Allison had no intention of accepting the bracelet. As a high-end designer, she possessed a priceless jewelry collection. She wasn't naive enough to miss the subtle weight of Lindy's words. With a silky smooth smile, she effortlessly changed the subject.
“I heard Melany won your approval upon her return,” she said. “Colton told me she even had dinner with you and received your blessing. That’s how you renewed your engagement, right?”
Even Lindy's composure faltered slightly. Allison was, in Lindy's estimation, the smartest person she knew. But being an orphan without significant connections, no matter how beautiful and capable, Allison lacked leverage. Lindy hadn't expected her son to boast about such things to Allison.
Melany, on the other hand, had returned from abroad with a substantial severance package and a family business that had blossomed into a successful farming empire. She could, at least, financially support Colton's ventures. But someone as cunning as Allison? Much harder to control.
Lindy sighed, the sound like a chess player conceding a minor defeat. "I'm just a woman," she said. "I've been out of the company business for a long time. In the end, I only have my son to rely on."
She paused. "Melany isn't as capable as you, and even after the divorce, you'll always be family. You're like a daughter to me. But if Colton's heart isn't in it, there's not much I can do."
Allison's smile widened, but it was sharper than a snake's fang. Lindy masterfully twisted the narrative, portraying herself as a benevolent figure who had saved Allison from a loveless marriage—pure manipulation disguised as concern. Allison saw through it clearly.
“There’s no need for sentimentality,” Allison said, her tone polite but cold. “I’m a neat freak. Now that Colton and I are divorced, I prefer things clean. Procrastination isn't my style. Besides visiting Keanu today, I'm here to decline the Cobweb event invitation.” She had decided to end the charade. The pleasantries were over. Her voice was firm, the edge unmistakable. “Since you consider me a daughter, let me meet Keanu.”
Lindy's smile vanished, her warmth freezing like a winter pond. “Keanu is busy. There’s no rush,” she replied, her voice colder, the room's temperature seeming to drop. “You received the invitation from Spider’s Web, and the Stevens family is grateful. But let's be honest. Without the Stevens name, do you think getting that invitation was easy?”
Unlike Colton, Lindy played her cards close. She understood Cobweb's intelligence network was critical to the company's survival.
“I truly have your best interests at heart, Allison,” Lindy added, sounding like she was offering a favor, not a threat. “You have no family, and holding onto that invitation won't help. Hand it over; it's a favor to us all. We might be able to protect you if you get into trouble. It's a win-win. You're still young. Don't make things harder.”
Although Allison expected Lindy's veiled threat, it still chilled her. Three years of service—caring for Lindy when she was ill—and this was her reward? But Allison was stubborn.
She looked up, her smile laced with sarcasm. "Can the Stevens family protect me?"
Lindy looked at her, but something shifted. For the first time, she saw a sharp edge in Allison's eyes—like glass ready to pierce any facade.
“If Webby truly issued that invitation for the Stevens family,” Allison said, her voice calm, almost too calm, “I wouldn't have needed to get involved.”
The mockery was evident, and Lindy understood.
“And even if it was for me, the invitation is in my name. Now that Colton and I are divorced, the Stevens family has no claim to it.”
Lindy nearly choked on her tea, her composure shattering. She hadn't expected Allison to outmaneuver her so easily.
A storm brewed behind Lindy's eyes as she searched for a solution. Cobweb was the world's largest intelligence network. Without it, the Stevens family would be blind, vulnerable to Ontdale's publicists. She wished Colton had understood the stakes before the divorce.
The front door opened.
“Mr. Colton Stevens and Ms. Johnson are back!” Kaelyn announced, flinging open the door.
Melany entered, clinging to Colton’s arm, with a saccharine smile. "Thank you."
But upon seeing Allison, they froze, as if encountering a ghost. Colton's eyes widened in surprise. Could this be the same woman he knew? She wore a simple green dress, no jewelry, yet radiated an undeniable glow. She was even more stunning than on that luxurious cruise. And her eyes—cold and distant—stirred something in Colton, something he couldn't understand but deeply unsettled him.