Chapter 91: “You really have a way of reading me like an open book,” Allison admitted with a touch of humor. “How could I hide anything from those eagle eyes of yours?”

They shared a knowing smile, each thinking the other was cunning in her own right. After all, building a strong relationship with Kellan was like planting a seed in fertile soil; it could only lead to fruitful results. The key was to gain his trust and, more importantly, forge a connection with his grandmother.

“By the way,” Rebecca said, her eyes shining with excitement, “there are several competitions in the coming months. The speed parkour race is in two weeks. What do you say? Are you interested?” Rebecca was fully aware of Allison’s love for extreme sports.

With a mischievous smile, she added, “I love watching you compete. You have an innate talent; it’s like you were born for this.”

“Competitions, huh…” Allison reflected, calmly taking a sip of water. “The prizes are worth it. Not bad. First place takes a million, so you can bet the competition will be fierce.”

“But something tells me that amount of money isn’t what motivates you; you already have more than enough,” Rebecca responded with a knowing shake of her head, finding it amusing that someone as rich as Allison would continue chasing smaller prizes. “You’ve got three hundred million hidden in that black card account abroad. Why not take advantage of it? Or better yet, take advantage of the benefits of the Jasmine restaurant. Ten million is nothing to you.”

But Allison shook her head, her expression turning serious. “That account is untouchable for now. I am going to use that money to boost the perfume company I founded in Vrining and to expand into other companies. I already have a team running things, and the company will soon go public.” Allison vividly remembered her mother’s offhand comment that her biggest dream was to create an international perfume brand. If Allison managed to make that dream come true, maybe—just maybe—her mother, wherever she was, would be proud.

As for Ontdale, Allison had no intention of using foreign funds. She was determined to build something from scratch, establishing the main framework of her hacker network here. This town held too many unanswered questions about her mother’s disappearance, and she wasn’t about to leave them behind. Starting over was just another challenge.

“I don’t understand you,” Rebecca mocked, knowing Allison loved a challenge. “I’ll go ahead and sign you up for the race.”

On Sunday, Allison returned to the Lloyd mansion, ready to resume her pottery classes. “Good morning,” she greeted as she entered the room, immediately noticing that Lorna was still hiding in a corner, like a shadow that refused to leave. Lorna held the mold she had made the day before, her fingers absentmindedly tracing its edges. When she noticed Allison, her eyes flickered curiously, though she quickly looked away, as if embarrassed to be caught watching.

“I haven’t been this happy in a long time, and I owe that to you,” Kellan commented quietly, with an unusual gentleness in his voice as he observed Lorna’s subtle change in attitude.

Allison turned her gaze to Kellan, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. The burning kiss they had shared the day before flashed through their minds. As if it were an unspoken agreement, they both looked away, pretending the memory hadn’t arisen between them.

“We tried something new today,” Allison knelt before Lorna and gently brushed her hair with her hand, in a gesture that was both comforting and encouraging. Lorna did not back away; instead, her gaze landed on Allison, confusion mixed with curiosity in her big eyes. “You did great yesterday, so let’s keep moving forward,” Allison continued. To her surprise, Lorna nodded quickly and enthusiastically. This time, Allison gently took Lorna’s hand, guiding her through the process. The contact did not seem to bother Lorna, who remained absorbed in her work, with deep, unwavering concentration.

Two hours passed, and at the end of class, Lorna was playing contentedly with the small sculpture she had made, with quiet pride. From the hallway, Kellan’s voice called, “Come eat.”

Allison looked over her shoulder and stifled a laugh. Kellan stood in the doorway, wearing an apron and with fingertips stained with oil. The dining room table was set with a display that could have adorned the pages of a culinary magazine. Among the plates was a platter of young vegetables that glistened in the light.

“These are Mr. Welsh’s,” Kellan said nonchalantly, though his tone betrayed the effort he’d put into it. “I wasn’t sure what flavors you liked, so I kept it light.”

Allison had never imagined Kellan would go to the trouble of personally preparing a meal, much less taking into account her preferences. With a mocking smile, she commented, “Mr. Lloyd, stuck in a chair but cooking. You sure know how to keep people in suspense.”

“Just something simple,” Kellan replied, unfazed by her playful insinuation. However, the old butler nearby seemed to have seen a ghost. The butler, who had practically raised Kellan, knew that in all those years, Kellan had rarely lifted a finger in the kitchen, and even less so now, with his mobility restricted.

“What are you doing standing there? Come with us,” Kellan said, catching the butler’s stunned expression.

“We have Miss Clarke to thank for that,” the butler laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Lorna, normally oblivious to the world around her, clutched her plate without making any move to help herself. “Here, try this,” Allison suggested gently, noticing Lorna’s subtle glances at the various dishes. Each time Lorna’s gaze landed on one, Allison silently served it to her.

Kellan watched the exchange silently before clearing his throat. “About what we talked about last time, have you thought about joining the Carisma company, Miss Clarke? I could offer you 30% of the shares.”

For most, 30% of a company as valuable as Carisma was an offer of monumental value. But Kellan knew Allison’s value, and if she accepted, the potential for their future together would be limitless.

“I didn’t expect such a generous offer, Mr. Lloyd, but I’m afraid I’m not cut out for that kind of role,” Allison responded politely but firmly, declining the offer. She was already juggling enough: her perfume business, not to mention preparations to relaunch the hacker network in Ontdale. Until those projects were settled, she couldn’t take on anything else.

Kellan, although a little disappointed, was not surprised. He knew that Allison was not someone who would be swayed by material gains.

“No problem. I respect your choice, Ms. Clarke,” he said.

“I appreciate your understanding, Mr. Lloyd,” Allison responded. Then, after a brief pause, she asked, “Do you happen to own property near Muisvedo, Mr. Lloyd…?”