The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2296

Ivy stepped in to defuse the tension, but Mara was far from grateful. In fact, she harbored a deep-seated resentment towards her.

Without Ivy’s interference, she would have naturally found herself by Balfour’s side!

Mara wasn’t about to grovel for a maid’s position. She washed her hands, playing the part of the obedient girl, and then stood aside to watch the others bustling about.

She had wanted to stand next to Balfour, but Ivy had already claimed the spot. Mara had to content herself with craning her neck from a distance to watch.

“Wow, Balfour, you’re getting really good at this!” Her voice dripped with syrupy praise, earning her a piercing glance from Ivy.

Ivy didn’t want to hold it against Mara specifically, but she just didn’t quite understand why a sweet looking girl had to be so pretentious in everything she said and did.

Ivy wasn’t one for empty flattery. “Let’s keep going, we’ve got plenty more to do. Look at how fast Grandpa and Grandma are moving!”

Ivy prod Balfour along, Alyssa didn’t get upset. Instead, her eyes twinkled

somehow cast a

she watch her beloved grandson be bossed around by

that a little teasing and laughter were the ingredients for a happy marriage, regardless of their different worlds – one an actor, the other a CEO. At the end

what they desired most was for him to

ever, his life infused

saw all this and was

prep took nearly two hours, but it only took twenty minutes to bake and serve the pies at their

freeze them. Next time you crave them, you can just take them out and bake them,” Balfour suggested, not wanting Ivy

If she wanted pies, just buy some frozen ones or order takeout –

said to Ivy with a look of affection, as if Ivy were her own granddaughter. “Once you’re home, I’ll have the staff prepare something to help

that to become Mrs. Howard, she needed the approval of these

seemed now that Alyssa and Dean were her