“She’s not even gone, and already she’s turned our family upside down. Back when Allison was around, she was obedient and never created this sort of chaos.”
“Mom!” Colton snapped, clearly irked.
“And why are you yelling at me? You’ve already lost the deal with the Everett Group; what more can you bear?” Lindy’s voice turned as sharp as ice. “I heard everything about today. Isn’t Melany supposed to be a genius in the fragrance world? Yet she couldn’t manage something so straightforward. She even had the gall to jump into a river?”
Colton’s frustration bubbled over. Lindy’s words felt like salt in an open wound.
“So what if we lost Everett Group’s sponsorship? I am working hard to expand our overseas market,” he replied quietly. “Mom, don’t fret. I can handle this myself-“
Slap!
Before Colton could finish, his face was whipped to the side by a fierce strike. His cheek flared in pain as he clutched it, disbelief clouding his features.
Lindy’s eyes were cold and unyielding. “How did I raise such a useless son? Your father’s mistress already gave birth to a son. Over the years, your father has secretly funneled millions to that woman behind my back, and I’ve had to turn a blind eye!” Her disappointment was a heavy shroud. “So hurry up and secure Everett Group’s backing. Show that you are the rightful heir of the Stevens family!”
“Mom, how can you say that?” Colton slowly raised his head, wiping the blood from his mouth with his finger. His eyes sparked with coldness. “If you truly cared about me, you’d see that I’m doing everything I can to fix this. I’m not the man you think I am.”
“Father, why haven’t you cut ties with the other men in your life? Or why not just get a divorce? How are you any better?”
His voice dripped with bitter sarcasm.
Slap! Another sharp slap landed on his face.
“And you dare speak to me like that? I sacrificed everything for you, raised you with the hope that one day you would take the reins of this family!”
Lindy, though seething, softened slightly as she observed the coldness in Colton’s gaze.
“Don’t you see my struggles? Everything I’ve done has been for your sake. Your grandfather disliked me, and your father is living a lavish lifestyle. What could I possibly do? I have to rely on you.”
She wrapped her arms around Colton, sobbing, as if every burden she carried was meant for his sake.
“If it weren’t for you, would I have to go through this humiliation? That woman even came to flaunt herself in front of me. Why don’t I confront your father? It’s to make your journey easier. That’s why I had to swallow my pride! Colton, you need to understand my pain.”
Hearing her words, Colton felt his resolve waver, his expression softening.
Noticing the effect her words were having, Lindy stepped closer, adjusting his tie with a gentle touch.
“I always liked Allison. I wouldn’t have treated her like family if I didn’t. You two were once married, and I can see how she looks at you – she still has feelings for you. Trust me, I know these things.” She caressed Colton’s face tenderly.
“So, Colton, go see her again. Ask Allison to give up Everett Group’s position. Whatever she wants, whatever the cost, we will make it happen.”
Colton recalled the humiliation he faced today, but the weight of Lindy’s pained expression bore down on him.
With a frown, he finally said, “I will do my best.”
On Saturday, Allison arrived at the Lloyd Mansion, ready to begin her new role as a tutor. As she took in her surroundings, she teased Kellan, “What a magnificent home you have, Mr. Lloyd. Honestly, any butler could have shown me around. I’m just a tutor; there’s no need to roll out the red carpet for me.”
“For an ordinary tutor, perhaps,” Kellan replied, pausing for a moment before continuing. “But you are anything but ordinary. Besides, Lorna is shy around strangers. My presence will help her feel more at ease.”
Lorna Lloyd, the little princess of the Lloyd family, had her sculpture room nestled right next to Kellan’s bedroom. The way the room was arranged spoke volumes about the time Lorna dedicated to her craft. The window opened to a garden bursting with roses, where a swing swayed gently in the breeze. Every detail reflected a meticulous thought process. As soon as Allison pushed the door open, she spotted a small child with a bun in her hair, crouched in the corner, diligently working on a mold amid an array of sculpting tools.
Lorna was so absorbed in her task that she didn’t even notice the door creak open.
“Is your niece on the spectrum?” Allison asked gently.
