Chapter 246

Colton was on the verge of exploding. "How dare you insult me like this!" He never imagined the once gentle Allison could become so sharp-tongued. The thought of Keanu favoring Allison, even entrusting her with the family heirloom, made his blood boil. "Let me give you some advice: return the jade. Grandpa was out of his mind that day—too angry to think straight—and you exploited that. But that Ruby Jade rightfully belongs to the Stevens heir." Each word was venomous. "Without my backing, you'd be far from enjoying this freedom."

In recent days, the picture had finally become clear to Colton. Despite the divorce, Allison was never struggling financially. The reason was glaring: Keanu held her in special regard. The realization gnawed at him relentlessly. He couldn't believe that, in just three short years, his grandfather had shifted his affections from him to her! Meanwhile, Melany clung to his arm, feigning innocence.

"Exactly, Allison," Melany hissed, seething with hatred. "Surely your conscience won't allow you to keep something that isn't yours. And seeing as Keanu's getting older, someone as noble as you wouldn't be greedy enough to hold onto that jade, would you?"

Since that wretched birthday banquet, Lindy had declared Allison a rival, and their animosity had deepened daily. Worse, Keanu's distaste for Melany had become glaringly obvious. If she lost Colton's trust and favor, her place in the Stevens family would be unbearable. More than anything, Melany needed Colton to retrieve the jade—the symbol of his inheritance—and secure his position against his illegitimate siblings.

Allison barely glanced at them, her attention focused on the competitor's badge pinned to her chest. Casually, she slid on her goggles and began polishing her ice skates, ignoring them. "You two are disgusting," she said coolly. "Even if you're plotting to take back Keanu's belongings, it's not your decision to make." Years of dealing with their shamelessness had toughened her; her composure remained unshaken.

Colton's expression twisted with cold fury. "You really went after Grandpa, planning to sink your claws into my family!" Rebecca, visibly seething, stepped forward to intervene.

"Are you two dense or deaf?" Before she could act, a pair of arms restrained her. Rebecca turned, frowning, as she saw Ferdinand beside her. "What's this, Mr. Blakely? Do you intend to play the hero now?"

Ferdinand replied with a charming smile, his eyes sliding to Colton, the smile never fading. "After all, both you and Ms. Clarke have been wronged. I can't just stand by and watch. Mr. Stevens, Miss Johnson, you would be wise not to provoke my friends. After all, I have… certain… mental health issues, and if I inadvertently instruct my bodyguards to take action, I wouldn't bear any legal responsibility for it."

Five imposing bodyguards stepped forward, each brandishing a long steel pipe. "At your service, Mr. Blakely!" Colton and Melany instinctively took a few steps back. The heavily tattooed bodyguards clearly had underworld ties. Everyone knew Ferdinand's reputation—his ruthless methods were as famous as his sophisticated façade.

Melany whispered, "Colton, the competition is about to start. Let's focus on that." They couldn't afford to antagonize Ferdinand, especially with the competition's top three finishers set to receive lucrative rewards and significant exposure—something their company desperately needed. Though Colton's pride screamed at him to stand his ground, he knew he had no choice but to retreat. "Let's go."

Once the pair left, Ferdinand's smile returned, and he turned to Rebecca. "Miss Green, do I now qualify as one of your friends?" He recalled their last meeting, which had ended poorly due to their families' arranged marriage. He'd been dealing with anxiety, affecting his judgment. Since then, he'd grown fascinated by Rebecca and had been seeking an opportunity to apologize.

Rebecca's lips curved into a playful smile. "Do you?" Ferdinand hesitated. Her smile never wavered, but suddenly, she stomped hard on his foot with her stiletto heel. "Mr. Blakely, you've made it very clear you're not interested in marriage or me. And, as luck would have it, I have no fondness for people who go through life without friends." She looped her arm through Allison's. "Come on, let's get to the competition!"

"Ow!" Ferdinand winced in pain, watching them confidently stride away. "That was… unnecessary," he muttered. A newfound curiosity sparked in his mind. He wondered how Kellan managed to deal with women.