Chapter 440:
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Her firm but playful refusal left Colton and Melany visibly stunned.
Only Keanu remained unfazed. He knew better than anyone that Allison never cared about money or material wealth.
Knowing Allisonâs stubborn nature, he relented. âForget two fish, Iâll catch ten for you if thatâs what you want!â Then, turning to face the room, Keanu made his stance clear. âEven if you donât want the shares, Allison, they will always be yours. I will always have your back, and Iâll always keep you safe.â
Everyone understood, at that moment, that Keanu was fully backing Allison.
Meanwhile, Louis, standing off in the corner, was trying to slip away quietly.
He figured leaving in shame was better than kneeling and admitting defeat in front of the whole crowd.
But just as he feared, the worst was about to happen.
âMr. Sugden, are you leaving already?â
Allisonâs voice, laced with amusement, interrupted Louis from behind.
âIsnât it time you kept your promise?â
Louis froze, turning to face Allisonâs knowing smile. Her tone was light, but the weight of her question pinned him down, leaving him with no way out.
In a panic, Louis darted his eyes toward Colton, pleading for help. âMr. Stevensâ¦â
But Colton only furrowed his brow, offering no support. Now that Keanu had firmly aligned himself with Allison, no one seemed willing to intervene.
Coltonâs expression grew complicated as he gazed at her, reflecting on how, for the past three years, heâd seen her as shallow and opportunistic.
However, it was becoming clear that his assumptions had been misguided.
Sensing the rising tension, Melany tried to speak for Louis. âLetâs not make things uncomfortable. Youâre all in the same circle, after allâ¦â
Before she could finish, Kellan interjected. âWhy, Miss Johnson, are you the type to break a promise too?â
Melany was left speechless, her face flushed with anger. She had once flirted with the idea of getting close to Kellan, but now, she was livid.
Every word from his mouth was infuriating!
As confusion lingered in the air, Roderick and his team struggled to grasp the full story.
âWhatâs going on here, Ms. Clarke?â someone finally asked.
The blunt butler jumped in to explain, âBefore you arrived, Mr. Sugden made a wager with Ms. Clarke.â
It didnât take long for everyone to catch up to the situation.
Roderick shot Louis a hard, disapproving look.
âIf you make a bet, youâd better be prepared to own up to it,â he said, his words sharp and clear.
âLosing isnât a big deal, but losing your character is.â The implication was clear. Louis should kneel and apologize, as agreed.
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