Melany glared at Allison, her expression brimming with self-righteous indignation.

"Allison," she began, "even though you and Colton are no longer together, you once shared something meaningful. How can you be so heartless, taking such delight in his misery? It's cruel! And you moved on so quickly after the divorce—it seems pre-planned."

Surprisingly, her words lacked their usual biting sarcasm. The reason was clear: jealousy. Allison had lived in luxury for years, luxuries Melany believed should have been hers. Melany expected Allison to crumble after the divorce, perhaps even end up destitute. Yet, despite everything, Melany and Colton had failed to regain their footing. Instead, Melany had followed Colton through a series of humiliating experiences, begging for forgiveness, apologizing publicly, even jumping into a river. It was one disaster after another.

"You're too frivolous, Allison," Melany snapped, her voice laced with bitter envy. It infuriated her that even the unpredictable Kellan had defended Allison.

Kellan's eyes darkened, a dangerous glint appearing. "If you want to meet your end so badly, why don't you jump out of a window? It'll be quicker than doing it here." His deep voice sent shivers down everyone's spines. "Miss Clarke is my niece's ceramics teacher," he continued, his tone calm but chilling. "If you spread any more absurd rumors, you should start counting your remaining limbs."

This wasn't just slander; Kellan usually ignored such rumors, but Allison's involvement changed things. He couldn't tolerate her being dragged through the mud.

Colton, never before so humiliated, felt his rage boil over. "Allison? A pottery teacher?" he sneered. "Who knows if she's teaching pottery or something else in bed? And you, Mr. Lloyd, stooping so low for a divorced woman… are you that desperate? When she and I…" Colton's words trailed off, his eyes narrowing as realization dawned. His gaze shifted to Allison. "Oh, I see. When you sought sponsorship from the Lloyd Group, you used your body as a bargaining chip, didn't you?"

A slap! Allison, fed up, delivered a stinging blow across Colton's face, unleashing her pent-up fury. His cheek immediately swelled and reddened.

"All these years I've fought tirelessly for your family's recovery," she said. "You useless alcoholic tried everything and still failed. My father only urged me to help because he couldn't stand the sight of you anymore." Her icy gaze bored into him. "If I hadn't spent hours securing that deal with the Lloyd Group, Mr. Stevens, you'd be on the street right now."

Melany opened her mouth to speak, but Allison's chilling gaze stopped her, freezing her in place. It felt like being plunged into an ice cave. Allison's gaze wasn't just cold; it was deadly.

"Instead of thanking me for preserving your wealth and status, you repay me by spreading rumors and slandering me? Laughable. You have no conscience, do you? And considering how readily you accuse others of 'trading with their bodies,' I assume you've done it yourself, Mr. Stevens. I assume others would, too."

Colton, still dizzy from the slap, felt his ears ringing. The cool breeze did little to quell his fury; his face remained livid. For a brief moment, reality hit him: he had crossed a line.