The Kiss that Sparked it All novel Chapter 2384

Ivy had long held the belief that she wasn't quite up to par, which, she presumed, was why her parents seemed to favor Clara over her. But as time passed, she learned a hard truth: favoritism doesn't always need a reason.

It was only after she felt the sting of neglect that she was deeply touched by the unconditional affection of the Howards couple. They saw the hurt that others had overlooked and would tenderly pat her hand, their gentle touch a balm to her wounded spirit. They even expressed sorrow for the attention they had unwittingly denied her—a kindness Ivy had never before experienced.

Alyssa's eyes brimmed with sympathy as she wiped away the tears on Ivy's cheeks. "My dear girl, it pains me to see you upset. But don't you worry, I promise you I'll see this matter settled. Remember, you are a granddaughter-in-law of the Howard family. As long as I'm here, those women won't stir up any trouble. And I'll have Balfour explain himself. He was in the wrong here."

Alyssa's thoughts suddenly raced back to that peculiar night in the kitchen when she had seen Mara acting oddly. "It stands to reason that even in deep sleep, Balfour would have stirred with all that commotion. Unless, of course, he wasn't asleep of his own accord."

Her eyes snapped up as the realization hit her. That night in the kitchen, encountering Mara, it was like a flash of insight, and it explained why Balfour had been found asleep on the couch so early!

"No wonder," she murmured to herself. "Even if Balfour was exhausted, he wouldn't normally doze off on the couch, especially not that early. And when I went to the study, I bumped into Mara, claiming she was worried Balfour might catch a cold and had gone to get a book and cover him with a blanket. But I had previously seen her in the kitchen."

"It must have been her, meddling with Balfour's food or drink, otherwise, he wouldn't have slept through such a racket."

Alyssa had pieced it all together, and Ivy felt a chill at the cunning of Mara's actions. She knew exactly why Mara had chosen to send those intimate photos of herself and Balfour—to spark jealousy and disappointment. But Mara hadn't anticipated Ivy discussing the matter with Alyssa and uncovering the truth.