?<strong>Chapter 549:</strong>


    Beside him, Ken’s brow furrowed, concern etched on his face. “Ms. rke…”


    His intense gaze held an unspoken depth, a mix of emotions swirling within him like an unfathomable pool.


    Before he could voice his concerns, Allison interrupted him with a simple,manding, “Trust me.”


    Those two words, delivered with unwavering confidence, silenced his worries. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and Ken ultimately held back his protest. “Alright.”


    Allison then turned her attention back to Mny, whose earlier loss had put her in a precarious position.


    “Miss Johnson, a bet is a bet. ording to Muisvedo’s rules, unless you continue to gamble, there’s no credit for you.”


    Mny’s heart raced.


    She realized she had two choices: either pay up or join the next round.


    She hadn’t anticipated that Amor would take such a reckless gamble.


    “Colton, I’ve never been in a ce like this before… They know I’m not familiar with the stakes here, yet they’re pushing me into a situation I can’t handle,” Mny said, striving to maintain herposure despite the anxiety in her voice.


    She reached out and clutched Colton’s arm, her voice soft and pleading. “Can you speak to Allison? Maybe convince her to be a little more lenient?”


    Colton’s expression tightened as he turned to face Allison.


    “I canmit the seventy million currently in my ount and make arrangements for the remaining amount to be transferred afterward. This is Mny’s first time participating, and she’s not well-versed in the rules,” he proposed.


    A small, almost amused smile yed on Allison’s lips as she responded, her tone rxed yet sharp, “Everyone here learned the rules the hard way at some point.”


    The subtle edge in her voice made it clear that she wasn’t going to bend easily.


    “I’m willing to reduce her debt by thirty million, but in exchange, you need to put 15% of your shares in Stevens Group on the line. What’s your decision, Mr. Stevens?”


    A shadow passed over Colton’s face immediately.


    Those shares represented his strongest foothold in the fiercepetition for power within Stevens Group.


    He shifted his gaze between Allison and Mny, his mind racing through the possible oues.


    Mny’s frustration was evident as she snapped, “Allison, this is unreasonable! You’re pushing too hard!”


    She was acutely aware of what that 15% stake meant for Colton. Without it, their hold on the Stevens Group would weaken, leaving them vulnerable.


    But Allison’s demeanor was unyielding, almost cold.


    “Miss Johnson, I trust you can weigh your options. Either use those shares as coteral or join the next round of the game.”


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