Chapter 2148: Chapter 2148

Dean’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “You mean Balfour was with you on set and those rascals still had the gall to lay a finger on you? They clearly don’t know who they’re messing with. Just you wait, I’ll personally drive Alyssa down there and show them what happens when they cross the Howard family!”

The more he talked, the more worked up he got, until Alyssa quelled his fire with a stern look.

“This is a society governed by laws, dear,” she said coolly. “Do you really intend to intimidate a whole film crew? Think about it. Even if you scare them into leaving Ivy alone, what good would that do?

The key here is for Ivy to win the hearts of the people on set. We need them to stand by her side when push comes to shove, to believe without a shadow of a doubt that she’s not capable of whatever they’re accusing her of.”

Alyssa hit the nail on the head, and Ivy took the moment to voice her own doubts.

“After this accident, it felt like no one believed me. Balfour said that even if a handful of people did, they’d be too pressured by the majority to show it. But it still hurts, Grandma. Am I not doing good enough? What does it take for people to trust me, to know I’m not that kind of person?”

Alyssa and Dean exchanged a look and sighed. Ivy was indeed very naive to even ask such a question.

It wasn’t that Ivy wasn’t doing well enough. It’s just that most people are reluctant to give their trust.

From the moment Ivy landed the lead role, and with Balfour’s support, her journey had been too smooth, which easily sparked envy in others.

All Alyssa could do was to advise Ivy not to care too much about what others thought.

“You’re already doing great,” she said firmly. “If you try to please everyone, their demands will only increase next time. You can’t please the world, dear. These are just colleagues, you might not even see them again after this project. There’s no point in trying to please people who are just passing through your life. You’re the star of your own life, and the person you need to please the most is yourself.”

Hearing Alyssa’s words, Ivy started thinking of the idea that she should be her own priority.

Watching Ivy deep in thought, Alyssa felt a surge of affection for her. The child was taking everyone else too seriously, forgetting to put herself first.

“By the way, where’s Balfour? Why isn’t he helping you with this?” Alyssa inquired.

Waiting for the officers to handle the case could take a while, and they might not get a quick resolution.

Alyssa’s question reminded Ivy that she needed to cover for Balfour.

“Oh, he has gone back to the office after lunch. Quinton said there was an emergency!”

Both Alyssa and Dean frowned, disapproving of Balfour’s leaving. While most families would criticize their young for lacking ambition, it seemed Balfour had too much of it, and that wasn’t what the elder Howards wanted to see.

“You need to remind him to take a break from work now and then,” Alyssa suggested. “Why don’t you two drop everything and go on a little trip? Just to clear your minds. Your grandpa and I are looking forward to bouncing a grandchild on our knees!”

The thought of the next generation brought a warm smile to Alyssa’s face, just like any doting grandparent.

Ivy’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “Ah… okay, I’ll talk to Balfour about it. But kids… well, there’s no rush for kids.”

Alyssa simply smiled and tenderly brushed Ivy’s hair without another word.

Meanwhile, in the restaurant.

“Alright, that should be enough for now. Balfour, would you like to add anything else?” Giselle passed the menu to the waiter, her voice playful as she addressed the imposing man across from her.

Even in a restaurant accustomed to high-quality clientele, the waiter couldn’t help but be taken aback by Balfour’s striking presence.

Sitting there, his head towered above the table, a clear sign of his height well over six feet.

With his broad shoulders, trim waist, and an aura that kept others at bay, he was the epitome of a frosty CEO.

“Sir, may I take your order?”