Chapter 18:

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Colton had already lost focus once tonight on the yacht. If Allison had seemed like a fiery rose that day, full of thorns, now her quiet composure made her resemble the moon glowing outside—soft and luminous, yet equally distant and cold.

Once the initial awe faded, all that lingered was a sense of deep unfamiliarity. The Allison he once knew never bothered with makeup, and her eyes had been warm and gentle. Now, those same eyes held a chill, as if he were a stranger to her. Not a single trace of affection remained. Not even bitterness.

For reasons he couldn’t quite pin down, an inexplicable irritation flared up inside Colton. Noticing his distraction, Melany felt frustrated, her eyes flickering with a hint of jealousy.

“Lindy, are you alright?” Melany stepped forward, her hand gently patting Lindy’s back as if to comfort her.

“Allison, whatever differences we have, we should settle them amongst ourselves. How could you treat Lindy like this? She’s our elder. Aren’t you worried about upsetting her?” Melany shot a glance at Kaelyn, silently signaling her. Kaelyn caught on immediately.

“Exactly, Ms. Clarke! How could you be so thoughtless? You’re an orphan with no parents, right? If the Stevens family hadn’t taken you in, would you be living the life you do now? Even after Mr. Stevens divorced you, he didn’t leave you empty-handed. You walked away with a full four million! And this is just over an invitation, isn’t it? But here you are, causing Madam all this grief. It’s clear as day that someone like you can’t hold a candle to Miss Johnson’s grace!”

Seeing how they teamed up, Allison wasn’t the least bit surprised. Kaelyn was Lindy’s loyal lackey, and without Lindy’s approval, she wouldn’t dare act so boldly with Melany.

Lindy coughed softly, putting on the act of someone deeply hurt.

“I’m fine. Allison has always been respectful. She wouldn’t do something like that.”

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Kaelyn quickly added, “Madam’s been so kind to you these past three years. Even after the divorce, she still treated you as a family member and gave you that bracelet—”

“Ah, the bracelet.” A sarcastic laugh slipped from Allison’s lips. “If I’m not mistaken, that bracelet’s part of a set, right? And the other one should be wrapped around your wrist, Kaelyn. So, tell me, has Lindy treated you as her daughter too?”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

Kaelyn’s face drained of color, her voice shaking as she stumbled over her words.

“Madam, don’t listen to this lunatic. I’ll throw her out right now! How could we let someone like her make waves in the Stevens family?”

Allison chuckled, her voice calm but cutting. “You speak so righteously, but it’s a bit much coming from someone with sticky fingers. Of all the things you could’ve stolen, you went for Lindy’s favorite bracelet.”

Kaelyn’s face paled further, and Allison continued, “How does it feel, sleeping surrounded by stolen jewels? I bet the box under your bed is crammed so full of stolen goods it can barely close.”

Kaelyn was in shock. She had been so careful, never imagining her little side activities had been discovered. Her legs nearly gave out, and she stammered, “That… that’s ridiculous…”

But Lindy wasn’t slow to catch on. She understood the situation with the sharpness of a blade.

“Get out!” Lindy snapped, her voice cold. “I’ll deal with you later!”

“Lindy, please, don’t upset yourself. This isn’t worth it,” Melany quickly tried to soothe her, but panic crept into her tone. She had invested so much, bribing Lindy’s maid Kaelyn just to get close to the Stevens family. Now, in just a few words, Allison had gotten Kaelyn thrown out.

Allison turned her gaze to Melany, offering a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I don’t need anyone’s approval to take back what’s mine. And considering that someone like me, an orphan with no ties, could still get the Cobweb invitation—” Allison’s voice was casual, almost indifferent, as she spoke in front of everyone. “Once you’re married into the family, you should at least be able to manage that much. So, Lindy, there’s no need to worry. With such a resourceful new daughter-in-law, the Stevens family is bound to rise to even greater heights.”

Melany was struck speechless. She had set the trap for herself.

Allison’s words were a carefully placed thorn. If Melany couldn’t bring anything significant to the table, she would never stand tall within the Stevens family. The whispers would never stop, and she would constantly be compared to Allison, always found wanting.

Just the thought of it made her blood boil.

But Lindy’s eyes lit up, and a knowing smile crept across her face.

“Of course, Melany’s parents are more than capable. Not only will they support their daughter, but they’ll surely help the Stevens family thrive as well. So, Allison, think carefully — are you really ready to sever all ties with us?”

Her words held both a veiled threat and a promise.

A threat and a clear challenge, aimed squarely at Allison, while also applying pressure on Melany.

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