Chapter 139

Aimee’s eyes reddened slightly as she murmured, “And then… I became the target of nasty rumors for months.”

Allison said firmly, “Don’t let their lies get to you. As long as you stay true to yourself, treat their words like trash—worthless and irrelevant. You have nothing to fear.”

Allison deeply related to Aimee’s pain. She had been the subject of gossip herself—whispers about her and Kellan that had spread like wildfire through the company. She knew all too well how cruel people could be when rumors took root. The underhanded tactics hadn't changed.

Aimee’s voice dropped to a near whisper, almost lost in the breeze. Her eyes shifted downward, as if she wanted to disappear, afraid Allison might see her differently. “One night, a client invited me out for drinks. I let my guard down… and I was drugged.”

Allison’s expression darkened instantly; fury rose in her chest. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. “What happened after?” she asked, her voice rough with sympathy.

“The client didn’t succeed,” Aimee said, her voice cracking. “But Marc and some others found out what happened. Instead of helping, they took photos. They blackmailed the client and used the photos to threaten me.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I didn’t care about myself, but they said they’d show the photos to my parents. They’re not in good health, and my little sister is still in school. I couldn’t let them go through that.”

Allison’s frown deepened. The lengths people would go to exploit someone’s vulnerabilities were sickening. But what struck her most was how strong Aimee had been, holding on despite the pressure, despite the fear. And somehow, she hadn’t let it harden her.

Allison said softly, “You could have left Charisma after that. With your talent, you could have found a better job somewhere else.”

Aimee hesitated, her voice trembling. “I… I couldn’t. My family is poor. Mr. Lloyd has been so kind to us—he’s not like the rumors say. He takes care of his employees, gives bonuses during the holidays, and even sponsors the education of employees’ relatives. But he can only sponsor one person per family, so I gave that spot to my sister.”

Tears shimmered in Aimee’s eyes, and her voice broke as she continued, “If I leave, my sister will lose that support. She might have to start working early. I don’t want her to go through what I did.”

Allison felt a sharp pang in her chest, a bitter feeling she couldn’t quite describe. She didn’t have many memories of her own family, and that emptiness had always weighed on her. She understood why Aimee’s family situation meant so much to her. In this moment, she felt an unexpected kinship with Aimee.

Allison said gently, placing a hand on Aimee’s back, “Fear not. The past is behind you. I’ll make sure you get the justice you deserve. A woman’s virtue isn’t measured by chastity. What truly matters is character.” The words left her mouth instinctively. She paused, slightly surprised at herself. It sounded familiar—then she remembered. Kellan had said something like that once, back in Athton. At the time, she’d thought it unusually wise coming from him. Over time, though, she had come to see his deeper layers. Despite his cold, ruthless reputation, he was more compassionate than most gave him credit for. He just kept it hidden beneath a sharp exterior. Kellan was often called a tyrant, but people never knew how quietly he sponsored the education of his struggling employees’ family members.

Aimee couldn’t hold back anymore. She broke down, sobbing softly, gratitude flowing with each tear. “Ms. Clarke, thank you… thank you so much.”

Allison said, her voice steady, “Don’t worry. I’m here.” Those simple words seemed to lift a burden from Aimee’s heart; her tears flowed harder now as she finally let go of all the pain she’d kept bottled up.

Meanwhile, Marc was busy putting the final touches on his plan to take Allison down. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the area before whispering to his accomplices, “I’ve already disabled the security cameras. Hurry, before anyone notices.”

As he stepped out of the security department, a hint of anxiety lingered. He feared Aimee might slip up and tell Allison something she shouldn’t. But when he saw her return to the lab, red-eyed and wearing clean clothes, shrinking back into the most inconspicuous corner like nothing had happened, Marc relaxed. He sneered. “She really doesn’t have the guts to report it.”

Thea chimed in, shaking her head, “And even if she did, without solid evidence, it wouldn’t matter. What could Ms. Clarke possibly do? She can’t interfere with personal issues between colleagues.”

They exchanged a smug, contemptuous look, convinced their plan was foolproof.

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