Chapter 385:
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âDonât worry, Colton. I wonât be a distraction. You handle the business, and Iâll be good,â Melany said, her voice sugary sweet.
Her words should have soothed him, but they didnât. Instead, his mind wandered back to Allison.
She was never one to play coy or sit on the sidelines. If it were her, she wouldâve rolled up her sleeves and helped him without a second thought.
But that wasnât their reality anymore. Now, they were strangers.
Colton snapped out of his thoughts and gave Melany a pat on the head.
âGood. Youâre the most understanding.â
Yet, despite her outward concern, Melany had her own plans. She wasnât thinking about Colton at all; her thoughts were elsewhere, focused on finding an excuse to slip away.
âColton,â she said, batting her lashes, âI got a little sweaty. My makeupâs a mess. Iâm going to the restroom to touch up. Wait here for me, okay?â She grabbed her purse, flashing him a sweet smile.
âDonât worry, Iâll ask one of the staff to show me the way. Youâve got your hands full, so focus on that.â She leaned in, kissing his cheek softly.
âYouâre at your best when youâre working.â
âAlright,â Colton said with a sigh, though his thoughts were still in turmoil.
He had everything he thought he wantedâa loving partner by his sideâbut he couldnât shake the constant thoughts of his ex-wife.
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Meanwhile, Melany, with her own hidden motives, was eager to get Colton off her back.
âIâm off then,â she said.
Colton, oblivious to her true intentions, thought she was being thoughtful. As he glanced over the chaotic venue, he gave her a serious reminder. âIf anything goes wrong, make sure to call me immediately.â
âOf course,â she replied with a sweet smile before disappearing into the crowd.
Once she reached a quiet corner, away from prying eyes, Melany checked her reflection in a compact mirror and quickly freshened up. Then, with a deep breath, she dialed Hoytâs video call.
As the screen connected, she gasped. âHoyt, what happened to you?â
The man staring back at her was barely recognizable, his face swollen and bruised, his body wrapped in bandages. He looked like heâd been through hell.
The memory of their last phone call, which had abruptly cut off, flashed in her mind.
âDid something happen when you were in Athton?â Hoyt let out a bitter laugh. âHappen? Yeah, you could say that. I was hit by a car. If this was a coincidence, Iâll eat my hat!â
He shifted slightly, wincing as his injuries tugged at him. His body was a mess of wounds, leaving him bedridden and immobile.
Tentatively, Melany asked, âIt was Kellan, wasnât it? No wonder the call suddenly went silent. You had a car accident, and I was so worried.â
Her voice wavered, her eyes reddening as if she might cry at any moment. âHoyt, why didnât you let me know? Iâve been trying to reach you for days.â
Hoytâs expression hardened as he tilted the camera with his only movable right hand, showing his heavily wrapped body.
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