The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2344

“Alyssa, you can’t just go around thinking I’m some sort of floozy just because I care about my friend. I’ve been close with Balfour for years, and I had no idea he’d be snoozing here when I came down to grab a book. You’ve got me all wrong! And for heaven’s sake, I simply draped a blanket over Balfour because was worried about him. Was I supposed to let my dear friend freeze on the couch all night? You said you were off to bed, and if I’d known you weren’t asleep, I would’ve come to get you first.”

Mara’s explanation was reasonable, even impeccable, and Alyssa knew she couldn’t fault her on this one, so they both had to back down a bit.

“Is that so? Then I owe you an apology, Ms. Lewis. It’s getting late; you should head to bed. I’ll take care of Balfour here; after all, I am his grandmother.”

Having snagged the photo she wanted, Mara didn’t linger. She feigned a wounded look, biting her lip as she clutched her phone and the book before leaving the study.

Before heading downstairs, she cast a sly, mysterious smile back at the study.

No matter how shrewd Alyssa was, she couldn’t outwit Mara!

he didn’t seem to have been given any hooch or something shady that would knock him out. How on earth did he end up asleep in the study

later and later. Alyssa knew her grandson was hurting inside, each return to that room a reminder of the time spent

on sleeping in

puzzled Alyssa why Balfour would fall asleep in the

the company being especially busy

“Balfour, Balfour?”

a few times, but he didn’t wake up; he seemed to be sleeping deeply. Puzzling as it was, she couldn’t put her finger on it and decided to leave him

noticed a faint light coming from Mara’s room. She could only hope that woman wouldn’t

to keep an eye