Chapter 187: Kellan furrowed his brows as Allison's words sunk in. He knew she'd approached the Lloyd family for reasons beyond the superficial, but he never anticipated her motives would intertwine with his mother and grandmother.
"I'm not well-versed in the affairs of the past generation," he admitted, his voice deepening, a hint of vulnerability surfacing. His mother had passed away when he was very young. "So, what do you intend to do now? My mother had a significant bond with your grandmother."
"I simply wish to gather clues about my biological mother from her," Allison explained. "However, I understand you might hesitate to trust a stranger like me with your grandmother's care. Therefore, I propose a deal: Lorna needs help with her autism treatment. If I can help her, perhaps you would consider allowing your grandmother to receive treatment at the MDH Research Institute, a reputable medical research facility. Once she's cured of Alzheimer's, I can learn more about my mother, and you can have peace of mind. What do you think?" She laid out her plan with remarkable clarity, masking a flicker of underlying anxiety. She observed Kellan closely, curious about his response. He might well ask her to leave, especially given the reverence he held for his family.
Kellan, with immense respect for his elders, remained silent for a moment before speaking. "It's possible." He agreed without hesitation, interrupting Allison's train of thought.
"Why? Aren't you worried I might have ulterior motives?"
"As I said, I trust you," Kellan replied, meeting Allison's gaze with unwavering sincerity.
Allison, speechless for a moment, found herself unexpectedly moved. Trust was a concept she hadn't encountered in a long time. During her three years with the Stevens family, even while married to Colton, trust had been elusive, replaced by Colton's incessant suspicion. Perhaps emboldened by the moment, she decided to be completely forthright. "I will take care of this and help your grandmother recover soon. Thank you for your trust."
Kellan nodded slightly, a distant memory resurfacing. "When my grandmother went missing, chaos erupted at the nursing home. In the end, it was someone in a mask who brought her back. That person was you, wasn't it?"
Allison chuckled. "I was merely checking out the area. Who would have guessed I'd stumble upon your missing grandmother? Pure coincidence."
Kellan squinted, studying her slightly exasperated expression. A small smile played on his lips. Where had she acquired such skills? She'd expertly avoided all surveillance cameras. Yet, he knew some things didn't need to be explicitly asked. With enough trust, the truth would reveal itself in time.
He led her out of the secret room. "Now that everything's out in the open, there's no need for you to sneak around at night anymore." Allison chose to ignore the comment.
As they stepped out, they encountered Jim. Jim froze, startled by their appearance from the restricted area, particularly Kellan's slightly disheveled state. He gasped, then smiled knowingly. "Mr. Lloyd, you really shouldn't overexert yourselves. You're both still recovering. Your health is the top priority."
Allison sensed a misunderstanding. She started to explain, but Jim, still smiling, interrupted. "I didn't see or hear a thing. I'm just an old man with poor eyesight." He quickly departed, granting them privacy.
Kellan, feigning indifference, said, "Ms. Clarke, you should go rest now." Despite his calm exterior, a flicker of hidden pleasure warmed his heart.