SWNOVELS Chapter 11
This man was not only skilled, he was a master of his craft.
His reflexes were razor-sharp, cat-quick, and honed.
It was obvious he had been trained from the cradle, just like her.
Reflexes like his weren't just taught in a classroom or a dojo, they were forged in the fire of life-or-death confrontations, battles that tested your mettle and made the survivor that much more dangerous.
He was the kind of man who didn’t just fight to the end, he would drag you down into the abyss with him.
That kind of cruelty ran deep, like a stain that couldn’t be removed.
You could see it in his eyes: He took risks, even when the odds were sky-high.
The best way to deal with a man like that? Simple: avoid lighting the fuse.
No point in asking for more trouble than you can handle.
As these thoughts fluttered through her head, Allison's phone buzzed like a swarm of angry bees.
At first she ignored it, but it wouldn't stop.
Finally, she swiped across the screen and a flood of missed calls filled her notifications.
It was already half past eight.
She had met Colton to get a divorce.
Looking at herself, Allison let out a long, tired sigh.
Her clothes were a mess: buttons were missing, the fabric was torn, as if she had been hit by a hurricane.
If she went out like this, people would think she had just crawled out of a street fight.
She rummaged through her closet and put on a clean shirt as quickly as possible.
As she dressed, she sent a quick text to her friend.
"I'm fine, don't worry.
I'll tell you later.
"
Before leaving, Allison paused at the edge of the bed, her eyes narrowing as she fell onto the nightstand.
She grabbed a piece of paper and some money, leaving it underneath the gun that was there.
"Your performance was appalling.
Consider this your tip after a deduction.
"
It wasn't just the torn clothes, he'd left her to pick up the pieces of a night he'd rather forget.
Generous? Maybe.
But that didn't mean she had to be a fool.
As she headed for the door, Allison straightened her shirt and smoothed her hair, dialing the cruise manager’s number with one hand.
“Make sure every trace of my presence is erased.
Clear the surveillance, too.
”
“Understood, ma’am.
We’ll take care of it,” was the respectful reply.
He sped to the courthouse, but by the time he stopped, he was already half an hour late.
Curiously, the sadness I expected to feel that day never came.
After three long years of false hope, it seemed the well had dried up.
All that remained was a silent emptiness, an empty space where there used to be feelings.
Colton was outside, leaning against the car like a statue, checking his watch every few seconds.
Melany had her arm around him and was whispering in his ear, her eyes shining with adoration.
«Colton, don't go against your grandfather's wishes.
.
.
There it is.
As soon as Colton saw Allison, his expression hardened to stone and his brow furrowed into an angry frown.
“If you’re thinking of dragging your feet or backing out at the last minute, don’t bother.
I’ve already made up my mind to marry Melany.
Save yourself the trouble of playing games.
” Her voice was thick with impatience, as if she could already see through what he thought was her latest ploy.
“I already told you yesterday,” she added, her tone cold, “not even tears will change my decision.
”
Allison stepped out of the car just in time to hear his words.
Her stomach churned from not having eaten breakfast, but it wasn’t just hunger that made her nauseous.
She had always known Colton to be cold, but this… this was something else entirely.
She stared into his eyes.
"I have no regrets.
Neither then nor now.
"
The truth was, Allison had known for years that the man standing before her was not the same man who had once promised her the world.
But she had clung to the hope—however foolishly—that maybe—just maybe—he would remember the past, that the boy he used to be would re-emerge.
But now, with the curtain about to fall, she could see it.
Colton wasn't just different; he was a stranger, someone she barely recognized, someone she didn't even like anymore.
With a calmness that surprised even her, she said, “Instead of wasting time accusing me of playing games, how about we just get this over with?”
Allison didn't wait for a response.
She pulled out her papers, including the divorce papers, as she headed for the courthouse doors, her expression unreadable.
"I have no intention of dragging this out any further, either," Colton replied coldly.