Kellan couldn’t help but chuckle at Allison’s comment in the villa. He never imagined Colton would be naive enough to fall into such an obvious trap.
Colton, hearing the familiar voice, scowled. “Allison, still mingling with other men? Do you have no shame?”
Allison shot back, “Who I spend time with is none of your concern. And before you lecture me, Mr. Stevens, maybe take a look at who you’re holding. When it comes to judgment, I’ve got you beat.”
Kellan arched a brow at her words, lowering his tone as if savoring the moment. “Sorry, Mr. Stevens, but I already took the medicine. Whatever you’re after, I can cover it. After all, with your company in shambles, money’s the one thing you need the most.”
His casual, mocking tone was like salt in Colton’s wound, his blood simmering with anger. Colton’s face darkened. “So, Allison, you’ve really worked your way up, huh? Couldn’t even help my mother in her time of need. Don’t you fear the consequences?”
“Exactly,” Allison replied, her tone cutting. “Even if you’ve moved up, doesn’t being so heartless scare you? Afraid of being left behind?”
Though her words seemed gentle, Melany clenched her fists, green with envy. How had Allison managed to snag Kellan? The Lloyd family’s fortune dwarfed that of the Stevens.
As Melany prepared to say more, the call was cut off abruptly. A flurry of beeps followed, and when they tried calling back, they found the number blocked.
Colton, seething with rage, realized they had lost their only shot at the medicine. How could he face his mother now? And Allison-she’d handed the pill meant for his mother to someone else!
“Colton, calm down,” Melany said. “In Allison’s eyes, others matter more than us. After all, now that we…” She deliberately stopped midsentence, pretending to realize she might have said too much. The damage was done.
Her attempt at subtle manipulation only poured gasoline on Colton’s fury. “She’s crossed the line!” he snarled. But unable to act, they returned to the Stevens Villa, defeated.
When Lindy heard what had happened, her anger exploded. She hurled everything on the table to the floor, screaming, “What use are you two? You couldn’t even bring back one pill! I nearly died giving birth to you, Colton!”
Hearing her dredge up that old grievance, Colton, who had been holding back all day, snapped. His expression darkened, the storm within him finally breaking. “You didn’t have to give birth to me!”
Lindy froze, her son’s words landing like a slap to the face. She slumped into a chair, tears rolling down her cheeks as she hid her face in her hands.
“I didn’t mean to lash out,” she whispered, broken. “But I’m in agony. The medicine’s gone, and we can’t reach the research institute. Our only hope is Allison. Calm down, and invite her over. Tell her…” Lindy paused, calculating her next move. “Say your grandfather is on his deathbed and wants to see her. They were always close; she’ll come.”
Colton grimaced at the thought of using his grandfather, but seeing his mother’s tears softened him. He pulled out his phone, only to be met with a flood of junk messages and missed calls. The screen flickered under the weight of the notifications before freezing entirely.
Someone had leaked his number.
Grinding his teeth, Colton spat, “Allison, you snake!”
In the Lloyd Mansion, Kellan leaned back, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Ms. Clarke, why not just turn off your phone? Colton’s acting like a madman. Want me to get someone to take care of it?”
Allison glanced at her phone, its screen glowing with notifications. A faint smile curled her lips. “No need. Colton should start praying for himself. I’ve already given him a taste of his own medicine. Even changing his number won’t save him – he’ll need a whole new phone.”
Kellan chuckled, intrigued by her confidence. He wasn’t sure exactly what she had done, but the determined look in her eyes made him appreciate her even more. Allison’s sharp mind, paired with her ruthless streak, was something he found undeniably alluring. At times, it felt like they were perfectly in sync.
Nearby, Kellan’s private doctor hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “Mr. Lloyd, as usual, the check-up shows no major concerns, but your neural headaches remain tricky to treat. I’ve prescribed sedatives for now, but we still need to pinpoint the trigger. Once we do, I can offer a more targeted approach.”
Kellan’s gaze darkened slightly at the mention of the trigger. Without a word, he waved the doctor away. The man offered a polite nod toward Allison before quietly gathering his things and leaving.
Once they were alone, Kellan asked, “Do you have the contact info for the MDH?”
“I do,” Allison replied, quickly sending him the address.
Kellan didn’t ask her to make any calls. He planned to handle it himself.
