A soft laugh escaped her lips. Whatever feelings she could’ve had for him died in that moment.
Kellan, sitting nearby, sensed the shift in her, but he stayed silent. He knew Allison didn’t need anyone’s pity. She was strong enough to stand on her own.
“Every piece of pottery in our home was made by me. But I wouldn’t expect you to know that! You barely spent any time there, and when you were around, you didn’t notice anything.”
Her words were razor-sharp but spoken without an ounce of anger.
“And as for social climbing, I could never outmatch Melany even if I tried.”
Colton was momentarily taken aback. This wasn’t the reaction he had expected. Allison wasn’t flustered or defensive; she wasn’t even angry. Instead, she was calm-too calm-making his earlier insults seem childish in comparison.
The truth was, Allison had never hidden anything from him. But for three years, Colton had treated her like she didn’t exist. In his mind, she was shallow and conniving, so why would he have noticed the changes in their home? Eventually, Allison had stopped trying altogether. Lost in her thoughts for a moment, she didn’t realize the clay she was working on had wobbled slightly.
“Is there anything else you want to say?” she asked, her gaze lifting to meet his, eyes cold as winter frost. What had been a peaceful day had now been tainted by their intrusion.
Colton found himself at a loss for words. Allison had always been soft around him, easy to overlook. He had never seen her like this-confident, detached, untouchable. Her presence pressed down on him, making the air feel heavier.
Melany, meanwhile, could still feel the sting of the slap Allison had given her recently. The faint red marks were still visible, barely concealed under layers of makeup.
Kellan, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t resist adding his own biting commentary. “Mistaking a diamond for a piece of glass… It’s laughable how someone can toss aside a treasure and cling to something worthless!” His gaze flicked toward the clay, unimpressed. “Allison doesn’t need to climb anyone’s ladder. She could build her own, and once she does, you won’t even have a foot on the first rung.”
Kellan’s words hung in the air; his low, sharp tone sent a chill through the room. “So, either spit out what you came here to say, or get lost. Stop standing here, pretending you matter!”
He turned back to his work, unwilling to let them ruin their day any further.
Colton’s face darkened, his expression growing grimmer by the second as he processed the sharp dismissal. When had anyone ever dared to humiliate him like this? Especially in front of Kellan, the man notorious for his icy demeanor, now openly praising Allison.
Seated in his wheelchair with a gray blanket draped over his knees, Kellan radiated an aura of detached nobility. Despite his physical condition, his presence was overwhelming. His words were like shards of ice, slicing through the room, and a single cold glance from him could freeze anyone in their tracks. It was enough to make one’s skin crawl, as if instinctively knowing they should flee before it was too late.
It wasn’t until Melany’s fingers gently squeezed his hand that Colton snapped back to the present. “Colton?” she whispered, her voice a quiet anchor in the storm brewing within him.
Colton inhaled deeply, reigning in his temper. He had to remind himself that the immense benefits to his company were worth swallowing his pride. Even though fury simmered beneath the surface, he forced himself to speak in a respectful tone. “Since you’re so direct, Mr. Lloyd, let’s get to the point.”
His gaze briefly flicked to Kellan. Sure, the man was successful and respected, but what good was all that power if he was bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life? No amount of influence could change that. And Allison? She could cling to him all she wanted, but she’d soon find herself trapped with a man whose temper was as volatile as his reputation.
When that day came, even if she came crawling back to him, Colton wouldn’t lift a finger to help.
“As long as you’re willing to assist us with this small favor, Mr. Lloyd, I’m prepared to offer ten percent of the Stevens Group’s shares. All I ask is that you act as an intermediary and arrange a meeting with the president of the Everett Group. What do you think?”
This was Colton’s ace, his final move. He refused to believe that even someone like Kellan could resist the bait.
Even Allison had to admit, on the surface, the offer seemed highly advantageous.
The Everett Group, after all, was the largest advertising conglomerate in Ontdale, with a name that resonated throughout the industry, though its president remained elusive. Their marketing tactics were revolutionary, and many tried to imitate their approach, but no one ever succeeded.
Offering up shares in exchange for a simple introduction was a massive investment on Colton’s part, but the potential payoff was worth every penny.
For Kellan, this was a win-win. All he had to do was play matchmaker. If the deal went through, Stevens Group’s stock would skyrocket, and Kellan would collect dividends indefinitely. Even if the meeting failed, that ten percent stake still represented a fortune.
But then, Allison smiled – a subtle, knowing smile.
