy had intended to reveal something else entirely.

the office door swung open, and in strode Balfour, his presence commanding as he entered. He scanned the cozy scene, his expression unreadable, “Am I interrupting something?”

shot up from her seat, “Balfour, what