The Kiss that Sparked it All

But now, what she prepared was her solo rendition of the song. She understood that her fans were here to see more of her.

“Love sincerely, and it’s never a miss,

Those years by the fishing village with you,

Fame and fortune, leaving the past amiss,”

The movie wasn’t out yet, but the melancholy in Ivy’s lyrics had everyone wrapped in a shroud of emotion.

“Oh man, I feel that ‘Ballad of Valor’ is going to be a tearjerker!” Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

“Do you even need to question that?

Didn’t you catch the heartache in Ivy’s performance? Total cry-fest. Can’t believe our girl’s debut is a tragedy. My heart aches for her. She’s been through so much, and still, she’s wrestling with her demons. Colton, you cold-hearted beast!”

“Actually, I’m kinda grateful that the male lead’s been by her side. At the end of the day, having someone to love and support you is way better than going it alone.”

That’s how the ‘mom fans’ felt – unwavering supporters of Ivy no matter what, just like moms. What mattered most was how quickly they’d warmed up to the idea of Balfour, even knowing he’d be lurking in some corner watching Ivy. They’d accepted him with open arms because their “queen bee” needed someone to watch over her constantly. And for Balfour, the big shot CEO of the Howard Group, to care for her like this was something special.

“Pfft, if he doesn’t treat our girl right, he doesn’t deserve her! Even if it is the Howard Group. Our Ivy’s a catch – gorgeous and talented. With her line of suitors, what’s a CEO got on her?”

—

At that moment, one of the mom fans nudged her neighbor, gesturing towards the man sitting in the row ahead.

Wasn’t that Balfour?

They exchanged a quick, knowing look. There he was, not only holding a glowing stick in support of Ivy but even donning a headband with her image on it.

He seemed to dote on Ivy, which set their minds at ease. They didn’t mind Ivy dating; what they feared was a man who wouldn’t treat her right or who’d distract her from her career. But it was clear Ivy wasn’t about to drop the ball on either front.

Balfour sat there, taking in the fans’ candid chatter about him.

Truth be told, he found their words to be spot-on. Ivy hadn’t even released her film and already had this horde of admirers. Suitors would line up from here to eternity.

And with the movie’s premiere around the corner, the number of people falling for Ivy was only going to skyrocket.

Jeez, how does one handle having such a bewitching wife?

If he didn’t buckle down and support her career, he might just find himself outpaced by the competition.

Balfour swayed with the sea of fans with the glowing stick in his hand. He’d never heard Ivy sing before her voice was unexpectedly soothing.

–

He figured Ivy could achieve success in any field she chose. If she fancied it, he’d pull some strings and arrange a record deal for her. Lost in thought, he raised the glowing stick high above his head.