Chapter 177
Allison's emotions shifted swiftly; her smile broadened, almost dazzling. "Because I couldn't bear to see you perish, Mr. Lloyd," she said, her voice calm and light, yet carrying an underlying meaning.
Kellan's mind ignited, as if fireworks exploded behind his eyes. His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at her, her face reflected in his gaze. Then, she continued, "After all, we still need to get Lorna to the doctor."
"Ah, so it's for Lorna," Kellan thought. A cocktail of feelings swirled within him, none fully graspable. It was as if his heart were being teased by a thousand feathers, tickling his nerves. He let out a low, self-mocking chuckle. "I get it."
Their eyes met again. Despite their casual demeanor, Kellan sensed the emotional turmoil Allison was suppressing. He didn't want to admit it, but he didn't want anything bad to happen to her—and it wasn't just because she was part of the research institute and could be key to fixing Lorna's problems. They hadn't spent much time together, but Kellan clearly cared deeply for his little niece. Allison figured she would feel the same if the roles were reversed. If someone had the means to cure a loved one's illness, who wouldn't go the extra mile? There was nothing particularly remarkable about that.
Pushing aside the chaotic emotions rising within her, Allison smoothly shifted gears. "Though what baffles me more is Mr. Blakely. I mean, everyone knows Ferdinand is the CEO of Everett Group, the biggest advertising firm in the world, but professional hitmen for marketing? And a yacht that can slip past radar detection?" Her smile lit up, playful now, as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired. "Mr. Blakely seems far from ordinary. But seeing the company you keep, I can understand why."
Kellan shrugged, his tone light. "Ferdinand's quite something. I'm just a straightforward businessman." He chuckled. "Even regular folks like you arm themselves."
Allison's eyes narrowed teasingly. "Do businessmen also carry guns and pretend to be disabled?" The tension between them was palpable. Yet, despite this, they shared an unexpected, but welcome laugh.
At that moment, Allison was certain of one thing: she and Kellan were two sides of the same coin. Beneath the banter and lighthearted jabs, her mind continued to churn. Ferdinand's connections ran deep, far beyond the glitz of the corporate world. And his military-grade yachts and teams of professionals? None of that was remotely normal. Kellan wasn't any different. His methods, his calculated approach—everything about him hinted at something darker, something more akin to the mafia than a boardroom.
With a thoughtful expression, Allison propped her chin on her hand. "After all this, do you have any doubts about me?" That was why he kept testing her.
His voice was steady. "No. I trust you."
Her lips curved into a sly smile. "What's your bank card PIN, then?" Kellan saw the mischief dancing in her eyes and realized she had outplayed him once more. But instead of irritation, he found it amusing. The old Allison had always been so guarded, so burdened by the expectations of the Stevens family, always wearing a mask to conceal her true self. Now, she seemed free, more alive.
In many ways, they shared the same battle scars. When they fought together, there was an unspoken understanding, an ease that came only from having faced the darkness. Kellan couldn't help but smile back. "We've been through life and death together," he said, feigning indifference. "You can call me Kellan."
Allison repeated, "Kellan?" As soon as the name left her lips, she couldn't help but recall his voice from that night, the way he had whispered her name, the sound of his breath heavy and intoxicating.
"Yeah," he said with a nod.
Allison blinked, clearing the memory from her mind, and said lightly, "But in front of everyone else, you'll still be Mr. Lloyd. We wouldn't want rumors flying around the company."
"Fair enough," he agreed, though her voice lingered in his mind. When she called him Kellan, it stirred something in him, something oddly familiar, like a forgotten dream. He shook off the thought, attributing it to the stress that had been weighing him down. Then, turning to her, he said, "By the way, Ferdinand's got more strings to pull than just in business. He's got one foot in both worlds, you know, the clean and the dirty." What Kellan didn't say outright was that Ferdinand's people were his people. "So, if you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask. You can trust him."