Chapter 209
Allison blinked, caught off guard. Kellan’s lie was so smooth he didn’t even flinch. The crowd around them erupted in murmurs.
“Wait, wasn’t it always said Allison was chasing Mr. Lloyd?”
“Yeah, but look now—it’s obvious Mr. Lloyd is pursuing Ms. Clarke!” Rumors claimed he was indifferent to women, yet here he was, openly declaring his interest in front of the media. He didn’t even care about the gossip surrounding Ms. Clarke and her supposed childhood sweetheart. He must be serious about her. Most of what they’d heard was pure speculation. Now that Kellan’s feelings seemed genuine, the narrative shifted, and the fervent gossip began to unravel.
Melany’s smile vanished. When had Kellan become so reckless? Shouldn’t he be focusing on his company’s reputation? But Kellan didn’t seem to care; he appeared determined to escalate the situation. Was his trust in Allison that strong? A dozen questions swirled through Melany’s mind, each tightening her chest with resentment.
Colton’s face darkened. “Heh, Allison sure knows how to attract men’s attention,” he muttered bitterly. He’d wanted to watch her falter, but instead, he felt that familiar sting, one that never faded. Seeing the unspoken understanding between Kellan and Allison, as if they shared secret knowledge, made his fists clench in anger and jealousy.
Why was Kellan so special? He was a crippled man—useless! But despite his wheelchair, Kellan’s gaze remained unwavering, exuding an aura of authority.
Kellan’s eyes narrowed as he turned to Devin, his lips curling in disdain. “Ms. Clarke doesn’t even look at me twice. What makes you think she’d be interested in you? Some people lack self-awareness.” He gestured to the video evidence. “Besides, your footage is obviously tampered with. The cuts are clumsy, the transitions don’t line up. You have the audacity to flaunt this shoddy work to spread rumors? I doubt you’ve even heard of integrity.”
Kellan shifted his gaze to the reporters, speaking with cool confidence. “Since the media’s here, let’s verify the video’s authenticity. With everyone watching, there’s no room for foul play. What do you say?”
For a split second, Devin’s composure cracked, but he quickly recovered. “If I’m up against someone as powerful as you, how can I win? Even if the video’s real, the Lloyd Group could easily make it look fake. That’s the power of influence.” He raised his injured hand, the bandaged fingers prominent. “Look at this. Allison did this to me. Does she care about the law? I won’t back down until I get an explanation!” A smug grin spread across his face. Without the full video, what could she do?
Melany’s innocent smile returned as she seized the opportunity. “Mr. Lloyd, I know you’re partial to Ms. Clarke, but if you truly care about her, you shouldn’t let her keep making mistakes. This is clearly her fault. An apology and compensation, and we can all move on. There’s no need to pick on someone without backing.”
Colton’s icy voice cut through the tension. “Don’t worry, Devin. Ontdale isn’t solely under the Lloyd family’s control. The Stevens family stands for fairness. If you need a witness, I’ll vouch for you.” Jealousy and rage twisted his words as he sided with Devin without hesitation or evidence. He knew why he was doing this: he despised Kellan’s power. Even confined to a wheelchair, Kellan stole the spotlight.
Allison laughed coldly. “I wasn’t aware Miss Johnson and Mr. Stevens had such kind hearts. Weren’t you both backing Onyx, the comic artist accused of plagiarism, not long ago?” Her voice dripped with mockery. “And what happened? Onyx was blacklisted. It seems your guarantees aren’t worth much, Mr. Stevens.” Her words landed like a slap, contorting Colton’s face with barely concealed fury.