Chapter 97:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

Allison swiftly administered the medication to Kellan, her movements precise and steady. Moments later, he stirred, blinking against the hazy remnants of unconsciousness. She pressed a cool glass of water into his hand, her voice soft yet steady. “Mr. Lloyd, are you feeling any better now?”

Kellan blinked, his brow furrowing slightly as if he hadn’t expected to find her there. “Yes,” he murmured, his previously pained features softening a little.

His gaze, however, soon shifted to the label on the capsule bottle. Upon seeing the familiar logo of the research institute, a flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.

“Thank you, Ms. Clarke,” he said hoarsely. “This is the second time you’ve saved me.”

“No biggie,” Allison replied, waving it off with a casual shrug. She reasoned that it would have been a waste not to use the medicine. After all, there was no way she’d let something so valuable fall into the greedy clutches of the Stevens family.

Just then, Kellan’s expression sharpened, his curiosity piqued. “This medication… It’s from the MDH Pharmaceutical Research Institute, isn’t it? I’ve heard it’s reserved for an elite few in Vrining. Most people don’t even know it exists.”

His voice held an edge of intrigue, his interest in Allison growing as if he was peering through a crack into a much larger mystery. Just how many secrets was this woman hiding? And why had she chosen to stay in Ontdale?

In response, Allison curled her lips into a playful smile. “You’re well-informed, Mr. Lloyd. But I only came across this medicine by pure luck.”

They circled each other carefully, their words like pieces on a chessboard — both testing the waters, both enjoying the subtle sparring.

Just as Allison was preparing to steer the conversation in a different direction, her phone buzzed.

Your next favorite is on gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s．𝒸o𝗺

Seeing the unfamiliar number on the screen, she rejected the call without hesitation and quickly blocked the number. But before she could fully relax, another call came, followed by another, and then another…

Frustrated, Allison was about to turn off her phone when Kellan’s voice stopped her. “Why aren’t you answering your phone, Ms. Clarke? Are you being harassed? Do you need any help?”

“It’s Colton,” she said, her tone suddenly flat. “His mother needs the exact same medicine, but I only had one dose.”

Kellan didn’t need any more than that to piece the puzzle together.

His gaze lingered on her, watching as the wind tousled a few strands of her hair. She had given him the last pill without hesitation, even though she knew someone else was in desperate need of it.

For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, his heart skipped a beat. Just then, the phone rang again, interrupting the tender moment. Allison’s expression hardened as she finally answered, Colton’s furious voice booming through the receiver.

“Allison! How dare you attack people in broad daylight?! I sent them to get the medicine, not to pick a fight! How could you leave them in such a sorry state?”

Allison had long since grown immune to Colton’s thick-skinned antics. His entitlement was hardly worth addressing. “Not my problem,” she replied icily, her tone dripping with dry sarcasm. “If it’s that big of a deal, call the police.”

Colton, knowing full well that making a scene over his men following her wouldn’t end well, had no choice but to swallow his pride. His voice softened, shifting to a more pleading tone. “Allison, I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t urgent. My mother’s in terrible pain. I’ll pay whatever it takes — just, please, give me that pill.”

“Sure!” A faint smile played on Allison’s lips, her voice turning light, almost careless. “After all, we were married for three years. I’ll send you an address. Meet me there in ten minutes.”

“Fine,” Colton growled before hanging up, his face twisting in anger. He glanced down at the thugs sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. “Useless idiots! Couldn’t even handle one woman? And now I have to foot their stupid medical bills! Fuck!”

“Don’t be mad, Colton,” Melany purred beside him, stroking his chest flirtatiously. “At least we’ll get the medicine. I just didn’t expect Allison to be so desperate for cash in the end. If she had just named her price earlier, we could’ve avoided all this. She’s all alone now — she must need the money.”

Colton sneered, venom lacing his words. “That vain bitch. The only thing that motivates her is money.”

Luckily, the address wasn’t far, and they made their way quickly. When they arrived, they found themselves standing before a large comedy theater, the grinning face of a clown plastered across the poster outside.

Colton dialed Allison again, struggling to keep his voice steady. “I’m here. Where are you?”

Allison’s laughter crackled from the other end of the line. “Oh, you’re at the right place! Just go inside, stand on stage, and make sure every spotlight is on you. Then, repeat all those ridiculous things you just said to me. I’m sure it’ll be the best act of the night!”

“Allison, you tricked me?!” Colton’s heart sank as the harsh realization hit him. He’d been played like a fiddle.

.

.

.