?<strong>Chapter 485:</strong>


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    With a soft sigh, she nced at Allison, her tone shifting to that of an adult cating a difficult child. “I’m sorry, Ms. rke. Please forgive me. Otherwise, Ken might actually get upset with me, and I’ll have no choice but to call Kinslee for help.”


    Dropping Kinslee’s name was no ident. Carole hoped it would serve as a reminder—especially to Ken—that Kinslee was indebted to her.


    But before she could continue, Ken’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp as ice. “My grandma is resting. If anyone dares step foot in the nursing home, they won’t leave it.”


    His eyes were hard, an imprable shade that revealed nothing of the storm raging beneath. A dangerous calm emanated from him, etched deep in the sharp lines of his face.


    A surge of realization froze Carole in ce. She’d heard whispers before—fragments of rumors about the ruthless internal feuds that had gued the Lloyd family, especially the battle of the illegitimate sons. Ken’s rise to power had been nothing short of brutal.


    A chill prickled her skin, urging her to pull back, daring not to test the waters any further.


    “I only mentioned it casually. Honestly, Ms. rke, I think of you as a friend,” she added quickly, trying to salvage what little dignity she had left.


    Allison met Carole’s forced politeness with a faint, amused smile. “Oh, I’m not upset, Miss Perry. On the contrary, I’m very grateful. You’ve made my day much more… entertaining.”


    Carole’s face went nk, her confidence visibly shaken. She had never met such an audacious woman. She had nned to leverage Ken’s authority to unsettle Allison, but the tactic had backfired spectacrly.


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    For the moment, she could do nothing but sit there, feeling small and helpless between Allison’s defiance and Ken’s indifferent threat. The tension hung thickly between them, silent and eerie, until it was broken by a voice from outside.


    “Allison.”


    Allison looked up, spotting a tall figure near the door. He wore a sleek ck shirt, its cor stitched with intricate, custom embroidery, the handiwork of an exclusive designer. The shirt’s series was aptly named Beloved. A glint of silver caught her eye as his wrist moved—a Patek Philippe watch encircled it, hinting at his status. Beneath the watch, a faint, sinuous tattoo of a scarlet snake peeked out, a subtle but bold mark against his skin. The setting sun filtered in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow that yed off the silver earring in his ear.


    “Long time no see,” Gordon greeted, his voice calm and still carrying that familiar youthful lilt. He didn’t even acknowledge Ken’s re as he approached. It was as if the other man was little more than a shadow in the room.


    “I ran into some traffic on the way. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”


    When he saw the coffee and brownie on the table, he smiled like a child. “Did you order these for me? You know they’re my favorites.”


    Allison nodded. “Yes. Did you bring what I asked for?”


    “I did. I’ll hand it over in a bit.”


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