She sighed inwardly. That was what a normal person would do. Unlike Colton, who seemed incapable of dealing with anything rationally.
Kellan saved the address, glancing at her. “Thanks, Ms. Clarke. I didn’t expect you to have the medication so readily available.”
Allison’s face remained neutral. “Just a lucky coincidence.”
Kellan didn’t press. One lucky break could be chance, but several? That hinted at something deeper. He silently contemplated the many secrets Allison seemed to carry. If he could figure her out, maybe he could repay the debt he owed her.
Seeing that Kellan was doing better, Allison decided it was time to leave. “I have something to handle. Get some rest, Mr. Lloyd.” With that, she stood up and left, the butler escorting her to her car.
As she settled behind the wheel and adjusted the steering, she headed toward Muisvedo to check on her hacker server. But halfway there, she spotted a familiar car parked by the roadside. Across from it stood Colton and Melany.
“I need to talk to you!” Colton called out, stepping forward. Allison frowned. These two were like persistent leeches, impossible to shake off.
Colton moved to block her car. “Get out. I want a serious conversation this time.”
Allison lowered her window slightly, her long hair catching the evening breeze. “Move. Smart people know when to get out of the way.” Seeing her cold demeanor, Colton clenched his teeth and stubbornly stood in front of the car.
“Get out. I really need to talk,” he insisted.
He was certain that no matter how cold she seemed, she wouldn’t run him over.
But Allison’s expression oozed disdain. “Mr. Stevens, you have no fear of death, do you?” Her lips curled into a sneer. “Since you’re so eager, why don’t I just help you along?” With that, she slammed her foot on the gas, and the car roared toward him.
Colton’s face turned sickly pale as he stumbled back. “Are you out of your mind?” His attempt to stop Allison’s car was met with the deafening roar of the engine and a sudden, sharp acceleration.
Allison’s car showed no sign of slowing down. In the blink of an eye, the vehicle was almost upon him-Bang!
Instinctively, Colton yanked Melany by the arm, and the two tumbled awkwardly to the side of the road, narrowly avoiding disaster.
“Allison, you’re completely insane!” he shouted, disbelief and fury twisting his expression. He hadn’t expected her to be so ruthless. Judging by the car’s speed, she hadn’t touched the brakes-she had truly intended to run them down.
Melany, equally shaken, couldn’t hold back her tears, this time fueled by genuine fear.
“She was really trying to kill us! She’s evil!” Her voice trembled as sobs wracked her body.
Colton rose to his feet, his rage simmering just beneath the surface. But instead of slowing, Allison’s car sped off, leaving only the acrid scent of exhaust fumes-a mocking reminder of her control over the situation.
Despite the shock, Colton couldn’t afford to back down. Gripping Melany’s arm, he growled, “Come on. We’re following her.”
Melany hesitated, clearly terrified, but eventually slid into the passenger seat of Colton’s car, her reluctance palpable. Determined yet cautious, Colton followed at a safe distance. His attempt at stealth, however, didn’t escape Allison’s sharp eyes.
Glancing in her rearview mirror, Allison noticed them immediately. A derisive smirk played on her lips.
“Still following, huh?” she muttered to herself. If she didn’t deal with them now, they’d keep dogging her every move.
Allison expertly maneuvered through the city streets, cutting corners like a seasoned driver before pulling into the shadowy depths of Muisvedo. She parked her car in an alleyway, long forgotten by civilization. As Colton took in the surroundings, his expression darkened with distaste. Muisvedo had earned its reputation as a breeding ground for trouble, particularly after nightfall. With its abundance of dive bars, the streets were often a stage for drunken brawls and wayward souls struggling to scrape by. Violence simmered beneath the surface, and more than one scuffle had ended with someone drawing their last breath.
“Isn’t she supposed to be with Mr. Lloyd now? What is she doing in this place? Don’t tell me she’s heading into one of those seedy bars!” Melany scoffed, her voice dripping with venomous glee. “I never pegged Allison as the type to enjoy the nightlife.”
Every opportunity Melany had to tarnish Allison’s reputation, she seized with both hands. What had once been an attempt to sway Colton’s affections had now evolved into something fueled by jealousy over Kellan. Why should Allison, of all people, have a better life than her?
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.