Chapter 84:

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After all, the events of so many years ago had been buried beneath the sands of time, and proving anything now was like trying to catch smoke with bare hands. Colton had no solid evidence, only his suspicions, and it was undeniable that Allison had once rescued the Stevens family from ruin. Back then, he had been as powerless as a leaf caught in a storm, and when the contract finally arrived, it felt like a lifeline tossed to a drowning man. Still, Colton stood firm, his voice cold and unyielding. “I won’t deny that you did a lot for the Stevens family, but let’s not forget, you chose to do that,” he said, though the ghosts of old rumors flitted through his mind.

Whispers from that time still lingered—rumors about how Allison had been brushed aside by the Lloyd Group. Kellan himself had kept her waiting, tied up in meetings all afternoon before finally granting her an audience. Only Kellan’s assistant had been privy to their discussion, leaving everyone else in the dark about what had truly transpired. The gossip was rampant, and people found it hard to believe that a mere bottle of perfume had sealed such a deal. Some claimed Allison had knelt for hours in Kellan’s office, while others speculated wildly about how she had managed to secure the contract.

Colton added, “I haven’t forgotten your generosity, which is why I made sure the divorce settlement reflected that.” Beside him, Melany let out an exaggerated sigh, her tone dripping with false sympathy. “Allison, you can’t keep bringing up what you did. No matter how much you sacrificed for the Stevens family, you can’t use that to barter for favors. That would bring shame to the family name, wouldn’t it?”

Her words were laced with venom, though she tried to maintain an innocent facade. “And back then, you were just a housewife. You weren’t even involved in any company dealings. I doubt you even knew how to read the business reports. So, what did you possibly do to impress Mr. Lloyd? Business isn’t like whipping up a fragrance. Are you seriously suggesting you landed that deal just because of your appearance?” Melany’s words were sharp, aimed directly at Allison, belittling her with every sentence. “Mistakes are mistakes, no matter the outcome. Just because things turned out in your favor doesn’t mean the way you went about it was right.”

Each word was a thinly veiled accusation, implying that Allison’s success all those years ago had come at a questionable cost, and Kellan had played a part in it. Allison’s eyes narrowed into icy slits, but before she could snap back, Kellan’s expression darkened, his brow arching in lethal amusement. “Miss Johnson, you’ve quite the talent for spinning tales. If you’re so attached to your tongue, you might want to watch what you say, or I could make sure it becomes food for the beasts.”

Melany whipped her head toward him, her body trembling under the weight of his chilling gaze. Kellan looked at her like a predator eyeing its prey, his cold stare enough to freeze the blood in her veins.

Her hands clenched into tight fists as she tried to steady her breathing.

ᗰσ𝓇𝑒 υ𝐩𝓭𝑎𝓉𝑒𝓈 ι𝐧 ɢ𝒶𝐥𝓷𝑜𝐯𝑒𝓁𝓈.𝒸𝑜𝓂

“Mr. Lloyd, I didn’t say anything inappropriate. I would never—how could I spread baseless rumors?” Melany stammered, her voice shaky.

Kellan chuckled softly, the sound devoid of warmth, filled instead with mocking amusement. “You seem to have a talent for delving into the private affairs of others. Since you enjoy the attention so much, I wouldn’t mind letting all of Ontdale see how you wormed your way into a married man’s life, sneaking through his door while his wife was still around.”

His voice was calm, almost too casual, as he rested his chin on his hand.

“Or, if that’s not enough for you, I could let the world witness the more intimate chapters of your history with your foreign ex-husband. Photos included, of course. I’m sure everyone would be fascinated by such a display.” His tone was quiet, steady—like he had known all along the skeletons in her closet.

Melany found herself at a loss for words. Under the crushing weight of his gaze, she couldn’t summon the strength to argue further. She knew her hands were far from clean, and with Kellan’s far-reaching influence in the media—especially after his recent alliance with that top-tier marketing firm—he had the power to twist the truth at his whim. A single command from him, and her reputation would be scattered like leaves in the wind.

But more than that, she understood that Kellan could ruin her on a global scale if he so desired. Her secrets wouldn’t just be laid bare in Ontdale; he could expose her to the entire world.

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