The Kiss that Sparked it All

“Oh it’s just a newly adopted dog. It was making a ruckus when I brought it home, so I didn’t let you meet it earlier. The folks over at the pet clinic said it’s got a wild streak and can’t be around people yet. I’ll bring it around for you to meet once it’s trained up properly. If there’s nothing else, let’s get going. I’ll come with you to the hospital and lend a hand.”

After quite a while, Balfour’s face showed a resigned smile.

“Mara, when will you drop the act? I’ve given you plenty of chances since I’ve come to see you, but not a single word from you has been the truth!”

Mara’s eyes flickered with panic. She stepped back, her smile freezing on her face.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand, Balfour. Are you too tired? You’re not making any sense. I haven’t done anything to hurt you. I haven’t lied, either. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do to explain.”

“The same old story, is that all you’ve got?”

Balfour’s expression turned stone cold as he stepped past Mara, heading straight for the

door.

In a panic, Mara grabbed his arm, “Don’t go there-I told you there’s an untrained dog inside. Why won’t you listen to me?”

“Is it really a dog, or is it the truth you’ve locked away? We both know what’s really behind that door. Are you going to open it yourself, or shall I?”

Balfour grabbed Mara’s hand, leading her to the door and placing her hand on the doorknob with a determination that showed he wasn’t leaving without seeing what was

inside.

Olivia jumped up at the sound of commotion at the door. She crept carefully to listen who was outside.

If it was just Mara, she couldn’t risk it. But if someone else had come, she needed to find a way to cry for help.

Mara was always on the verge of a breakdown, and Olivia didn’t want to end casualty in this house.

She still had a world of people out there waiting to get to know her!

“Open it.”

Balfour’s watchful

eye, Mara slowly tumed the Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

up

another

turned the doorknob, all the while scrambling

for an excuse to explain why she had locked Olivia in the room.

08:18

“Is that Mr. Howard? Please save me!”

Both Balfour and Marȧ heard Olivia’s plea from inside. Mara forced a sheepish smile, “Olivia is just joking around with you, you know, her ideas have been a bit out there since she came back from abroad.”

Balfour snatched the keys directly and swung open the door. Olivia darted out from the room, not trusting anyone.

She stood at a distance, eyeing both of them as an awkward triangle formed in the room.

have

“Enough, it’s all out in the open now. I’m asking you one last time, Mara. Do you anything to do with what happened to Ivy?”

Even now, Mara still wanted to dodge the question. She lifted her tear-filled eyes to Balfour, “Why can’t you trust me? Even if I disliked her, I would never do anything like that to her!

If you trusted me, you wouldn’t keep questioning me over and over. But if you don’t trust me, nothing I say will change your mind. Balfour, I should have realized that you’re not the same person you used to be, are you?”

Her voice was so soft, as if she might shatter at any moment.

Before Balfour could respond, Olivia’s voice cut through first.