The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2546

Ivy reached out without thinking, gently massaging the tension from Balfour’s furrowed brow.

“These past days, with all the stress about your grandma, you’ve been all knotted up,” she said softly, her voice tinged with concern. “It kills me to see you like this, but I feel helpless to share the load.”/

With a slight exertion of strength, Balfour pulled Ivy into his embrace. Their bodies pressed face to face. He buried his face in her shoulder, taking a deep, calming breath. “Just having you here with me is the support I need. Ivy, promise me you’ll take care of yourself. Don’t get hurt, don’t fall ill.”

Ivy wanted to offer more words of comfort, but they seemed to get stuck in her throat.

“Okay.”

Love always comes with a sense of debt.

how destitute Ivy had appeared when he first brought

endured at the hands of her own parents weighed heavily on him. Sometimes, he tormented himself with the thought that had he fallen for her sooner; perhaps he could have spared her from her troubled

despite having cut ties with her previous life, the scorn she faced online stemmed from those very familial connections. Ivy just wanted to sever all ties with the Dunhill family once and for all. Why did it

around her neck and closed his eyes.

he could, he wished he could shrink Ivy down to the size of a doll, keeping her safe in his pocket,

understanding his helplessness was rooted in his love

her to see that love tinged with guilt. She resolved to heed Balfour’s words, to take care of herself. As for the rumors

she couldn’t help but feel hurt and puzzled when she saw the hateful words they flung at her. Why did these strangers hate her as if she had personally wronged them? Even if she

the opinions that truly mattered to her were those of her fans and

to cause

to the hospital, the two of