Chapter 81:

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“You!” Colton bellowed, disbelief clear in his voice. Allison had become utterly unmanageable! In their three years of marriage, no matter what outrageous demands he or his mother made—no matter how absurd—they never met with resistance. Allison always complied. But now, it seemed like he would have to pay a far steeper price to get his way.

“If you agree to this request, not only will we give you a sum of money, but we’ll throw in 5% of Stevens Group shares. And let’s face it, you never know when you might need something from the Stevens family down the line,” Colton proposed, certain that his offer was generous.

After all, the entire Stevens family would owe Allison a favor if she accepted the offer. What else could she possibly want?

Allison responded with a laugh—cold, distant, and full of ambiguity.

Colton thought he could reel her in with emotional manipulation. It was obvious, though, he had no intention of ever handing over those shares. He believed that a few flattering words would be enough to string her along. What a farce.

The partnership with Everett Group was worth far more than the 5% he was dangling. When he had gone crawling to Kellan, practically on his knees, he had promised 10%—and that was just for an introduction. Now, he expected her to serve up an opportunity on a silver platter for a mere fraction of that?

“I don’t recall this place giving out IQ tests. Maybe you should take a detour to the mental hospital next door,” Allison retorted sharply. “I’ve met shameless people before, Colton, but you? You’re truly in a class of your own. Do you even understand what the word ‘divorce’ means?” She took a deliberate step forward, her eyes sharp and unyielding. “It means you make me sick.”

It had been years since Allison had spoken so directly.

Subtlety was usually her weapon of choice, but this time, Colton had pushed her too far.

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“Well, Allison, if you’re not willing to help, there’s no need to insult him,” came a voice from behind.

It was Melany, entering at just the right moment, positioning herself between Colton and Allison. Her very presence made it impossible for Colton to back down now.

“I know you’ve just come from the Lloyd Mansion, Allison,” Melany said, her tone gentle yet dripping with poison. “But just because you’ve managed to climb the social…”

Melany’s words were sharp, her tone laced with hidden satisfaction. “Climbing the ladder doesn’t mean you should treat the people you once knew so heartlessly. Kellan might like you now, and maybe he welcomes you into his home, but you know how much these high-society families value status. It wouldn’t hurt to leave yourself an exit strategy, Allison.”

Her words appeared to defend Colton, but deep down, Melany was enjoying the tension between him and Allison. That one comment Allison had made about Lindy had been like opening Pandora’s box, setting off a chain of chaos. Ever since, Melany had been the target of constant mockery from Lindy.

Allison, however, simply smiled, indifferent to Melany’s words. “Yes, I was at the Lloyd Mansion. What exactly does that have to do with either of you?” Her tone was detached, as though she couldn’t understand why her personal life was being dragged into this argument. Were Colton and Melany still thinking in such outdated terms? Were they still trapped in the past?

Colton, already frustrated with how much he had to lower himself, was now seething with rage. Oddly, it hadn’t bothered him when Allison had mentioned spending time with a male escort. But the thought of her being with Kellan, however, was unbearable. The idea filled him with a deep sense of humiliation.

He couldn’t even pinpoint exactly what angered him more: that she had walked out on him, or that she had found her way into Kellan’s life.

“You’re absolutely shameless!” Colton roared, his hand raised, as if ready to strike Allison.

Allison’s eyes went cold, and in one fluid motion, she produced a small blade from her sleeve, the light catching on its edge. But just as Colton’s hand began to descend, someone intervened.

A man in a perfectly tailored suit stepped forward, and with one swift, effortless movement, twisted Colton’s arm. Crack.

A scream, sharp and agonized, filled the air, the unmistakable sound of bones snapping echoing in the room. “My arm! My arm!” Colton gasped, drenched in sweat, his entire body trembling as though he had just been pulled from icy water. He stared at his arm, now twisted and bent in a grotesque angle, unable to comprehend the searing pain.

“You—” he spun around, furious, only to find himself staring into a pair of cold, deep-set eyes.

Behind the suited man stood Kellan, seated in his wheelchair.

Sherman, the man in the suit, released his hold on Colton’s arm and respectfully announced, “Mr. Lloyd, I’ve dealt with the garbage.”

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