Chapter 87:

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Colton couldn’t utter a single word, his mouth hanging open as if it were the only expression of his defeat. He stood there, a picture of humiliation, fully aware that no amount of physical pain could compare to the ridicule he would face if this mess ever went public. People would tear him apart, mocking the man who had been beaten to a pulp by a woman.

With Kellan’s influence looming large, any business allies sympathetic to the Lloyd Group would surely distance themselves from the Stevens Group. The damage was already clear.

“Does Mr. Stevens agree with this little arrangement?” Allison asked, her voice cold but casual. “After all, you only took a few hits, and in return, you get the coveted chance to work with the Everett Group—the very reason you groveled here today, isn’t it?”

Her indifference was cutting, but then she threw in a jab at Lindy. “You and Lindy, what a pair of fools. But at least you’ve achieved what you’ve been wanting. I bet she’d be proud of her precious little boy, still under his mama’s thumb.”

Allison knew all too well the twisted games Lindy and Colton played. Lindy didn’t care about Colton as much as she used him.

With a smirk, Allison pulled out her phone and hit record, capturing the pathetic scene in full display.

“I’ll give you three seconds. Agree or don’t, it’s no skin off my back. Three, two…”

At the final count, Colton, furious to the point of nearly passing out, gave a small, reluctant nod.

The deal with the Everett Group was too precious to let slip through his fingers.

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Though he couldn’t speak, Colton’s rage burned inside him like wildfire. He was in no position to challenge Allison—not with Kellan in her corner. But in his mind, he already planned his revenge, imagining ways to make her suffer in ways she couldn’t even dream of.

Meanwhile, Melany felt the rising tide of panic.

“Allison, don’t you think you’re taking this too far? Just because you’ve snagged one deal doesn’t mean you’re untouchable,” Melany spat, frustration bubbling over. She had come here to sabotage everything, to prove to Lindy that Allison couldn’t be trusted. Now, seeing their plan backfire so spectacularly, she was boiling inside. “This is too much!”

Allison responded casually, “Oh? So you don’t want the opportunity after all?”

Colton’s eyes flew wide open, and he furiously shook his head. Melany, though seething with resentment, had no choice but to mutter, “We… we want it.”

Thinking of Lindy’s manipulative, belittling face, Melany tasted the bitterness of defeat.

Allison laughed, soft but laced with mockery. “You want it? And this feels like bullying to you? Sweetheart, this is just the appetizer.”

She calmly tucked her phone away, the recording safely backed up to her computer.

“Like I said before, I’m not one to forget a grudge. Cross me again, and you’ll be begging for another round. Stay out of my way if you want to keep things civil.”

Kellan’s voice cut through the tension, laced with dry humor. “Melany, instead of standing there, pretending to be the victim, maybe you should get Colton to the hospital. They might be able to salvage a few fingers. After all, it’d be awkward if Colton had to sign contracts with a hand full of distorted fingers.”

Allison couldn’t help but chuckle, briefly imagining Colton trying to flip off his business partners while awkwardly signing deals with a mangled hand.

Melany’s face flushed beet-red, tears brimming in her eyes. “You… you two…” she stammered, her usual tactic of crying failing her this time.

Neither Kellan nor Allison had any interest in her tears. Kellan was unmoved, and Colton, writhing in pain, wasn’t in any condition to console her.

Wiping her own tears in a huff, Melany moved to support Colton.

“Come on, Colton. Let’s get you to the hospital. You need to think this through — you can’t just swallow your pride for one deal.”

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