Chapter 177: Allisons emotions shifted swiftly, her smile growing brighter, almost dazzling.


    Because I couldnt bear to see you perish, Mr.


    Lloyd.


    Her voice was calm and light but carried an underlying meaning.


    Kens mind ignited as if fireworks were exploding behind his eyes.


    His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at her, her face reflected in his gaze.


    Then, she continued, After all, we still need to get Lorna to the doctor.


    Ah, so it was for Lorna, Ken thought.


    A cocktail of feelings swirled inside him, yet none could be fully grasped.


    It was as if his heart was being teased by a thousand feathers, tickling his nerves.


    He let out a low, self-mocking chuckle and said, I get it.


    Their eyes met again, and despite their casual demeanor, Ken could sense the emotional turmoil Allison was suppressing.


    Ken didnt want to admit it, but he didnt want anything bad to happen to her, and it wasnt just because she was part of the research institute and could be the key to fixing Lornas problems.


    It wasnt that they had spent much time together, but it was clear how much Ken cared for his little niece.


    If the roles were reversed, Allison figured she would feel the same.


    If someone had the means to cure a loved ones illness, who wouldnt be willing to go the extra mile? There wasnt anything particrly remarkable about that.


    Pushing aside the chaotic emotions rising within her, Allison shifted gears smoothly.


    Though what baffles me more is Mr.


    kely.


    I mean, everyone knows Ferdinand is the CEO of Everett Group, the biggest advertising firm in the world, but professional hitmen for marketing? And a yacht that can slip past radar detection? Her smile lit up, yful now, as though nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.


    Mr.


    kely seems far from ordinary.


    But seeing thepany you keep, I can understand why.


    Ken responded with a shrug, his tone light.


    Ferdinands quite something.


    Im just a straightforward businessman.


    Even regr folks like you arm themselves, he chuckled.


    Allisons eyes narrowed teasingly.


    Do businessmen also carry guns and pretend to be disabled? The tension between them was palpable.


    Yet despite this, they shared augh unexpected, but not unwee.


    At that moment, Allison was certain of one thing: she and Ken were two sides of the same coin.


    Beneath the banter and lighthearted jabs, her mind continued to churn.


    Ferdinands connections ran deep, far beyond the glitz of the corporate world.


    And as for his military-grade yachts and teams of professionals? None of that was remotely normal.


    Ken wasnt any different.


    His methods, his calcted approach, everything about him hinted at something darker, something more akin to the mafia than a boardroom.


    With a thoughtful expression, Allison propped her chin on her hand and asked, After all this, do you have any doubts about me? That was why he kept testing her.


    Yet his voice was steady as he replied, No.


    I trust you.


    Her lips curved into a sly smile.


    Whats your bank card PIN then? Ken saw the mischief dancing in her eyes and realized she had outyed him once more.


    But instead of irritation, he found it amusing.


    The old Allison had always been so guarded, so burdened by the expectations of the Stevens family, always wearing a mask to conceal her true self.


    Now, she seemed… free, more alive.


    In many ways, he and Allison shared the same battle scars.


    When they fought together, there was an unspoken understanding, an ease that came only from having faced the darkness.


    Ken couldnt help but smile back.


    Weve been through life and death together, he said, feigning indifference.


    You can call me Ken.


    Allison repeated, Ken? As soon as the name left her lips, she couldnt help but recall his voice from that night, the way he had whispered her name, the sound of his breath heavy and intoxicating.


    Yeah, he said with a nod.


    Allison blinked, clearing the memory from her mind, and said lightly, But in front of everyone else, youll still be Mr.


    Lloyd.


    We wouldnt want rumors flying around thepany.


    Fair enough, he agreed, though her voice lingered in his mind.


    When she called him Ken, it stirred something in him, something oddly familiar, like a dream he had forgotten.


    He shook off the thought, attributing it to the stress that had been weighing him down.


    Then, turning to her, he said, By the way, Ferdinands got more strings to pull than just in business.


    Hes got one foot in both worlds, you know, the clean and the dirty.


    What Ken didnt say outright was that Ferdinands people were his people.


    So, if you ever need help, dont hesitate to ask.


    You can trust him.


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