Chapter 287

"Melany, can you tell me what just happened?" Colton asked, his voice thick with emotion.

A whirlwind of conflicting feelings swirled within him. She had always been a source of gentleness and understanding. Yet, after the recent upheaval—the crying and shouting at home—an unfamiliar irritation stirred inside him. It was a stark contrast to the peace he once shared with Allison; their home had been a sanctuary. Now, caught between his mother and his wife, he also juggled the demands of his work.

"Colton, it's all a misunderstanding," Melany reassured him, her eyes flickering with resolve. She understood Lindy's game, but she wouldn't fall into her trap. "You saw the brooch, right? It was a gift from someone else. It would be inappropriate to re-gift it to your mother."

Her innocent gaze met his; she seemed blissfully unaware of the brewing storm. "I meant to pick out a new gift, but I didn't expect her to be so suspicious." Her glistening, red-rimmed eyes presented a heart-wrenching picture, reminding Colton of her earlier words: "Colton, I'm the only one standing by your side. I promise to never leave you, no matter what."

Guilt gnawed at him for his earlier thoughts. Melany had once been his savior. How could he harbor weariness toward her? He gently brushed away her tears. "Don't cry. I believe you, of course."

Watching her son support Melany ignited a fire in Lindy's heart. "It's just a brooch, so why hide it if you have no secret? Is it a gift from some secret admirer?" Lindy scoffed, shifting tactics with determination. She was resolved to drive a wedge between them. "Melany, remember, now that you're my son's wife, you must tread carefully. Colton is not like your previous husband. You'd better not disgrace us again."

Colton's expression darkened. "Mom, if you dare to bring that up again, don't blame me if I turn against you." After the wedding fiasco, he'd made it clear that no one in the Stevens family was to mention Melany's past.

"Colton, I'm just trying to look out for you. If she could pull a stunt like that, why shouldn't it be mentioned?" Lindy said firmly. But noticing her son's glum demeanor, she reconsidered. "Fine. Let's drop the sordid details. Did you manage to retrieve the Ruby Jade from Allison?"

Colton fell silent, frustration radiating from him. Ever since losing to Allison in the last competition, her image haunted him. Sometimes he dreamt of skating together; other times, memories of her nurturing side played on repeat in his mind. Yet, upon waking, those dreams vanished as quickly as morning mist. During this tumultuous time, he'd toyed with reaching out to Allison, but it wasn't solely about the jade. He longed for a conversation about their past, about everything unsaid. However, Allison had completely cut him off; she blocked him and erased him from her life. She wouldn't even grant him an audience.

"I didn't get it back," Colton muttered, his voice thick with annoyance. "She doesn't want to see me."

Since Allison left, a deep weariness had seeped into his bones, a weight pressing down on his chest, draining him of energy.