Chapter 966:
âMr. Stevens,â she said, her voice dripping with mockery, âsurely you donât believe I still have feelings for you.â
Once Allison realized Colton had nothing to back up his claims, she decided she was done with their tangled history. Her response hit him like a punch to the gut, plain and brutal.
âI only saved you because I didnât want Keanu to collapse from the shock. And as for using you? I donât feel even a shred of guilt about it. You think Kellan is a dangerous lunatic who loves killing. But do you really believe Iâm any better?â
Her wavy hair danced lightly in the breeze, and her heels clicked softly as she shifted her weight. When their eyes met, her gaze was cold as ice.
âColton,â she said, her tone cutting, âlet me be clear â I donât have a single feeling left for you. You can go back to hating me like you always did.â
âI donât believe that,â he replied, his voice shaking.
Colton stared at her, his face pale and drawn. âEven after almost dying that day,â he said softly, âI canât bring myself to hate you.â
It wasnât until he had brushed so close to death that he realized the truth â he had fallen for Allison without even realizing it. For the last three years, he had been nothing but a pathetic coward.
He hadnât just failed to confess his feelings â heâd also driven Allison away because of his own misguided assumptions.
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âIs that so?â Allison said, her voice calm as her eyes flicked to his wounds.
The injuries looked serious, almost life-threatening. Her lips curled into a faint smile. âI nearly killed you, and yet you donât hate me?â
Colton held her gaze steadily. âThe only thing I hate is how Kellan manipulated and brainwashed you and that I failed to protect you well.â His fists tightened as Kellanâs face flashed in his mind, a burning frustration simmering beneath the surface. If Kellan hadnât interfered, Colton believed that Allison would still love him.
âAllison, I know I messed up before,â Colton said quietly. âIf you hate me, thatâs fine. At least you can still use me like last time. Thatâs better than having no connection at all.â
Deep down, Colton had always known he was a coward. His father had been unfaithful, and his mother had always tried to control every aspect of his life. Because of that, heâd never dared to believe in love.
But years ago, when someone had risked everything to save him from that alley, he couldnât stop himself from falling. By some cruel twist of fate, though, he had convinced himself that person was Melany. Over the past three years, Allison had slowly reached his heart, but he had stubbornly ignored it, lying to himself again and again. In the end, his pride was the chain that kept him from moving forward.
âAllison,â Colton said softly, his voice almost breaking. âWhat can I do to earn your forgiveness?â
âForgiveness?â Allison repeated with a faint laugh. âMr. Stevens, youâve got it wrong. I donât hate you, so thereâs nothing to forgive.â
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