The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2493

“What’s with the attitude? You should be rolling out the red carpet for guests as the host, especially since Mara and Balfour are childhood sweethearts no less. You’re coming off a bit stingy here.”

Ivy barely lifted the corners of her mouth. If she wanted to play the grumpy hostess, that was her prerogative. Who said you had to greet guests with a grin plastered on your face? Besides, not all guests deserved her warmth.

“Sorry, smiling just isn’t in my DNA. Have you two come for a particular reason?”

Ivy tilted her chin up, a silent cue for Mara to spill the beans about her companion.

“Oh, this is my dear friend Olivia. We’ve known each other for years overseas. She’s staying in town for a bit-partly to keep me company.

I already mentioned to Balfour we’d drop by. Maybe it slipped his mind to tell you? We had it all planned out, so I brought Olivia over to your place.”

Mara’s words were laced with the insinuation that she and Balfour had their little secrets, but Ivy wasn’t taking the bait.

Balfour had been her shadow lately, barely leaving her side.

they wanted to meet privately, it wasn’t happening on her watch.

knew his heart was with her, and

hearing Mara, Olivia realized this

the opponent, Olivia was confident she wouldn’t be outplayed. She prided herself on understanding the male

on in,” Ivy invited.

the bathroom, shirtless as he often was at home. Ivy, hearing the commotion, stepped

up? I heard some noise.

pushing him back, “Put a shirt

Mara, hearing Balfour’s voice, made her way towards them. Balfour caught sight of someone approaching and quickly ducked into his bedroom to slip on a

here? I thought

at Ivy, who was standing there, and feigned the familiarity, “I told you about this visit, remember? You didn’t

couldn’t recall

he could never forget that his sister’s death was tied to him in