Melany was not consoled by Colton’s casual reassurances. She continued to sob, her voice trembling. “But she truly attacked us without a shred of mercy. It’s too much. I might be fine, but she shouldn’t have harmed you. Weren’t you once married? Doesn’t she understand the effort you put in? Publicly humiliating you and jeopardizing our partnerships. She doesn’t appreciate all you do for the company, and now even Mr. Lloyd might misinterpret our situation. What are we going to do?”
Colton, already boiling from the day’s events, found his thoughts tangled in chaos.
“Enough,” he said, his patience wearing thin. “What does Kellan really matter? Even without his endorsement, the Stevens Group will endure. I’ve heard the fourth International Perfumery Competition is coming up next month, hosted by the Everett Group. I’ll find the right moment to network…”
Suddenly, an idea struck Colton, shifting his mood.
“I’m sorry, Melany. I was out of line today because of my mood,” he said softly, wiping the tears from her eyes. “You’ve been through so much. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Melany nodded, leaning into his embrace.
“It’s okay, Colton. I don’t mind, but I just feel sorry for you.”
Colton placed a tender kiss on her forehead. “Melany, I remember you were the champion of the perfumery competition a few years ago.”
“You remember that?” Melany asked, surprised.
“Of course, I remember everything about you,” Colton said with a smile.
Before Melany could fully appreciate his words, Colton added, “So, could you help me this time? If you make it to the finals in this perfumery competition, we could secure sponsorship from the Everett Group and maybe even meet their CEO.”
Melany blinked as she absorbed his request.
But Colton’s gentle plea was irresistible, and she nodded weakly. “I’ll try my best.”
She remembered her first anonymous international competition. Despite her best efforts, she hadn’t advanced to the finals. Later, by chance, she discovered the champion’s basic perfume recipe and spent nearly two years refining it to produce a product that was approximately 80% similar.
The champion, known as Scarlet Snake, was an elderly individual, nearly sixty, with their gender unknown. Scarlet Snake had vanished in recent years and hadn’t competed again.
Melany used Scarlet Snake’s formula to produce a new blend and easily won the title. Scarlet Snake had been missing for years, and Melany thought that using the formula again would go unnoticed.
“I knew you were my savior. With your skills, you’re sure to outshine everyone!” Colton beamed, pulling her closer. Even without Kellan, Colton felt confident that he could secure a collaboration with the Everett Group.
“Finally, they’re out of here,” Emanuel exhaled deeply, his eyes locked onto the tea set as if it held some ancient secret. “You must be exhausted after all that. There’s some food left over, but it’s my leftovers, not exactly set aside for you.”
Allison’s eyes swept over the table, noting that the dishes were fresher than Emanuel let on. She decided to keep that observation to herself.
Reluctantly, Emanuel stashed the tea set and took his place at the table. They gathered for a meal, and the mood was surprisingly serene. Emanuel was in high spirits, even treating himself to a sip of his treasured Hennessy Paradis. “You’ve fulfilled my biggest dream today! It’s a shame you young folks crave independence so fiercely. I wanted to hand this property over to you so you could settle down.”
Allison nibbled on a piece of delectable fish, more focused on her plate than on Emanuel’s words.
“Are you turning your nose up at it?” Emanuel pressed.
“No. Everyone knows your place here is worth a fortune. It’s the true legacy of the entire Athton.”
If Allison had stamped Emanuel’s name on the ceramics she crafted, it would have been like striking gold and securing her future without further struggle.
Emanuel had seen the harsh realities of life. Today, when that unsavory couple showed up with ill intentions toward Allison, Emanuel had a moment of clarity about her struggles.
Allison was a young woman on her own, freshly divorced, and without the safety net of family. Emanuel wanted to offer her a place of stability.
But Allison’s playful refusal to his offer made him chuckle as he served Kellan a hearty piece of braised meat. “You did a great job today. Here, have this!” A hint of sadness flickered in Emanuel’s eyes. The detestable couple had paraded around his domain today, but they actually held Kellan in high regard. In the end, it was money and power that drove people. Kellan might not have Allison’s talent, but he proved to be quite capable in the everyday grind.
“Allison, I’m not trying to pity you, but I genuinely don’t want these old pieces to vanish from history.”
Emanuel sighed heavily. These days, pottery was largely machine-made, and fewer young people carried the torch. Even his own generation was fading away.
The competitive edge of their youth had left a lasting impression, but the departure of familiar faces brought an inexplicable loneliness.
Understanding Emanuel’s sentiment, Allison put down her utensils and spoke with calm resolve. “I appreciate your desire to preserve the art of pottery, but taking over this property would be too great a burden. I’m not one for being tied down. I promise to promote the craft, but you should prioritize your family when it comes to the property.”
Emanuel wanted to argue further, but Allison skillfully shifted the topic.
“Emanuel, how bad do you think my situation is? Just because I’m divorced doesn’t mean I’m destitute. I own a villa at the Starfish Villas. I’ve just been occupied with other matters, which is why I’m temporarily staying with a friend. I am far from being homeless.”
“Staying with a friend is hardly ideal,” Kellan added. “If you need a place, just let me know. I have plenty of properties. Consider it a reward for today’s guidance.”
“Always the wealthy one,” Allison chuckled.
“Well, it’s getting late. You two might as well stay here tonight,” Emanuel said, rising with a groan. “I’m getting old. Cooking makes my back and waist ache.”
Allison shook her head, seeing through Emanuel’s feigned discomfort. He was likely sore from his excitement over the tea set.
“Since it’s going to rain tonight, you can’t just mooch off my place. Go fetch some dried bamboo shoots from the hill behind.”
Kellan looked at his wheelchair in silence.
“I’m disabled,” he said flatly.
“But you still have arms and legs,” Emanuel retorted. “That fancy wheelchair of yours should make it a breeze. You could probably catch and haul a pig with it, let alone some bamboo shoots. Just go.”
Allison eyed Kellan’s custom-designed wheelchair, produced by a top medical technology team, knowing Emanuel saw any fancy contraption as a mere tool for work.
Kellan, accustomed to Emanuel’s tough-love approach, saw a reflection of his own grandfather in him. Despite Emanuel’s constant scolding, he had always cared for Kellan deeply.
“Alright, I’ll go make good use of my wheels.”
In the serene hills near Athton, where the air was crisp and the landscape a lush embrace of nature, Allison and Kellan shared an unusually peaceful silence. They worked in unison, packing the dried bamboo shoots onto Kellan’s wheelchair, savoring this rare moment of tranquility.
“It’s time to head back,” Allison said, placing her hands on the wheelchair, ready to push Kellan along. But suddenly, her motion halted.
Her instincts, sharpened by experience with lethal threats, kicked in. Allison shoved the wheelchair forward, guiding Kellan to safety.
A man dressed entirely in black materialized out of nowhere, aiming a handgun directly at Kellan. “Don’t blame me, Kellan. You’ve made too many enemies,” he sneered.
Just as the man was about to fire, a cold wind swept through. With a deft sidekick, Allison struck his wrist, sending the gun spiraling off target.
“Go!” Allison commanded urgently, her voice tight with concern.
The assassin’s skill was startlingly professional, a rare trait in these times.
Allison, though disconcerted, focused on ensuring Kellan’s safety first so she could confront the threat without hesitation.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.