Chapter 103

Allison's expression remained impassive. "I can't help you," she said flatly, almost disdainfully. "Find someone else."

Colton's brow furrowed, the tension in the room escalating with her cold response. "My mother is practically begging you for that medicine, and you treat her like this! Allison, you have no decency left!"

Allison barely glanced at him, her voice heavy with indifference. "You're right. I lack all sense of manners. So, Mr. Stevens, watch your fingers."

Colton closed his mouth, his expression darkening. He remembered the time Allison had nearly severed his fingers, the blade so close he still felt the chill. Just the night before, he'd seen her effortlessly toss a grown man into a trash can. Clearly ruthless and unyielding, she was no braggart.

Her voice dropped to a chilling tone. "Yes, Mrs. Stevens, you've always been generous. You once tried to exchange a bracelet for an invitation, but I hope you don't expect to exchange a simple earring for life-saving medicine."

Lindy forced a brittle laugh, her composure cracking. "Oh, Allison, how clever. I'll pay anything, down to the last cent."

In every other room, Lindy commanded respect. But here, Allison's sharp words left her furious, her temples throbbing with rage as the tension mounted. Lindy had naively hoped for compassion, or at least a glimmer of Allison's former devotion. Instead, Allison remained distant, colder than ever.

Colton could no longer suppress his fury. His face twisted as he snapped, "Who the hell do you think you are? I don't need you for the medicine. I'll get it myself."

Allison raised an eyebrow, a slight glint of mockery in her eyes. "Then why have you come begging to me again and again? Find it yourself." Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel, clearly tired of the conversation. Wasting her breath on them was beneath her.

Lindy and Colton stood fuming, speechless, as Allison walked away. As she stepped out, she nearly collided with Melany, who stood rigid, simmering with fury. Allison's gaze sharpened. She hissed, "You better move. Smart people know when to step away."

Melany froze, the memory of Allison handling the drunk man the night before flashing vividly through her mind. He instinctively took a few steps back, searching for an answer he didn't find. Allison didn't spare him a glance, walking past as if he were an ant.

From inside the house, the loud crash of breaking glass echoed into the night: Lindy was having another one of her tantrums. Melany clenched her fists. She had heard it all from behind the door. How dare Lindy imply she was beneath Allison. What infuriated her even more was Colton's indifference—he hadn't even defended her! Melany's face softened into an expressionless mask, though her thoughts bubbled beneath the surface. It would be better if Lindy suffered. The woman didn't have much time left. Once Lindy was gone, the entire Stevens family empire would be hers.

Taking a quiet breath, Melany put aside her bitterness and entered the room, a sweet, innocent smile on her lips. "Lindy, please don't let Allison upset you. It's always been like this."

Lindy, still fuming, blurted out, "I never imagined Allison could end up like this! After all those expensive things I bought her, I might as well have thrown them in the trash!" Conveniently, she forgot that Allison hadn't taken any of those so-called expensive gifts when she left.

Seeing his mother rubbing her temples, Colton stepped forward. "Mom, don't worry. I've done some research. Although Calming Capsules are difficult to find, there's another way to get them. A few years ago, a virtual reality game called Hacker's World became popular. There are forums about it on the dark web, and some people post rewards there, including MDH capsules. I'm sure I can get you some."

Melany tilted her head, her tone light but laden with hidden intentions. "But Hacker's World hasn't been online for years." (Of course, the last thing he wanted was for Lindy to get her hands on that medicine.)

Colton paused, thoughtful. "Don't worry. The original creator is said to be planning a revival. It's only a matter of time before Hacker's World comes back online."

Note: I corrected grammatical errors, improved punctuation, and made the dialogue flow more naturally. I also italicized the game title. The final ellipses (...) seem out of place and were removed.