Chapter 129:


    After safely driving Allison to the vi near Muisvedo, Ken spoke in a calm voice,


    “Ms.


    rke, you should rest.


    It’s cold out; I wouldn’t want you catching a cold.”


    Allison offered a small smile.


    “Thank you, Mr.


    Lloyd.


    Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.”


    However, as Ken restarted his car, something immediately felt off.


    His expression tightened for a moment, then he frowned and instinctively reached for his phone.


    Noticing his hesitation, Allison tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on the dashboard, which had clearly malfunctioned.


    “What’s going on? Did the car give out?”


    “It might be an issue with the engine.


    It’s nothing major.


    I’ll call for someone toe get me,” Ken replied, his voice tinged with unease.


    Normally, he didn’t trouble himself with these kinds of mundane problems — his team handled all the technicalities.


    But now, the rain intensified, hammering down harder, apanied by shes of lightning and the rumble of thunder, transforming the world outside into a scene straight out of a stormy seascape painting.


    Allison hesitated for a moment.


    After all, Ken had gone out of his way to drive her home, and now his car had broken down.


    Leaving him alone in the car in that downpour felt almost heartless.


    “It’ste, Mr.


    Lloyd,” she said, her tone casual.


    “Instead of waiting for your assistant toe out here, why don’t youe inside and wait for the rain to let up? We can figure it out once it passes.”


    Ken paused.


    Having his assistante wasn’t an inconvenience, but something in her offer made him put his phone down.


    He nced up at her, eyebrow raised.


    “Ms.


    rke, isn’t that a bit too trusting of you? Inviting a man into your home without hesitation — what if my intentions weren’t so pure? Aren’t you afraid you might regret it?”


    Allison arched an eyebrow, a glimmer of yfulness in her eyes.


    “Well, with your looks and impressive build, Mr.


    Lloyd, I’d say you might be the one in danger tonight.”


    Neither was willing to concede on the subject, leaving a subtle tension lingering in the air.


    After a moment, they shared a softugh, the sharp edge of the stormy night dulled by the banter between them.


    “Well, in that case, I’ll graciously ept your offer,” Ken replied, shing a half-smile.


    Once inside, Ken took a moment to take in the surroundings.


    Every corner of the vi reflected his taste; the décor had been his doing.


    Now that Allison had moved in, the space hadn’t changed drastically, though there were small personal touches she’d added, blending surprisingly well with the overall design.


    It gave the house an unexpected charm, a fusion of both their aesthetics.


    “Here, this’ll warm you up.” Allison handed him a cup of coffee.


    Ken took a whiff of the rich aroma.


    “This is really good coffee.”


    Outside, the storm showed no signs of easing.


    The rainshed down relentlessly, scattering the delicate crabapple blossoms in the garden like lost confetti.


    It was clear the weather would remain unforgiving for the rest of the night.


    Allison stretched, her body betraying the fatigue of a long day.


    “This vi was rented to me at a very generous price, thanks to you, Mr.


    Lloyd.


    It’s hard to find such a beautifully designed ce.


    Since there are plenty of rooms, why don’t you stay the night? Consider it a small token of appreciation.”


    Ken chuckled, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.


    “If you don’t mind, I’ll dly take you up on that offer.


    But I have to say, offering a room in exchange for a favor is a pretty unique way of showing gratitude.


    If you really want to thank me, how about you treat me to dinner sometime?”


    Allison shot him a yful look, throwing his earlier words right back at him.


    “Alone with a man, Mr.


    Lloyd? Isn’t that a bit dangerous? What if your intentions aren’t as noble as they seem? I might find myself in a tricky situation.”


    For a second, Ken was rendered speechless, forced to grin at his own irony.


    Normally quick with sharp retorts, he found himself disarmed when it came to Allison.


    “I’m going to take a shower,” Allison said, grabbing a change of clothes.


    “Make yourself at home.”


    “Sure.” Ken nodded, still holding the warm cup of coffee.


    It should have been an ordinary, uneventful night.


    Yet, the second she disappeared into the bathroom, Ken became acutely aware of the faint sound of water, barely audible beneath the heavy drum of rain on the windows.


    His mind drifted, unbidden, to the image of droplets trailing down her skin, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes — an intensity he couldn’t easily shake off.


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