Chapter 134:
As the first light of dawn spilled across Allison’s face, her eyes fluttered open.
Her gaze instinctively drifted to the floor beside the bed, but the space was already vacant.
Even the makeshift bedding had been meticulously tucked away.
“He’s gone already,” she murmured under her breath.
Stretching lazily, she noted how impeccably the room had been tidied, as if no one had spent the night.
If not for the half-burnt candle on the bedside table, she might have questioned whether it had all been a dream.
But as she finished her morning routine, still groggy, she stumbled upon an unexpected sight — Kellan was still there.
Not only that, he had breakfast prepared and was waiting for her.
“After last night, Mr.
Lloyd, you still managed to rise early and whip up breakfast? Impressive,” Allison quipped, grabbing a fork.
She then looked at the breakfast on the table before her.
Kellan let out a small sigh, somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
“There wasn’t much to work with.
The fridge only had a few packets of instant noodles, so I boiled some eggs, threw in sausages, and added greens.
Are you always this busy, Ms.
Clarke? You could at least hire a housekeeper.
Living off this stuff can’t be good for your health.”
He thought he’d neglected his well-being when work piled up, but it seemed Allison took “busy” to another level.
She eyed the bowl of noodles appreciatively.
“Smells great.”
His lecture was met with the same indifference one might give to a passing breeze.
She hadn’t realized Kellan could be this chatty.
Wasn’t he supposed to be the type who spoke only in sharp, cold sentences? Yet here he was, growing more talkative the more time they spent together.
To her surprise, the noodles tasted better than anything she’d managed to make herself.
Did he have some secret ingredient up his sleeve?
“See, Mr.
Lloyd, I’m just making things easier for you.
If the fridge had been stocked, you’d be stuck cooking for much longer.
This way, it’s just a quick bowl of noodles,” she teased, flashing a smile.
Still, she mentally noted that Kellan had a point.
She really should get around to stocking the fridge.
Lately, life had been so hectic that she’d neglected her own needs.
Kellan chuckled softly, digging into his bowl.
“Well, I guess I should thank you for being so considerate, Ms.
Clarke.”
She smirked, taking another bite before continuing,
“You’re too generous with your thanks.
But seriously, your noodles are amazing.
How do you make simple instant noodles taste this good?”
“It’s just noodles.” Kellan shrugged, though a hint of a smile played on his lips.
“Cooking time makes all the difference.”
They finished their breakfast, and as they tidied up, Kellan expertly maneuvered into his car, folding his wheelchair beside him.
The car, top-of-the-line from an elite automaker, was custom-built with all the bells and whistles.
The sleek design and smart control system were engineered for seamless use by someone with limited mobility, ensuring safety on every ride.
Allison raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with a smirk.
“You really play the part well, Mr.
Lloyd.
That whole handicap routine — flawless.”
“It’s no act.
It’s just an old habit.
I was paralyzed for a while, after all.
Recovery didn’t change how familiar I became with this routine.
Makes it easy to keep up appearances.”
Her expression faltered, the memory of his confession in the cave resurfacing.
She had forgotten, thinking it was just another layer of his deception.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
She knew from the intel she’d gathered that the Lloyd family was embroiled in all sorts of trouble.
Kellan’s ruse of playing the part of an invalid wasn’t just for convenience.
He had enemies watching, waiting for any sign of weakness.
“Apologies aren’t necessary, Ms.
Clarke.
It was a long time ago.
I’m fully recovered now.” Kellan’s tone was reassuring, and he gave her a slight glance.
“Anyway, come on, Allison.
Ride with me.”
Allison shook her head.
“Riding in with you? Please, Mr.
Lloyd.
Give it twenty minutes, and rumors would flood the entire office.”
“You drive on ahead in your car.
I’ll meet you there.”noveldrama
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