Chapter 495

Stephanie stepped forward and took her hand. “I’m really sorry,” she said quietly. It had been Sebastian who told Allison to go to Shallow Bay Area, and their driver had picked her up. If she hadn’t gone, maybe none of this would have happened.

Allison shook her head. “Don’t say sorry. If it weren’t for the driver’s quick thinking, the truck’s wheel would’ve run right over me.” Her calm voice held a hint of relief; she knew she’d be dead without the driver.

But Yanis’s face darkened. Hearing that felt like a punch to the gut.

Stephanie started to speak, but Yanis cut her off. “I saw it happen. Most drivers’ first instinct was to save themselves, but your driver ended up saving me.” He’d used his side to block the truck’s wheels. In that split second, he’d leaped out, climbed onto the truck, and yanked its driver down.

Allison knew someone had tried to kill her. If anyone else had been driving, or if she’d been behind the wheel herself, today would’ve been her last.

Yanis got the message, even if it was meant for Stephanie. Stephanie squeezed Allison’s hand as she caught on. “Allison,” she said softly.

When Allison was with Yanis, she’d only faced mild disdain from those around him, but Yanis always had her back. Now, they hated her enough to plot her death. Without Yanis, her life at the Lewis residence would be unbearable, despite the fact that she’d once helped them. He was the reason she kept going, but now, everything had changed.

Allison clutched Stephanie’s wrist. “You’re going back to Fiorenza tonight, aren’t you?”

Stephanie hesitated. She couldn’t say “yes” with Allison looking at her like that.

With everything Allison was going through, Stephanie couldn’t leave at ease—especially with someone out to harm Allison.

Allison saw through what Stephanie was thinking, and a bitter smile flickered on her lips. “I’m going, too,” she said quietly.

“Allison,” Yanis cut in, his voice tight with panic and restraint. He’d been holding back, but now he couldn’t stay silent.

Stephanie was surprised by Allison’s decision to leave with her. Ignoring Yanis, Allison squeezed Stephanie’s hand. “Stefi, you’ll help me, right?”

Stephanie was taken aback. She realized that Allison was implying she would leave Yanis behind by force. She glanced at Yanis, noticing his furrowed brows and clenched fists. It was obvious to her. There was no way he’d let Allison leave for Fiorenza without a fight.

Allison’s mention of “help me” meant she wanted Stephanie to use Sebastian’s influence to help her get away. “The situation between her and Yanis has reached a breaking point?” Stephanie wondered.

Yanis stepped forward and gently took Allison’s hand from Stephanie’s. “Allison, don’t you think you should—”

“Give you a reasonable explanation?” Allison cut him off.

“Then shouldn’t you explain why your mother’s been so hostile to me for years? What right does she have? What right does the entire Lewis family have?” Allison’s voice rose to a shout by the end.

Yanis was left speechless, and Stephanie’s heart skipped a beat. Allison yanked her hand free from Yanis’s, her eyes filled with anger. The warmth she’d once felt for him was gone.

Facing Allison’s glare, Yanis felt his heart tighten. “Did you believe what Xayvion said?”