The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2296

Ivy stepped in to defuse the tension, but Mara was far from grateful. In fact, she harbored a deep-seated resentment towards her.

Without Ivy’s interference, she would have naturally found herself by Balfour’s side!

Mara wasn’t about to grovel for a maid’s position. She washed her hands, playing the part of the obedient girl, and then stood aside to watch the others bustling about.

She had wanted to stand next to Balfour, but Ivy had already claimed the spot. Mara had to content herself with craning her neck from a distance to watch.

“Wow, Balfour, you’re getting really good at this!” Her voice dripped with syrupy praise, earning her a piercing glance from Ivy.

Ivy didn’t want to hold it against Mara specifically, but she just didn’t quite understand why a sweet looking girl had to be so pretentious in everything she said and did.

Ivy wasn’t one for empty flattery. “Let’s keep going, we’ve got plenty more to do. Look at how fast Grandpa and Grandma are moving!”

Hearing Ivy prod Balfour along, Alyssa didn’t get upset. Instead, her eyes twinkled with amusement, leaving Mara completely baffled.

Had Ivy somehow cast a spell on Alyssa?

grandson be

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happy marriage, regardless of their different worlds – one an

desired most was for him to have a bustling,

more lively than ever, his life infused with a

saw all this and was overjoyed.

but it only took twenty minutes to bake and serve the pies at their table.

take them out and bake them,” Balfour suggested, not

found Ivy annoying. If she wanted pies, just buy some frozen ones or order takeout –

look of affection, as if Ivy were

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regain your strength.”

but knew that to become Mrs. Howard, she needed

that Alyssa and Dean

with a tender smile as Ivy savored the smaller pie he had prepared especially for her. This was the best meal she had had in