SWNOVELS Chapter 30
Colton’s voice dripped with cold disdain.
“Mr.
Lloyd, you may not know the whole story.
Allison once saved my grandfather’s life, and then used him to sneak in and marry me.
She’s nothing more than an uneducated orphan who didn’t even finish middle school.
How could someone like her understand something as intricate as pottery? So don’t be fooled by her acting.
”
Melany, always the shadow at his side, shook her head pitifully, playing along.
“Colton, that’s not fair.
Allison’s been through a lot.
And, well… she just got divorced.
I mean, before the divorce…” Melany paused, as if she was about to say something, but thought better of it.
“Never mind, I’m not going to get into that.
But you’ve only been separated for a few days and she already seems to be moving on without batting an eyelid.
”
“All she’s ever had is her looks,” Colton snapped, his disgust palpable.
“And now that she’s alone, she can’t bear the thought of fighting.
What’s her plan? She’s climbing the ladder again, of course, and this time she’s fooled Mr.
Lloyd with her lies.
”
Allison's hands stilled as she lifted her head, meeting his words with a blank stare.
It was hard to hide her disappointment.
It was one thing to realize someone had flaws, and another to see them turn downright ugly.
Years ago, she’d saved Colton’s grandfather by pure chance.
Back then, she’d clung to the hope that Colton would remember the bond they once shared.
As children, they’d escaped kidnappers together, and he’d made her a promise: “Someday you’ll be my wife, Allison.
” She was the only one who’d kept that memory alive.
Later, when she learned he had a lasting love, she’d walked away without a word, believing their paths would never cross again.
But when Melany fled an arranged marriage and went overseas, Keanu came pleading, asking Allison to save his family.
She agreed, stepping in where no one else could.
Now, after three long years, Colton seemed to enjoy dragging his name through the mud.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
Any feelings she might have had for him died at that moment.
Kellan, sitting nearby, sensed the change in her, but he remained silent.
He knew Allison didn't need anyone's pity.
She was strong enough to stand on her own.
Colton’s voice was dripping with cold disdain.
“Mr.
Lloyd, you may not know the whole story.
Allison once saved my grandfather’s life, and then used him to marry me.
She’s nothing more than an uneducated orphan who didn’t even finish middle school.
How could someone like her understand something as intricate as pottery? So don’t be fooled by her acting.
”
Melany, always the shadow at his side, shook her head pitifully, playing along.
“Colton, that’s not fair.
Allison’s been through a lot.
And, well… she just got divorced.
I mean, before the divorce…” Melany paused, as if she was about to say something, but thought better of it.
“Never mind, I’m not going to get into that.
But you’ve only been separated for a few days and she already seems to be moving on without batting an eyelid.
”
“All she’s ever had is her looks,” Colton snapped, his disgust palpable.
“And now that she’s alone, she can’t bear the thought of fighting.
What’s her plan? She’s climbing the ladder again, of course, and this time she’s fooled Mr.
Lloyd with her lies.
”
Allison's hands stilled as she lifted her head, meeting his words with a blank stare.
It was hard to hide her disappointment.
It was one thing to realize someone had flaws, and another to see them turn downright ugly.
Years ago, she’d saved Colton’s grandfather by pure chance.
Back then, she’d clung to the hope that Colton would remember the bond they once shared.
As children, they’d escaped kidnappers together, and he’d made her a promise: “Someday you’ll be my wife, Allison.
” She was the only one who’d kept that memory alive.
Later, when she learned he had a lasting love, she’d walked away without a word, believing their paths would never cross again.
But when Melany fled an arranged marriage and went overseas, Keanu came pleading, asking Allison to save his family.
She agreed, stepping in where no one else could.
Now, after three long years, Colton seemed to enjoy dragging his name through the mud.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
Any feelings she might have had for him died at that moment.
Kellan, sitting nearby, sensed the change in her, but he remained silent.
He knew Allison didn't need anyone's pity.
She was strong enough to stand on her own.
“Every piece of pottery in our house was made by me.
But I didn’t expect you to know that.
You barely spent any time there, and when you were, you didn’t notice anything.
”
His words were sharp, but spoken without a hint of anger.
"And as far as social climbing goes, I could never surpass Melany even if I tried.
"
Colton was momentarily taken aback.
This wasn’t the reaction he was expecting.
Allison wasn’t nervous or defensive; she wasn’t even angry.
On the contrary, she was calm—too calm—making her earlier insults seem childish by comparison.
The truth was, Allison had never kept anything from him.
But for three years, Colton had treated her like she didn't exist.
In his mind, she was shallow and conniving, so why would she have noticed the changes in her house? Eventually, Allison had stopped trying.
Lost in her thoughts for a moment, she didn't notice that the clay she was working on had wobbled slightly.
“Is there anything else you wish to say?” he asked, looking up to meet her gaze, eyes cold as winter frost.
What had been a peaceful day had been marred by her intrusion.
Colton was speechless.
Allison had always been soft with him, easy to overlook.
He’d never seen her like this: confident, distant, untouchable.
Her presence weighed on him, making the air seem heavier.
Melany, for her part, still felt the sting of the slap Allison had given her a little while ago.
The faint red marks were still visible, barely concealed under the layers of makeup.
Kellan, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t resist adding his own scathing comment.
“Mistaking a diamond for a piece of glass… It’s laughable how someone can throw away a treasure and hold on to something worthless.
” His gaze shifted to the clay, unimpressed.
“Allison doesn’t need to climb anyone’s ladder.
She could build her own, and once she does, you won’t even have a foot on the first rung.
”
Kellan’s words hung in the air, his low, high-pitched tone sending a chill through the room.
“So either you spit out what you came here to say, or get out.
Stop pretending you matter.
”
He went back to work, not willing to let his day be ruined any further.