Chapter 220

"I didn't do it for you, Ms. Clarke," Kellan said. "I just prefer to keep my slate clean. Besides, you found such a good doctor for Lorna. If anything happened to you, she'd be heartbroken."

His explanation was as much for himself as for Allison. Even he wasn't entirely sure why he'd acted as he did. "Plus," he continued, "when I blocked the knife, I angled it enough to avoid anything vital. Just a scratch on the abdomen. If that blade had hit you, though… well, it would have been a lot worse."

He raised his gaze. "So, all things considered, it was the right call. Don't you agree?"

Kellan struggled to maintain his composure; the memory of seeing Allison in danger still rattled him. He hadn't thought it through, hadn't analyzed the situation. His body had moved faster than his mind. He hadn't hesitated; he'd just acted. Was it really just friendship he felt? But as the words left his mouth, they morphed into something else.

"So, Ms. Clarke, no need to carry the weight. I didn't do it just for you. And honestly, things were fine as they were—just friends. Anything more, and knowing Allison's cold nature, we might not even have that."

"Then, thank you, Mr. Lloyd, for saving me." Allison knew he wasn't angling for praise; he was downplaying his actions to keep her from feeling indebted. But that concern, though kind, made her uneasy. She wasn't used to it.

Kellan noticed the weight she seemed to carry. Without thinking, he flexed his fingers, wincing from the pain of his wound. Still, he managed a playful grin. "So, how are you going to repay me? Dinner? Some other day, maybe?"

Allison returned his smile and reached out to adjust the Band-Aid on his hand. "They say a life-saving debt should be repaid with a lifetime of gratitude," she teased.

His reply was quick: "Would you be up for that, Ms. Clarke?"

From his angle, Kellan could see her long eyelashes brushing against her cheek, her eyes cold yet clear beneath them. And in that fleeting moment, something soft stirred in their depths. What started as banter felt like a step closer to something unspoken.

Allison pulled her hand back without answering directly, resting her chin in her hand with a faint smile. "Mr. Lloyd, you're one of the top ten wealthiest men. Who could possibly say no to you?"

Their eyes locked for a heartbeat before Kellan looked away, though his face remained composed. Beneath that calm, however, his heart raced. "Ms. Clarke, you're just teasing."

For a moment, he genuinely considered asking her, "Would you ever think about being with me?" But the thought quickly faded. Love wasn't something that could be rushed. He wasn't about to jeopardize their friendship by pushing too hard, too soon. It was better to move forward with certainty.

Allison seemed to understand he was playing along. She broke the silence, her tone shifting as she nodded toward his uninjured leg. "You really caused a stir when you showed everyone you weren't crippled. It's all over the news. Have you seen the trending topics? Your half-brother is probably losing it right about now. You're in for a rough time."

Kellan's expression darkened. He knew the storm was coming. "Thanks for the heads-up, Ms. Clarke."

Allison stood and straightened her clothes. "I'll let you rest, Mr. Lloyd."

She turned to leave, and Kellan, aware of how exhausted she'd been lately, gave her a brief nod. "Alright, we'll catch up soon."

As she walked out, his gaze lingered on the Band-Aid she'd carefully adjusted. Somehow, it still felt warm from her touch.