Chapter 213

Kellan turned to Floyd, his gaze steady. "How's Lorna doing lately?"

Floyd's stiff demeanor softened at the question; a faint smile curved his lips. "She's responding well to the treatment. She's not as guarded around me anymore. She's a sweet girl." Despite the simmering tension between them, any mention of patients brought out Floyd's professional and composed nature. His tone lightened considerably as they discussed his work.

"I'm confident Lorna's condition will continue to improve," Floyd added.

Kellan's expression softened at the mention of his niece. "Thank you, Mr. Pierce." Even though the two men rarely saw eye-to-eye, Kellan respected Floyd's medical expertise and patience. He knew all too well how much Lorna had resisted contact from others. The fact that she had opened up to Floyd spoke volumes about his dedication and skill.

Floyd replied with a modest smile, "This is just my job, Mr. Lloyd. No need to make such a fuss."

The sharp atmosphere between them seemed to dissipate, as if the earlier friction had never existed. "I'll make sure to repay you properly for Lorna's treatment and for today…" Kellan's brows furrowed slightly. "Thanks for stepping in earlier, but why were you here all of a sudden? And Devin—he didn't lose his mind out of the blue. It felt too orchestrated."

Allison, who had been listening quietly, interjected with a mischievous grin. "You finally caught on, Mr. Lloyd. It was me. I called Floyd over. I figured it was best to fight fire with fire. So, I had Floyd bring some medication, just in case. Turns out, it came in handy." She went on to explain her earlier plan.

Floyd's medicine worked wonders. As soon as it was administered, Devin had a strong reaction. He ended up spilling every last detail about his dealings with Melany. Floyd offered a faint smile. "It's just something I've been researching. I'm glad it could help, Allison."

Kellan, lost in thought, tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest of his wheelchair. He nodded slightly before looking over his shoulder. "Sherman, come in."

Sherman entered, his expression serious and attentive. "Make sure the staff at the psychiatric hospital keeps a close watch on Devin," Kellan instructed coldly. "He should never be seen in Ontdale again." The sharpness of his tone left no room for ambiguity. Devin wasn't truly insane, so if they didn't handle things carefully, he could cause even more damage. Kellan wasn't willing to take that risk, especially not where Allison was concerned. There could be no more mistakes.

Sherman nodded. "Understood." He knew exactly what his boss meant. Devin had to disappear for good.

Meanwhile, hidden deep in the woods, Devin crouched low behind a tree, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. He clutched his injured wrist, a sickening throb radiating up his arm from where he'd cut it after leaping out of the psychiatric hospital van. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and every movement sent fresh waves of agony through his body.

In the van, Devin had already regained consciousness, his mind still hazy from the lingering effects of the drug. Yet, despite his disoriented state, he managed to slip through a crack in the back window and escape. Now, leaning against the rough bark of a tree, he began to realize just how ridiculous his actions had been earlier. The hallucinations, the obsession with money—it all became painfully clear. Someone had set him up. He was trapped. And as that thought crossed his mind, an image of the smiling doctor, Floyd, flashed before him. Devin's expression twisted with rage.

After his public meltdown, he had lost everything—his credibility, his money, and any shred of respect. He was nothing but a joke. Even worse, he'd provoked people far more powerful than he'd ever imagined.

"There's no way I'm going to that psychiatric hospital," he muttered through gritted teeth. He pulled out his phone, his hands trembling, and dialed Melany's number. Maybe she could give him enough money to disappear for a while. But the call didn't even go through. She'd blocked him.

Devin's grip tightened on the phone, and with a snarl, he hurled it to the ground. It shattered into useless pieces. His chest heaved with unrestrained fury. If they caught him and sent him back to that hospital, they'd ruin him for good, turning him into a real lunatic. All he'd ever wanted was money. Now, not only had he failed to get paid, but he'd lost a finger and destroyed his reputation. He was being dragged into an abyss, a disposable pawn in the ruthless games of the wealthy.

"Why should Allison get to enjoy luxury and power while I rot away in misery? Why should Melany and the others brush me off like I was nothing?" His lips curled into a sinister smile. "If I can't live well, then let's all go down together."

Devin stumbled into a small town nearby, borrowed a phone, and dialed Melany's number once more. "Miss Johnson, did you really think blocking me would be enough?" His voice was low, dangerous. "I've got recordings of our conversations. You wouldn't want your husband to find out, would you?"

On the other end of the line, Melany paused, her breath catching. She had been about to hang up, but now her grip tightened on the phone. "You actually kept backups?" she asked, her voice tight.

"If I didn't plan ahead, you would've thrown me under the bus a long time ago," Devin replied with a bitter laugh. "I'm not stupid."

Melany's expression darkened as the pressure began to build. She had only just convinced Colton that she wasn't involved in the scandal. Dealing with the media and online rumors had already drained her. And now this scumbag had the audacity to blackmail her? Expressionless, she asked, "What exactly do you want? Are you trying to threaten me? Who's going to believe a lunatic like you? I could say the recordings are fake, and no one would bat an eye."

She tried to scare him off, but Devin remained unshaken. "Real or fake, it won't matter once I hand them over to Allison. The media will eat it up," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Miss Johnson, I might not have power or influence, but there are plenty of people who'd love to see you fall."