Sure enough, Kellan, sitting in his wheelchair, spoke with icy indifference. “You expect me to help you with just that?”
His gaze sharpened, and his words sliced through the air like a dagger. He looked at Colton and Melany as though they were two children lost in a game far beyond their understanding.
“Mr. Lloyd, surely you should reconsider – this deal is practically foolproof,” Colton interjected, a faint hint of desperation creeping into his voice.
“I’m not lacking in money, and petty gains like these don’t interest me,” Kellan replied, his tone dripping with disdain. “More importantly, to me, ruthless partners are acceptable, but foolish ones aren’t.”
Despite his confinement to a wheelchair, Kellan’s aura of superiority was unshakable.
“Anyone who can’t even exercise sound judgment in picking their associates? Tell me – do you think, with your limited vision, you’re qualified to discuss cooperation with someone like me?”
Allison didn’t blink. Kellan’s unpredictability was well known, and she could see how Colton had severely underestimated the man before him.
To Colton, the Stevens family’s assets were a golden prize, but for someone like Kellan, it was merely pocket change. If Kellan wanted wealth, why would he bother partnering with Colton? He could dismantle the Stevens Group at will and seize whatever equity he pleased.
“Mr. Lloyd.” Melany spoke up softly, her voice carrying a practiced innocence. But before she could say another word, Kellan’s knuckles tapped the table lightly. The sound was barely audible, but its impact was immediate, silencing her mid-sentence.
“I would strongly advise against anyone spoiling my good mood today,” Kellan said, his voice chilling, laced with quiet menace that seeped into the bones of everyone present.
Colton’s confidence crumbled as he took in Kellan’s icy demeanor. In that instant, the bravado he carried moments ago vanished. He suddenly remembered Kellan’s reputation-a man not to be crossed.
It was years ago when Colton first heard about Kellan. While dining out for a business meeting, he witnessed a man being dragged out of a restaurant and thrown into the freezing street, soaking wet and shivering. Colton’s supplier, watching with a mix of disdain and sympathy, had muttered, “Of all the people to offend, he had to pick that devil.”
Colton later learned that Kellan had ordered the man to be dunked in sub-zero water repeatedly in the cold winter-a brutal, cold-blooded act. The man’s company, once a strong competitor, disappeared from Ontdale shortly afterward, vanishing without a trace.
“Business not going well doesn’t excuse our lack of decorum. We overstepped today,” Colton said, his breath shaky as the memory of Kellan’s ruthlessness resurfaced. With the image of that man’s fate vivid in his mind, Colton attempted to salvage the situation. “We won’t take up any more of your time, Mr. Lloyd.”
But Melany wasn’t ready to let go so easily. She bit her lip and stepped forward. “Mr. Lloyd,” she began softly, her voice laden with feigned regret, “it’s our fault. We shouldn’t have wronged Allison. If you’ve heard any exaggerated rumors that might have clouded your judgment, let me apologize on Colton’s behalf…”
Before she could finish, Kellan’s chuckle cut through the air.
His lips curled into a smile, but his eyes remained as cold as ever. “What are you to apologize on someone else’s behalf?” His voice dripped with disdain. “Even the Stevens family doesn’t qualify to offer me an apology.”
The words stung like a slap, and Melany froze. The innocent, demure act that had always worked on others did not affect Kellan.
“And as for rumors,” Kellan continued, his tone colder than before. “Considering that Ms. Clarke is the esteemed teacher of Emanuel Welsh, I would naturally choose to believe her over the likes of you.”
Colton’s mind reeled. Allison? The teacher of the world-renowned potter, Emanuel Welsh? It was too absurd to believe. But then again, Kellan seemed utterly convinced. As Colton glared at Melany, her earlier words took root in his mind, further solidifying his bias. He was now certain Allison was behind all this, scheming to ruin his plans.
The coincidence of her presence here felt like proof.
“Mr. Lloyd, you’re being deceived,” Colton protested, his voice gaining strength. “How could Allison possibly be Emanuel’s teacher? No one knows her better than I do. She’s spinning a ridiculous tale, and sooner or later, the truth will come out!”
Allison, unfazed, met Colton’s gaze and spoke calmly. “What if it’s true?”
“If it’s true, then I’ll owe you an apology,” Colton shot back, unwilling to back down.
“An apology won’t be enough,” Allison replied, her tone sharp. “In Athton, we follow local customs. When someone’s reputation is slandered, the apology must be made on one’s knees, with three bows. Do you dare?”
Colton smirked, his certainty unshaken. “What’s there to-“
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.