Chapter 625:
“Allison, to me, there’s nothing that matters more than being by your side — not life or death, not whether my life is simple or complicated,” Kellan’s voice was a soft murmur, his lips barely brushing the back of her hand.
Yet, the touch sent a spark through Allison’s veins, an electric pulse she felt all the way to her fingertips. His voice, suddenly rough and edged with a hint of bitterness, broke the quiet. “When I was expanding our markets overseas, the mafia came at us like locusts, crawling out of every corner. I lost my brother to them, and I left that world broken, barely able to walk again, bound to a wheelchair. As the Lloyd empire grew, so did the darkness behind it — the threats, the ruthless games.”
His gaze hardened, shadows of old memories surfacing in his eyes. “In those days, assassination attempts were routine. I hired experts, people who taught me how to survive, how to handle weapons, how to strike before being struck. They showed me how to take out an enemy with a single shot.”
His tone was smooth yet steely, like a blade wrapped in silk. Even as he spoke of blood, gunpowder, and violence, there was a chilling elegance to his words. “Allison, I don’t despise violence itself. What I despise is the helplessness that comes from not being able to protect those I love.”
This was Kellan Lloyd: a man who had clawed his way up from the gutters to a position of untouchable power, feared across the city of Ontdale. Allison realized he was opening his past to her. These were baring truths few ever heard. She didn’t offer judgment, only a gentle smile as she said, “I knew you were impressive when I saw you on that yacht, Mr. Lloyd.”
“Oh, Allison, no matter how strong I am, I still fell hard for you.” His voice carried an almost magnetic allure. It reminded her of the night they first gave in to each other. They had moved in perfect sync, as if some invisible force bound them. And now, as he looked at her, his gaze seemed to tug directly at her heart.
“What’s wrong, Mr. Lloyd?” she teased. “Are you unhappy?”
“Unhappy? Not at all. For you, Allison, I’d be happy to play the part of a devoted servant.”
They reached the mountaintop as they bantered away. Allison had arranged for a pavilion to be built here — a simple two-story retreat, with a cozy resting area below and a garden above that offered a panoramic view of the city.
They stood together under the pavilion, letting the breathtaking scenery wash over them. The sun had already dipped beyond the horizon, leaving a warm afterglow that painted the sky in hues of amber and violet. A gentle breeze brought the fresh scent of grass and leaves to their noses. It was quiet; peaceful.
As twilight deepened and the lights from the city began to twinkle below, Allison stretched out her arms.
“Mr. Lloyd, remember when I told you I had something for you?” She reached for his hand and pressed a smooth black jade ring into his palm, curling his fingers around it.
“Now that you know my secret, you have to take care of it.”
Even Kellan, usually calm and composed, looked stunned. He understood, now, the weight of this ring after learning what this mountain meant to her. A warmth seemed to flow from her hand to his, settling deeply in his chest.noveldrama
“Allison,” he murmured, his voice husky and thick with emotion. In the fading light, his gaze was smoldering as he looked at her, a heat simmering beneath the surface. He took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers, pressing their palms together as if to fuse them.
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