As Ivy grasped the spoon, she stirred the chilly blend of mint and lemon, her mind a whirlwind as she searched for the right words, âHowâs the taste of that lemonade, dear? I spent quite some time perfecting it, you know.â
âReally? Let me try!â Ivy hastened to scoop up a spoonful and slipped it into her mouth. Before she even swallowed, the sweet refreshment burst onto her palate.
âItâs delicious! Nothing Grandma makes ever tastes bad!â
Dean was also earnestly sipping on his lemonade, though his portion was notably smaller-a precaution Alyssa had taken to monitor his sugar intake. So, there he was, savoring each sip with focused delight.
âSeeing you enjoy it makes all the afternoonâs work worth it. How about I pack a jug for you to take to the set later, hmm?â
Ivyâs stirring paused.
âGrandma⦠I might not go back to the set this afternoon. Thereâs been a bit of a⦠situation.â
âOh?â Alyssa quickly set down her spoon, concern displaying on her brows. âIs someone at the set giving you trouble? Remember, if anyone bullies you, tell your grandpa and me!â
The warmth in Ivyâs heart swelled; a cherished favor she had never quite experienced before now fully felt in the presence of her Alyssa and Dean.
âNo oneâs bullying me. Itâs just that Iâve had a bit of a misunderstanding with Balfour.â
It must be serious if Ivy had come home early because of a personal issue, especially if it meant leaving work halfway through the day.
Alyssaâs inquisitive gaze urged Ivy to spill the beans.
âGrandma, Grandpa, itâs like this-I had a scene with a male actor that went viral on a social media app, making everyone think weâre an item. I was about to clarify things with him today when Balfour walked in and he got the wrong idea.â
Ivyâs eyes clouded with complexity at the mention of Balfour.
Alyssa, understanding her grandsonâs temper all too well, nodded.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updatesâ¦
âSilly girl, did you rush back from the set just because of this?â
Alyssa took Ivyâs hand, and Ivy looked up at her with a hint of bewilderment.
âGrandma, many people know Iâm your granddaughter-in-law, and Iâm afraid it might cause trouble for you and Grandpa. Iâm sorry⦠I never wantedâ¦â
12:08 âYou, my dear, are worrying too much. Your grandpa and I might not mind gossiping much, but we do hear things. Even if we ignore them, there are always those eager to ensure weâre âinformedâ We knew about this long before you thought to tell us.â
Alyssa patted Ivyâs hand reassuringly, signaling her to be at ease.
As Ivy had feared, some people were aware of her ties to the Howard family, and some coveted Ivyâs position, thinking they could sway the elders by whispering scandals into their ears.
But Alyssa had little regard for those who resorted to such tactics!
And as for lvyâs character, she and her husband knew her worth all too well.
âPeople these days think weâre senile. Even if there were something between you and that actor from the set, would you be so bold as to flaunt it in front of colleagues?
Besides, though weâve aged, weâre not oblivious to the ways of the internet. Your interaction with the actor-itâs just publicity, right?
Handled well, it could draw more attention to your movie, correct? Itâs just a way to attract an audience.
Weâre well aware of that.â