Chapter 192: Colton's eyes narrowed coldly at Allison.

"Before coming here, we checked the membership list, and your name wasn't on it," he stated. "The system doesn't even recognize you as a member."

A mix of disappointment and smug satisfaction churned within Colton. The institute's contacts were almost exclusively affluent, the type who could open doors with a single glance. If they couldn't gain access, how had Allison managed it? Her refusal to explain only solidified his suspicion that she was bluffing.

"You might have gotten lucky before, getting your hands on that medicine," Colton sneered, his nostrils flaring. "But here? They'll throw you out like trash!"

Allison raised an eyebrow, finding his remark more amusing than infuriating. Colton's neurosis seemed to have worsened since their divorce. Wrinkling her nose in disdain, she grabbed Lorna's hand and said loudly, "Let's go. I can't stand listening to his incessant barking."

Kellan, ever the opportunist, chimed in with a smirk, "Hey, hey, let's not insult the dogs."

Their mockery didn't escape Colton, whose face flushed with fury. Without another word, Allison and Kellan strolled past them, heading toward the research institute's gleaming glass doors without looking back. Colton's fists clenched at his sides. Melany, his ever-faithful shadow, clung to his arm.

"Don't let them get to you, Colton," she cooed, her voice sweet as honey. "Let's follow them inside."

Colton quickly grasped her meaning. Exchanging a knowing glance with Melany, they subtly followed Allison and the others. He wanted to witness Allison's inevitable embarrassment.

However, as soon as they entered the lobby, two staff members in sleek black suits stepped forward, blocking their path. One raised a hand in a polite but firm gesture. "Apologies, but without a reservation, you may not enter."

A surge of satisfaction coursed through Colton as he shot Allison a smug look. "See? Just because you got lucky once doesn't mean you've suddenly become untouchable!"

Melany's lips twisted into a sweet, mocking smile as she leaned in. "Allison, you don't know anyone here, do you? You've been faking it all along. If you couldn't deliver, you should have said so sooner. We could have missed our only chance because of you!"

Before she could finish, the staff members brushed past Allison without hesitation, positioning themselves directly in front of Colton and Melany, barring them from entry. One staff member shot them a cold glance. "What we meant was, they can go in, but you two need to leave. Unauthorized personnel aren't allowed inside."

Melany's tone was all charm as she ushered Allison in. "Ms. Clarke, welcome! So nice to see you."

Allison smiled warmly and exchanged a few pleasantries. "Is the director in today?"

"He is," Melany replied. "He heard you were coming and has been waiting inside."

Melany and Colton stood frozen, stunned. They were the ones being ejected, while Allison was greeted with such warmth. Furthermore, Allison seemed surprisingly well-acquainted with the institute's director. Kellan, however, wasn't surprised. Allison had already told him she had a way to get Lorna treated; this only confirmed her powerful connections.

"Please leave!" The first staff member's impatience grew, his frown deepening as he gestured for them to go. He couldn't understand why they were still lingering.

But Melany wasn't finished. "What? Does your institute just make up its own rules now? How come she can waltz in without a membership, and we can't?" Her voice dripped with indignation.

Colton, equally enraged, added, "When did this woman get so cozy with your director? She's not a member either, and yet you're letting her through like royalty. There's definitely something shady going on."

Colton's frustration flared with each thought of Allison's apparent intimacy with these men. His mind swirled with suspicion.

"You're just a low-level employee," he spat, venting his anger on the staff member. "If you can't explain this, I'll make sure you regret it! I'll file a formal complaint!"

Melany's eyes flashed with fury. She had gone through so much trouble and spent a fortune planting a spy inside Charisma Company, only for Allison to swiftly expose and have the person arrested. That humiliation still stung. Both old and new grievances pushed her over the edge, and she couldn't help but mock venomously, "Allison, the members of this research institute are Vrining's elite. If you wanted to flaunt your connections, you didn't have to resort to such dirty tricks to get in!" In her mind, there was no way Allison was an influential Vrining figure. The only logical conclusion, to her, was an unsavory one: a sexual relationship with the director.

Allison's eyes flickered with cold amusement. "Does your mind always live in the gutter? Having thoughts like that day in and day out, no wonder you're so unpleasant. With a hideous heart, you're growing uglier outwardly."