Chapter 228: Colton's Planning to Sue Me?

Allison’s lips curled into a wry smile. "We settled everything when we divorced. What could he possibly sue me for now?" She was genuinely puzzled.

Kellan’s voice was tinged with mockery. They had cleared up everything during the divorce proceedings, so why was Colton suddenly digging up old issues? "He claims you transferred his assets during the divorce—up to ten million dollars, apparently."

Colton and Melany could be unbelievably shortsighted. With Allison’s capabilities, ten million dollars was nothing. If she wanted to raise billions to start her own company, it would be a breeze. If she were truly after that kind of money, she wouldn't waste her time with someone like Colton. In fact, Kellan almost felt Allison deserved that sum as compensation for the emotional trauma of ever being entangled with him.

Floyd let out an incredulous laugh. "Allison isn't that type of person. How could they even think she'd do something like that?" Kellan nodded.

"Sherman mentioned that Colton's subsidiary suffered significant losses, and you briefly held a position there for a few months," Kellan continued. "Now he's pointing fingers, claiming you were setting up a disaster from the inside."

Allison was speechless. "He really is a complete fool," she muttered, almost laughing aloud. Instead of holding his senior executives accountable for the company's failures, Colton was incompetently shifting the blame. Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, she scoffed. "Why stop there? He might as well say that Melany's runaway bride stunt and her disdain for the Stevens family's downfall were all part of my grand scheme just to marry him."

Her sarcasm was sharp, but she didn't take the accusations to heart. After all, courts needed evidence, not baseless accusations.

Before she could take another bite, a perfectly deboned piece of fish landed on her plate. Floyd raised his eyebrows at her with a playful smirk. "How about that? Thoughtful, right?" He shot a challenging glance at Kellan, clearly trying to score points.

Kellan’s eyes narrowed. "Ha, I didn't expect you to be so attentive to Ms. Clarke, Dr. Pierce," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Floyd had managed to seize a moment to curry favor, and Kellan wasn't pleased.

With an expression bordering on annoyance, Kellan picked up a piece of fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it on Allison’s plate. However, his fork nearly shredded the delicate flesh, each jab seeming aimed directly at Floyd.

"I've always wondered, Ms. Clarke—why did you choose Colton in the first place? You had a good relationship with Keanu, didn't you? But I don't think you're the type to marry someone out of gratitude."

Allison’s gaze remained distant, her expression hardening. Hearing "gratitude" and "marry" brought a shadow over her face. "I was young and naive," she said quietly. Memories flickered in her mind—the boy who had once promised to marry her while they were on the run. That promise now felt painfully ironic. Who could have predicted how quickly hearts could change?

Kellan observed her, sensing the shift in her mood, but chose not to press her further. Instead, his brow furrowed as he recalled the time he had taken a knife for Allison. She had joked then, saying that a life-saving debt should be repaid with a lifetime of gratitude. It was just a joke, he knew. Yet, even now, the memory stirred something deep within him.

Suppressing those thoughts, Kellan forced a self-deprecating smile. How could he let his mind wander this way? It was no different than trying to cash in on a debt of gratitude.

Outside the law firm, Melany leaned gently against Colton’s shoulder, her voice soft but persuasive. "Colton, isn't this a bit much? Accusing someone of transferring assets is serious. If we're not careful, it could lead to charges of embezzlement… and jail time," she said, though the thrill of targeting Allison was clear in her eyes. She feigned concern, softening her tone. "Do we really have to be this harsh on her?"

The mention of jail caused Colton to stiffen. All he wanted was for Allison to apologize, to beg for his forgiveness. They had been married for three years; sending her to prison was never his intention. But his moment of hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Melany.

Still, she continued, sweetly pressing her point, "Even if Allison had ulterior motives back then, she did stay with the Stevens family for a few years. It was mutually beneficial. If we push too hard, she might end up with someone else." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Remember, right after the divorce, she immediately hooked up with another man. She must have been desperate. Otherwise, with her personality, she wouldn't have pretended to be so submissive for so long. Maybe she really did need that ten million dollars."

Colton’s face darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes. No man could stand being made a fool of, not even after a divorce. The thought of Allison being with someone—let alone relying on them—was something he simply couldn't tolerate. "Hmph," he muttered. "This time, no matter who she turns to, it won't save her!"