Chapter 1180:
âColton, youâre not coming back with me?â Melany asked, her eyes welling up with tears. âItâs getting dark. Iâm scared to be alone.â Her plea was a clear sign of vulnerability.
But Colton only shot her a cold, dismissive glance. âIf youâre scared, then hurry up and go back.â
With that, he turned on his heel and walked back toward the reception hall.
There was no need to ask â Colton was clearly heading back to find Allison. The thought of it only made Melanyâs anger flare up even more. She balled her fists in frustration and shut her eyes tightly, but she knew that she couldnât lose her temper now.
âTake me back to the Stevens family home,â she said to the driver, her gaze lingering at the entrance.
The banquet hall buzzed with activity, giving no hint that anything unusual had happened. Meanwhile, Colton was searching for Allison. He needed to apologize to her. Colton understood that Melany had set Allison up because of him. And though it wasnât directly his doing, the blame ultimately rested on his shoulders.
But no matter where he looked, she was nowhere to be seen. âSo, sheâs already gone,â he muttered under his breath.
Just as he was about to abandon the search, convinced everyone had left, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed. A single spotlight illuminated the center of the room. People gathered around, holding their drinks and whispering in hushed voices. Colton felt compelled to move closer, curiosity drawing him in. But as soon as he saw what â or who â stood beneath the light, he stopped dead in his tracks.
âAllison?â he whispered, disbelief washing over him.
He spotted Kellan and Allison gliding across the floor in a graceful waltz. The soft, lilting melody of the piano filled the air as they moved together, seamlessly in tune, like they had rehearsed a hundred times.
âMr. Lloyd, have you been sneaking in some practice?â Allison teased with a light laugh.
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As Kellanâs hand guided hers, she noticed how effortlessly their steps aligned, each motion feeling smooth and instinctive. Every beat of the music seemed to carry them forward in perfect unison.
âYes,â Kellan answered in a quiet, steady voice.
When the music swelled to its peak, Kellan placed his hand on her waist and led her effortlessly across the floor, their movements fluid and precise. Her skirt twirled beautifully, floating around her as if caught in a gentle breeze.
The spotlight framed them, drawing every gaze in the room as though they were the only ones who mattered. In both elegance and skill, they looked like they were made for each other.
Watching the scene unfold, Colton let out a bitter laugh at himself. âTurns out, Iâm nothing more than a spectator,â he murmured under his breath.
The lively crowd and the dazzling stage seemed worlds away from him, as if he didnât belong there at all. From start to finish, the spotlight had always been on Allison and Kellan. In the eyes of everyone present, they were the ideal pair â the perfect match.
Three years ago, people showered him and Allison with the same blessings on their wedding day. But time had a way of changing everything. Colton had come to find Allison, hoping to speak to her, to say something meaningful. But now, feeling out of place and insignificant, he quietly slipped out of the banquet hall alone. He couldnât shake the thought that he didnât deserve to be there.
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