Chapter 21: Kellan's voice cut through the tension, sharp as a blade. "What are you waiting for? Get on with it!" Despite the searing pain in his leg, he surged forward, kicking the oil pot with a swift, decisive motion.

The pot clattered across the floor, clearing a path. Devin's balance was thrown off by the sudden shift in events.

"So you've been pretending all this time, huh?" Devin sneered, his grip tightening on his knife, ready for retaliation.

Before he could act, Colton launched himself from behind, tackling him in a desperate lunge. But Colton, pampered and untrained, stood no chance in a real fight, especially with an injured leg. Devin easily shook him off after a few quick strikes, landing two heavy punches to Colton's face, instantly swelling his eye.

Those few precious moments, however, were enough. Kellan reached the platform and slashed the ropes holding Melany and Allison. They tumbled to the floor, hitting hard.

"Oh my God, somebody help me!" Melany cried, her voice shrill with terror. Her wide, panic-stricken eyes filled with tears; the shock of the fall, combined with the chaos, sent her into sobs.

Allison, however, rolled with the impact and sprang to her feet, as swift as a cat. Chaos enveloped the room, Melany's frantic cries adding to the confusion.

Devin's eyes blazed with fury as he realized the deception. He grabbed his knife and charged at Allison, livid. "You conniving witch! You were playing me the whole time!" He had believed he had her under his thumb, that she had surrendered. The realization stung his pride more than anything.

Blinded by rage, Devin was determined to crush her for outsmarting him. In his world, women like her didn't get second chances. Allison, her hands still bound, worked frantically to free herself. But Devin was faster, his knife gleaming in the dim light as he charged. "Die, you snake!"

Colton, now closest to Allison, felt a flood of memories overwhelm him: the quiet moments when Allison had cared for him, cooking his favorite meals, nursing him through illness. He didn't know when or how, but somewhere along the way, he had lost that version of her. Now, she was a stranger, perhaps even an enemy.

"No!" Colton screamed internally, his body frozen, unable to move. His legs felt like lead.

Allison, hands still bound, dodged the attack as best she could, but she knew it was only a matter of time before the blade found its mark. The reality chilled her to the bone—this could be the end.

But the blow never landed. Instead, she heard the soft thud of a knife hitting flesh. Looking up, she found herself in Kellan's steady, protective grip.

"Kellan!" Her voice trembled. "Why?" The sight of blood flooded her vision as the ropes finally slipped from her wrists. Her mind raced, trying to process what had just happened.

Devin, still holding his knife, began laughing—a crazed, hollow sound that sent chills down her spine. "Hero, huh? Saving the damsel in distress? I'll send you both to hell!" he yelled, lunging toward them.

But before he could reach them, Allison, blood dripping from her palms, reacted. With a strength she didn't know she possessed, she swung her hand, wrenching the knife from Devin. He froze, stunned by her sheer force. Before he could recover, a sharp pain blossomed in his chest.

Allison stood over him, the knife buried deep in his body. Devin's hand shot out, grasping for her throat. "I'll kill you!" he snarled, his eyes wild with fury. But his attack was cut short by a single gunshot.

Bang! A sniper's bullet found its mark, exploding Devin's head. His body crumpled to the floor, eyes wide with disbelief, death refusing to come quietly.

In the next moment, the police stormed in, followed closely by paramedics rushing to tend to the injured. But Allison heard nothing; her focus was solely on Kellan. Blood soaked through his white shirt, spilling from his abdomen and leg.

"Kellan, have you lost your mind?" she whispered, panic creeping into her chest. She couldn't understand why he had revealed the truth about his legs, why he had thrown himself into harm's way for her. Her hands shook as she clutched his, her heart pounding wildly. "If that knife had gone just a bit deeper…" Her words trailed off, too unbearable to finish.

All these years, Allison had mastered control. She kept people at arm's length, maintaining composure even in the worst situations. She had no close friends except Rebecca. As for Kellan, she had always thought he treated her only as a business partner; after all, his niece and grandmother still relied on her connections for medical treatment. Now, it felt like he had shattered every boundary they had established, exposing a storm of emotions she couldn't control.

"I just didn't want to see you die here," Kellan murmured, his voice hoarse, barely a whisper. His pale face reflected the blood loss, and though his body was failing, he tried to reassure her. "It's not… it's not life-threatening. I'll be fine."

"So…" But before he could finish, his body gave out, and he collapsed into her arms.