Chapter 1974: Chapter 1974

“Let me give you a ride.”

Ivy thought Balfour would just dump her and rush off to meet Giselle, or asked her to call Quinton for a ride at most.

But Balfour didn’t bolt today. Seeing Ivy injured, he couldn’t just leave her behind.

“Come on, I’ll take you home.”

Ivy didn’t want to be a burden, insisting she could get home on her own. But Balfour insisted on driving her.

“Thanks.”

They pulled up to the Howard Mansion. Ivy expressed her gratitude again before stepping.

out of the car.

Balfour suddenly called out to her “Ivy, get some rest at home. You don’t need to worry about job–

hunting. Forget about the three million. You don’t have to pay it back.”

Ivy froze for a moment, “No. I know you’re just feeling sorry for me, Mr. Howard. But we agreed it was a loan, and I will pay back to you!”

Balfour’s brows furrowed, “If you play the part of Mrs. Howard for a year, the money is your bonus.”

His words left Ivy disoriented, her heart in a bit of chaos.

Watching Balfour drive away, Ivy clutched at her chest once more.

What was happening today? Why was her heart racing out of control?

She couldn’t afford to fall for that man. She and Balfour were worlds apart!

Then her thoughts drifted to Giselle. Balfour was already taken. All Giselle needed to do was dial his number, and he would drop everything to be by her side.

Ivy, don’t indulge yourself in forbidden thoughts! Don’t blur the lines of who you are! She silently told herself.

Entering the Howard Estate, Ivy greeted her grandparents in law, who were tending to plants in the living room. With a practiced smile, she greeted, “Grandma, Grandpa, what are you up to?”

“Ivy, dear, Balfour’s cousin brought over some potted plants. And we’re just figuring out where to place them,’ Dean Howard said with a chuckle.

That’s wonderful! You both seem to have quite the green thumb,” Ivy said, admiring the effortless bond between her grandparents, always so full of laughter and conversation.

“Retirement leaves us with plenty of time on our hands, just tinkering around,” Alyssa replied, carefully tending to the plants.

Having nothing else to do, Ivy joined in, “Grandma, take me as your apprentice. I want to learn how to garden too.”

After arranging the plants with Alyssa, Ivy noticed a notification pop up on her phone: “Celebrity spotted with mystery boyfriend at hotel, rumored romance revealed.”

She usually had little interest in such gossip. But today, for some reason, she clicked on the news.

The article was accompanied by photos of Giselle and another man. But the man’s face was pixelated out, his features indiscernible.

Despite the blurred face, Ivy recognized the outfit. Balfour wore the same one today.

Even though she knew Balfour was off to see Giselle, the notion that they were at a hotel together and the news of their publicized romance twisted something inside Ivy. She couldn’t help but care.

Balfour had made it abundantly clear that she should keep a distance from other men, to prevent any scandal that could tarnish the Howard family’s reputation. Yet here he was, flaunting his relationship with Giselle, making his “wife” Ivy look like a fool!

If they were so in love, why didn’t they just get married? Why drag her into playing the Howard matriarch? It all seemed so pointless and unreasonable