Chapter 179: Allison, drifting in and out of consciousness, vaguely felt someones gentle hand brushing across her forehead, the cool touch of a damp cloth providing a fleeting moment of relief.
Dont go, she murmured, caught in the haze of a dream.
This time, it was a dream that took her back to those bleak years after shed fled the orphanage.
She relived being kidnapped, the overwhelming agony from the drug-induced stupor that stole her sight and plunged her into suffocating darkness.
Every sound became a harbinger of terror.
Then, out of the void, she saw a younger version of herself, being carried on the back by a shadowy figure a boy.
His face was obscured, but his struggle to carry her was palpable with each step.
Hey, whats your name? she asked, her voice faint in her memory.
A pause, then the scarred boy replied, Colton Stevens.
Alright, Ill find you one day.
It had been years since that memory resurfaced in her dreams.
Her heart, long numbed by the years spent with the Stevens family, now felt as though a part of it had been cruelly gouged out, as if the wounds of the past had been reopened.
Even in her exhausted state, her eyes too heavy to open, she could sense someone nearby.
A sigh of relief broke the stillness.
Finally, the fevers gone.
The strong yet calm voice seemed to blend with the boy from her dream, and for a fleeting second, they felt like the same person.
Gradually, Allison realized it wasnt her dreams shadow but Kellan, who had tirelessly cared for her.
He had been at her side, constantly replacing the damp cloths to cool her fever, his touch so deliberate as he gently moistened her parched lips with water.novelbin
His attention to even the smallest details left her with a sensation she was not used to safety.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Allison felt something foreign to her security and stability.
She thought back to those countless nights under the Stevens roof when she would lie alone in the cold bed, sick, or melancholic, staring blankly at the moon through her window, pushing her chaotic feelings deep within.
Now, there was a rare warmth beside her… Before long, the weight of her body pulled her into another deep sleep, as if she were sinking into the depths of the ocean.
When she next awoke, she found herself lying in the Lloyd Mansion.
Sunlight filtered through the frosted glass, casting a warm glow across the room.
The faint scent of roses from the garden filled the air.
Allison flexed her fingers, her movements sluggish, and felt the weight of something beside her.
Lorna… she whispered, still half in a daze.
Beside her, Lorna lay sleeping, her small hand nestled next to Allisons.
The quiet murmur was enough to stir Lorna awake.
Her eyes flicked open, and when she saw Allison conscious, she clutched her hand with an intensity that spoke of deep relief.
Lorna opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came.
Her eyes, though, conveyed more than words could ever express pure, unfiltered joy.
Good girl, Lorna, Allison murmured, gazing into the eager, tear-filled eyes.
It dawned on her that Lorna must have been terrified, afraid she would lose her just as she had lost her father.
Now, that fear melted away in the light of Allisons waking.
Allison soon became aware of another presence in the room Kellan, slumped in a wheelchair by her bed.
He was wrapped in bandages, his eyes rimmed with exhaustion, the telltale sign of sleepless nights spent by her side.
Her throat was too dry for words, but she smiled faintly, trying to offer some comfort to Lorna, who had been her steadfast companion throughout her ordeal.
A slight movement was all it took for Kellan, ever the light sleeper, to stir from his slumber.
His eyes shot open, immediately locking onto hers.
Youre awake.
His voice, though steady, carried the weight of relief.
He noticed her dry lips and swiftly reached for the glass of water on the bedside table.
Dont speak yet, he said softly, handing her the glass.
Drink slowly.
Itll help your throat.
You might still feel a little dizzy.
Kellan pressed the call button, and within moments, Jim entered the room.
Jim, take Lorna to rest.
Alright.
Jim entered the room, and when he saw Allison awake, his face lit up with genuine joy.
Mr.
Lloyd, Ms.
Clarke is finally awake.
You can breathe easy now.
Its been ages since youve had a decent nights sleep.
How about you get some rest too? I know.
You can leave now.
Then Ill take Lorna back to her room to get some sleep.
Jim grinned, clearly wanting to give Allison and Kellan a moment alone.
As he lifted Lorna into his arms, a wave of pity washed over him.
Since Allisons injury, Lorna had become more obsessive, clinging to Allisons bedside, refusing to sleep, even in the dead of night.
But now, with Allison finally awake, Lorna could find some peace and rest.
Once Jim left with Lorna, the room fell back into a deep, almost unsettling quiet.
Kellans eyes remained fixed on Allison, his expression as calm as ever, his voice steady, but the tension in his clenched fists betrayed the storm brewing inside him.
Over the past few days, hed handled countless matters tracking down the assassins, ensuring they paid the price for their treachery but none of it soothed the rage that churned in his gut.
No matter how much he tried to silence it, the thought lingered: one wrong move back on the shores of the Burned Islands, and Allison could have been lost forever.
This realization settled over him like a dark cloud, heavy and suffocating.
The doctors dealt with the infection.
Are you feeling discomfort anywhere else? .
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