The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2026

Balfour picked up his coffee mug and took a sip. “No, it didn’t go under. I stepped in and bought it out before it could.”

“Really?” Giselle’s face lit up with delight. “Does that mean we can still get it? Balfour, when can you take me on a factory tour?”

While they chatted, Ivy’s gaze never left her smartphone, her fingers flicking across the screen in silent concentration.

These stories from their shared past did not include her; she had no comments to add. Aside from scrolling through her phone, she could not think of anything else to do.

Giselle’s topic of conversation seemed designed to put distance between Ivy and the two of them.

She was making it clear that she and Balfour were childhood friends, the perfect match.

Engrossed in her phone, a notification drew Ivy’s attention-Nolan had sent her a message.

[Heard you landed a role in Colton’s new movie, congrats!]

this, but then it clicked. Colton had cast her after seeing the Harris Group

Ivy replied,

never have gotten this

great. Remember me when you’re a big star,

Nolan. I’m not even sure if I can

fantastic. I believe

worries she did not feel she could share

with Nolan, however, eased her

did not know was that Balfour had been eyeing her with a cold gaze the

from her grasp,

to message Nolan rather than share with him,

it back,” Ivy reached out to retrieve her phone, but

phone and set it aside. “No phones at the dinner table. Let’s

since he had helped her, so she attempted to take