By the time they left the hospital, the swarm of reporters was upon them like vultures to carrion.
Curious onlookers had already begun to pester the staff, demanding to know who was admitted and why Ivy had come to visit.
âHey, Ivy! If sheâs your family member, why not transfer her to a better hospital?â one reporter barked.
âDonât tell me youâre too cheap to spend your hard-earned cash on your own kin. The netâs been buzzing with rumors that youâve cut ties with your family over too many shady deeds -is that true?â
âIvy! Look over here!â another shouted, snapping pictures. âYouâre with a guy as loaded as Mr. Howard, and you canât spare a dime for your family? Whatâs the story behind this family feud?â
Ivyâs breath hitched as their words pierced her heart. Who were they to say she hadnât spent money on her family? Why was it always her being interrogated? The past issues had been clarified already.
Embarrassment and pain washed over her, her cheeks burning with humiliation.
If it werenât for her family, she wouldnât be rendered speechless in front of the prying media. How she wished she could shout it from the rooftops-it wasnât she who wanted to leave, but circumstances forced her hand!
Would any of these reporters have fared better if they had grown up in her shoes? If not, they had no right to grill her. She had no desire to be linked to those people; she just wanted to live her life in peace. Why couldnât they just let her be?
Clarified news was being dredged up and thrown in her face again and again.
Balfour sensed her distress. Their hands were clasped tightly, hers slick with sweat-al clear sign of her anxiety.
He wrapped his arm protectively around her, shielding her from the camera lenses, even pushing a microphone aside with a firm hand.
âWe will not respond to previously addressed and false allegations,â he stated.
It was rare for Balfour, known for his cool demeanor, to speak out for a woman in front of reporters. The press surged forward even more aggressively; microphones aimed at him.
âMr. Howard! Are you aware of what kind of person youâre with?â one reporter challenged. âSheâs cut her ties with her own family. Are you sure you want to bring someone like that into your home?â
âMr. Howard! How did you meet Ms. Dunhill? Was it before or after her career took off? Whatâs your take on having a partner in the spotlight?â
Balfour didnât answer a single question. Instead, he gave the most aggressive reporter a chilling stare.
The reporter was probably itching to hear Balfour say that Ivy had chased after him, using him as a stepping stone into showbiz.
But even a fool would know better than to expect a couple to address such personal matters in public.
âGet lost,â Ivy muttered under her breath, her anger flaring while listening to those questions.
She couldnât fathom why everyone speculated and doubted her motives for being with Balfour.