The Kiss that Sparked it All (Ellinor and Theo) novel Chapter 2418

Balfour stood alone in the sterile hospital corridor, his mind a whirlwind of recent events that left him with a pounding headache. Watching the doctors wheel Mara away for tests, he couldn’t help but be swamped by a sense of déjà vu, recalling the fraught days with her sister, Victoria, and the turmoil they had gone through.

After a while, he let out a weary sigh, his thoughts drifting to Ivy. Despite her rise in the cutthroat world of showbiz, she had never lost her integrity. She never harbored intentions to harm others, focusing solely on her craft, on being the best actress she could be.

The thought of Ivy caught in a maelstrom of public scandal made his heart ache anew. The mess, he conceded, was his fault. If only he had steadfastly believed in her, trusted her words, they wouldn’t be in this heartbreaking standoff.

He knew his hasty, hurtful words had cut Ivy deep. But seeing Mara on the ground had triggered haunting memories of Victoria's kidnapping, and the helplessness he had felt then. His emotional defenses had crumbled in that moment.

Ironically, it was Mara who had inadvertently set the stage for her own deception and, ultimately, exposed her lies.

Looking up at the hospital ceiling, Balfour felt the wisdom in his grandmother’s words for the first time. If he had addressed the undercurrents of feelings between them earlier, could they have avoided this chaos?

Had he acknowledged Mara's affection sooner, clarified his stance, perhaps their lives wouldn’t have spiraled out of control. Regret, an emotion alien to him, now gnawed at his conscience.

Meanwhile, Leo’s investigation continued, the case unraveling with surprising ease.