“No,” Kellan replied, his expression darkening momentarily. “Lorna is my younger brother’s daughter. He passed away, which caused her psychological trauma. The doctors diagnosed her with reactive autism.”
At the mention of his brother’s death, a flash of anger flickered across Kellan’s face, quickly masked by a stoic calm. The shift was brief, but Allison noticed it.
“I understand,” Allison said thoughtfully.
Allison knew that Kellan’s brother had been a business prodigy, tragically falling victim to the mafia in Leswington. It was a heartbreaking chapter in their family’s history.
Children like Lorna, who developed autism as a result of trauma, often had heightened sensitivity compared to those who were born with the condition. Allison realized she needed to tread carefully. She couldn’t afford to trigger any of Lorna’s emotional walls, or her teaching efforts could backfire.
“You will only need to come by on Saturdays and Sundays. I will pay you eight thousand a month,” Kellan said, seemingly eager to avoid dwelling on his brother’s death. He absently twisted the ruby ring on his finger and gestured toward the room. “Please, Ms. Clarke.”
“Eight thousand for just eight days a month? Mr. Lloyd, you certainly don’t skimp,” Allison quipped, though the salary wasn’t her primary concern.
Kellan, however, met her gaze with seriousness. “You were Mr. Welsh’s teacher, and even his sculpture lessons are priceless. You certainly deserve this rate.”
Unlike Colton, who often doubted her, Kellan, though cautious and skeptical, was quick to trust once he recognized someone’s worth. He not only had faith in Allison’s ability to teach Lorna, but he also held her in high regard, as reflected in her generous pay.
“Don’t worry, I will teach her well,” Allison replied with a nod, her gaze drifting toward the quiet girl in the corner. She slowly approached Lorna, crouching beside her and silently observing the ceramic piece in Lorna’s small hands.
Once Allison sensed that Lorna was comfortable with her presence, she reached for a nearby pottery tool, grabbed a small piece of clay, and began working on it herself.
Kellan watched them quietly from his wheelchair. Sunlight streamed into the room, bringing with it the faint fragrance of blooming roses from the garden. The atmosphere was tranquil, filling the space with a sense of peace that made it easy to relax.
Kellan had not set his sights too high. He simply wanted Lorna to connect with others, to take her time, and to feel less hesitant around people.
But Allison was already surpassing his expectations.
Lorna abruptly stopped fidgeting with the ceramic toy, her gaze fixated on the ceramic mushroom that Allison had just shaped. Allison caught her stare while skillfully crafting another small mushroom, keeping a watchful eye on her from the corner of her vision.
Lorna’s eyes sparkled with a hint of enthusiasm, though her body remained still and reserved.
Allison set another array of tools in front of Lorna. Lorna’s hands often wobbled, and she had a tendency to bump or knock things over. But Allison met this with a deep well of patience. With gentle precision, she occasionally sprinkled water onto the clay, making it easier to mold. Lost in her own creative world, Lorna seemed barely aware of Allison’s presence.
Bit by bit, Lorna transformed a lump of clay into a tidy form. It was clear to Allison that Lorna possessed natural talent and an intuitive grasp of the craft that often required no instructions.
“Just steady your left hand a bit,” Allison suggested softly after a few gentle nudges.
Taking the advice to heart, Lorna remained silent and soon crafted a uniquely shaped mushroom.
Allison beamed and handed Lorna the carving tool, which Lorna accepted quietly. Observing this, Kellan murmured almost under his breath, “Lorna…” He recalled a past teacher who had given Lorna a carving tool, a moment that had caused her to retreat into herself, overwhelmed by anxiety. She had even hurt her finger on a file back then. But now, as Lorna accepted the tool from Allison, she radiated calm focus, a stark contrast to her previous tension.
Though still reserved with strangers, the tightness in her demeanor had eased. She diligently mirrored Allison’s actions.
When Lorna saw Allison deftly flick her finger to carve an intricate pattern, she attempted to imitate her with a rougher technique, her concentration sharpening despite her confusion.
“Check this out, I finished mine,” Allison said, lifting her creation for Lorna to admire.
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.