Chapter 19:

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“Mrs. Stevens, you’re blowing this way out of proportion. I’m just reclaiming what’s mine. There’s no need to turn this into a battlefield. Besides, I’ve already arranged for my things to be packed up at Green Lake Villa. By the time I meet Keanu, it’ll all be done. After today, we’ll be strangers.” Allison glanced at her watch. “The Stevens family has more money than they know what to do with. Surely, you wouldn’t be clinging to an invitation like this.”

Lindy’s face flushed red with fury at Allison’s indifference. “We don’t need anything from you!”

Colton quickly jumped in, standing by his mother’s side, glaring at Allison as if she were a splinter under his skin. “If I’d known you were such a petty woman, I would never have let you set foot in our home. Give her the invitation and get her out!”

Allison didn’t so much as blink, her calmness cutting deeper than any retort could have. The more she ignored him, the hotter Colton’s temper flared. “If it wasn’t for the fact that you saved my grandfather’s life, I’d never have married someone like you—”

Before he could finish, a voice thundered from the hallway.

“You ungrateful fool!”

Keanu stormed in, his eyes blazing with disappointment as his butler helped him. Without warning, Keanu lifted his cane and struck Colton across the back.

“What kind of grandson did I raise? You’ve been hoodwinked by that woman!”

He jabbed his cane toward Melany, his rage impossible to miss.

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“Have you forgotten how she dumped you for a bigger paycheck? Ran off on your wedding day and almost turned this family into a laughingstock! If it weren’t for Allison cleaning up your mess, would you even have the life you have now?”

Colton stammered, scrambling for some defense. “I… I haven’t forgotten. But Melany was trapped in that marriage by her parents. What was she supposed to do? Just like I was forced to marry Allison because of you—”

Smack!

Keanu’s hand cracked across Colton’s face before he could finish.

“You’re an idiot, Colton! Melany’s pulled the wool over your eyes!”

Watching Keanu, the only person in the Stevens family who had ever shown her any real respect, Allison was deeply moved. She stepped forward to steady him. “Keanu, please—”

“Don’t get so worked up. Your health can’t handle this kind of stress. You just got out of the hospital. You need rest.”

Keanu exhaled deeply, as if each breath weighed more than the last. He patted Allison’s shoulder, guiding her to sit beside him on the sofa. His gaze bore into Colton, every word dripping with disappointment.

“For three years, Allison has held this family together so you could focus on your work. In my lifetime, I’ve learned that gratitude is the heart of everything. If you can’t understand that, you don’t deserve to carry the Stevens name!”

Colton’s face reddened, a mixture of shame and anger. He bit his tongue, not daring to argue.

When the sting of Keanu’s reprimand finally settled, he turned to Allison, his expression softening. “If this fool doesn’t shape up, I’ll disown him without a second thought. From this day forward, I recognize only one granddaughter-in-law.”

The words landed like a bombshell.

Keanu’s favoritism towards Allison was no secret, but the extent of his affection took everyone by surprise.

Lindy, standing off to the side, had never seen Keanu speak with such finality. She had been married into the Stevens family for decades and had never earned even half the favor Keanu showed Allison. Now, in front of everyone, he was willing to discard his own blood for her? However, Lindy didn’t dare to lose her temper in front of him. She excused herself instead. “Keanu, I’m not feeling well. I’ll head upstairs.”

As she disappeared, Melany found herself standing on shaky ground.

Trying to salvage the situation, she put on her most fragile expression and turned to Colton. “Colton, it’s clear Keanu doesn’t like me. Maybe I should go, before I cause any more trouble.”

Colton, falling for her act, squeezed her hand. “I won’t let you leave.”

But Keanu’s patience had run dry. “Both of you, get the hell out!”

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