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!”

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

idea how difficult Balfour can

was about to vent further but suddenly sensed it, snapping

her guard down around Nolan, and in a rare moment of solidarity against Balfour, almost spilled all her

nearly exposed their marriage for the sham contract

time and didn’t let slip anything

the verge of unraveling

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

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

when the office door swung open, and in strode Balfour, his presence commanding as he entered.

seat, “Balfour, what brings