Ivy glanced at Dean, who had just finished his bowl of lemonade and was delicately dabbing at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. He nodded with a touch of aristocratic grace.
âDonât worry, Ivy,â he reassured her, his voice warm with a grandfatherly affection. âYour Grandma and I, weâve got your back, no questions asked. We both know youâre not the type to get involved in such nonsense. Weâve seen it all before.â
Ivy looked at Alyssa.
Alyssaâs eyes were filled with nothing but care and concern, devoid of any blame or accusation. The sheer empathy in her gaze made Ivyâs eyes well up with tears.
How had she earned the unwavering support of these two genuine souls?
But inside, her heart could not help but feel a pang of loss.
Dean and Alyssa had spent far less time with her than she had with Balfour, yet they chose to trust her unconditionally. As for Balfour?
He easily jumped to the wrong conclusion about her and another manâ¦
She could not help but let out a sigh.
Alyssa could tell that her granddaughter-in-lawâs distress was all thanks to her grandson, who could not seem to understand womenâs hearts. Thus, she felt an increasing dissatisfaction towards Balfour.
In matters of the heart, if two people sincerely wanted to be with each other, they both needed to demonstrate unwavering trust. If they could not even manage that fundamental level of faith in each other, what chance did they have in going forward?
Besides, Dean and Alyssa had both watched the video in question; it was completely innocent.
Ivyâs decision to become an actress had been supported by Balfour from the start. He should have been prepared for the unique challenges of the entertainment industry. In the future, Ivy might have romantic scenes with male actors â was Balfour going to fly off the handle every single time?
Such reactions would only damage the foundation of their relationship.
âGrandpa, Grandma, I canât thank you enough for your trust in me. It means the world,â Ivy said, gripping Alyssaâs hand tightly.
She quickly bowed her head, unable to hold back her tears.
Alyssaâs heart ached more seeing Ivy like this.
12.08 Ah, the poor child, striving for her career, yet she was beset with such troubles.
âItâs the very least we can do, dear. Your grandpa and I believe in you, in who you are! Ivy, be confident.
You deserve our trust,â Alyssa said, her words only intensifying Ivyâs emotional state as she felt the stark contrast to Balfourâs lack of faith.
Whenever something like this happened, Alyssa and Dean offered unconditional trust and support.
But Balfourâ¦Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updatesâ¦
Did he not have a shred of trust in her at all?
In his eyes, was she just someone who would frivolously engage with other men? Was she really seen as that cheap?
Seeing Ivyâs distressed expression, Alyssa gently suggested, âFinish up your lemonade, dear, and then head on up to get some rest. Iâll have the maid call you down for dinner.â
Ivy nodded, her voice soft, âIâll rest for a bit then, Grandpa, Grandma.â
Alyssa watched Ivy ascend the staircase.
Once she was sure Ivy was out of earshot, she turned to her husband and said, âThat boy Balfour has gone and upset Ivy again. I just donât understand; Ivyâs such a good girl. Why canât he see what he has and cherish it? Heâs constantly stirring up trouble. When he returns, I will give him a piece of my mind.â
Dean remained silent, thinking his grandson was just being a bit impulsive â a trait that, oddly enough, seemed to surface only concerning Ivy.
Perhaps it was a bit reckless, unlike his usual decisive self in the business world.
But to Dean, a more human Balfour was preferable.
He hoped his grandson would maintain his composure, but he also knew this was Balfourâs first marriage. Both Balfour and Ivy needed to learn to be more accommodating toward each other, after all.