Chapter 132:

Kellan’s sudden confession caught Allison off guard.

His face was half-buried in shadow, while the flickering firelight illuminated the other half, making his features seem even more defined and striking.

Yet, his voice was unexpectedly soft, almost vulnerable.

“Because I’m afraid of the dark.

I wonder if I could stay with you, Ms.

Clarke.”

He sighed inwardly, realizing that he had fallen prey to her charm once again.

“Well then, Mr.

Lloyd,” Allison replied with a teasing tone, “I suppose you’ll have to rough it on the floor.” Though she didn’t push it further, she couldn’t help but enjoy seeing him so different from the man she had grown accustomed to.

She rummaged through a cabinet, pulling out a blanket.

The floor would be unforgiving, and the thin blanket was no match for a proper bed, but he was the one who had volunteered to be her protector, after all.

That was the price he had chosen to pay.

Without a word, Kellan stretched out on the floor, his stoic expression unbroken.

“Good night, Ms.

Clarke.”

“Good night,” she replied, but sleep refused to come.

She found herself tossing and turning.

For some reason, even in the early hours of the morning, she was still awake, despite being exhausted in the lab not long ago.

She watched the occasional flicker of lightning through the curtain’s narrow gap, the rhythmic sound of rain hitting the window soothing but ineffective. Listening closely, she realized Kellan’s breathing wasn’t the steady rhythm of someone asleep.

“Mr.

Lloyd, you’ve got work tomorrow.

Why aren’t you sleeping?” she asked, turning to face his rigid back.

Even with the dim glow of the candlelight, he couldn’t seem to unwind.

“You’re the president of a massive company.noveldrama

You carry everything on your shoulders.

Have you ever thought about letting go, just a little? You know, like most people do?”

Kellan opened his eyes slowly, his voice a low rumble in the quiet room.

“I’m no good at relaxing.

Besides, aren’t you the same? You pretend to be all innocent, but deep down, you’re a cunning fox, always with a trick up your sleeve.”

Allison responded with feigned innocence.

“If you want to believe I’m a fox, I won’t argue.

But if I’m as crafty as you say, why do you still trust me enough to keep me around?”

He hesitated for just a second, clearly caught off guard by her playful jab.

Kellan was a man who usually saw through people, always on high alert.

But when it came to Allison, it was different.

He didn’t say what he was thinking, and he couldn’t quite figure out why he trusted her so much.

His voice softened, as though speaking more to himself than to her.

“Maybe because I’d rather keep you where I can see you, make sure you don’t pull anything while my back’s turned.”

Allison smirked.

“Didn’t expect you to be so ‘attached’ to me, Mr.

Lloyd.”

She slipped out of bed and grabbed a roll of ribbon from the bedside drawer.

“Then let’s do as you wish.”

Before Kellan could respond, she took his wrist, wrapping the silky ribbon around his hand with slow, deliberate movements.

The soft glow of the candle cast a golden light over her skin, and her delicate collarbone caught his eye, making his heart race unexpectedly.

“What are you…?”

Allison met his gaze, her eyes glinting with mischief.

She tied the other end of the ribbon to her wrist.

“You said you wanted to keep an eye on me.

Now, we’ll be inseparable.

But be careful, Mr.

Lloyd.

Stay on your toes, or you might stumble into one of my traps — and then, you’ll have something to worry about.”

.

.

.