Chapter 6 Breaking the Engagement
1128 Words
Tristan's eyes casually caught sight of a faint bruise on Allison's neck. A smirk played on his sensual lips. "Just here for business, sweetheart."
Allison's face stiffened. She instinctively glanced at the middle-aged woman seated to Tristan's left.
Suddenly, her expression became hard to describe.
The woman was on the heavier side, wearing heavy makeup, and her appearance was just... hard to say. She was currently tearing into a chicken leg with gusto.
"Well, looks like your business is booming. Keep up the good work!"
Allison breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this guy was really just a gigolo.
Well, that made things simpler. She fixed him with a cold stare. "I hope you can uphold your professional ethics." As for their affairs, not a word should be mentioned.
Tristan gave her a sly grin. "You bet..."
With that, Allison turned and walked away.
They probably wouldn't see each other again, she thought.
*****
After the birthday banquet, Allison returned to Cresswell Villa.
"Allison, stop right there!" Holden called out to her.
Allison glared at him condescendingly. "What do you want?"
"I'm your father. Is this how you talk to me?" Holden puffed up his chest, trying to assert his authority.
Allison's stare remained cold. "Mr. Cresswell, did you remember you were a father when you cheated on Mom and left me?"
"I..." Holden sputtered, unable to defend himself against Allison's accusation, but he still shamelessly continued, "You're a high school dropout with terrible grades. Your sister is much smarter. Why not let Professor Hudson take your sister as his student instead? It's a way for Charles to repay you for your kindness."
"Absolutely not," Allison spat out.
She sneered at Holden. "Your precious daughter is not only dumb but also manipulative. If she was so capable, why didn't she fight for herself? In the end, she still had to come crawling to me."
With that, Allison dismissed him completely.
The next morning at eight, Allison came downstairs to find Ivan Thompson, the sole heir to the Thompson Lumber Group, along with the Thompsons, chatting and laughing with the Cresswells. Allison had heard that she had been betrothed to him when they were children.
Ivan looked up and happened to see Allison coming. His eyes immediately lit up with surprise. This wasn't the frumpy girl he'd imagined at all. She was stunning, absolutely gorgeous, miles away from Regina in terms of looks!
But unfortunately, this Allison not only did poorly in her studies but was also expelled. Such a woman wasn't anywhere near his level.
The thought made him look at Allison with a mixture of mockery and disdain.
Lauren deliberately called her over, "Allison, Mrs. Thompson has come here specifically to see you."
Naturally, Margaret Thompson looked down on Allison. She got straight to the point. "I'm here today mainly to discuss the engagement between Allison and Ivan."
Byron smiled. "Ivan's taking the SATs this year too. Why don't we have the kids officially engaged after the exams?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed, especially Regina's.
She was Ivan's classmate and had a major crush on him. There was no way she was letting Allison snatch him away.
Margaret's face fell, but before she could say anything, Allison firmly declared, "I want to break off the engagement!"
She added coldly, "The Thompsons look down on me, and frankly, I don't think much of them either. So, this engagement is over."
Margaret was floored. The Thompsons were loaded, and plenty of girls would kill for a chance to be part of the family. She hadn't even officially called off the engagement yet, and this girl had beaten her to it.
Margaret felt embarrassed. "Fine," she spat, "but don't come crawling back."
Allison scoffed inwardly. Who was going to regret this was still up for debate!
She narrowed her eyes at Margaret and Ivan. "Anything else?"
Ivan's face turned livid.
He had come to break things off, but it felt like he was the one getting dumped. This feeling made him very pissed.
As Allison was about to head upstairs, Ivan stepped in front of her. "What did you mean by that comment just now?"
"Which one?"
"The one about the Thompsons looking down on you, and you didn't think much of us."
Allison calmly asked, "Why are you asking me about this, Mr. Thompson?"
Ivan was caught off guard. He was used to being admired for his family background and good looks.
However, Allison said she didn't think much of him, and he couldn't shake the feeling she was saying that on purpose...
Allison cut off his delusions. "If you think I'm playing hard to get, you're overthinking."
Her voice was cold as she emphasized each word. "I have absolutely no interest in you."
Her statement made Ivan feel both humiliated and furious.
That country bumpkin would one day realize just how ignorant she was!
Unbeknownst to them, Regina had been listening from a nearby corner. Her eyes burned with hatred as her nails dug into her palms.
Allison wasn't just after her rightful place as the Cresswell heiress. No, she was also trying to steal her man! Damn it!
*****
That afternoon, Byron summoned Allison to his second-floor study.
The man, barely sixty, already had streaks of gray in his hair. His frail figure seemed to radiate a deep loneliness.
Allison didn't waste any time beating around the bush. "My mother's things are with you," she stated bluntly. "You promised to give them to me when I turned eighteen. That time has come."
Byron, seemingly lost in thought, murmured, "How have you been all these years?"
Allison scoffed, "Oh, please. When your son and his lover threw me out of the house, you were nowhere to be found. And now you suddenly care about how I'm doing? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?"
Byron let out a heavy sigh, the weight of unspoken burdens pressing down on him.
"Allison, honey, I know you're upset about me giving you up, but I was just trying to do what was best for you."
Allison frowned with a hint of impatience. "I just want my mother's stuff back."
She didn't care about what was troubling him. To her, it was just an excuse for his blatant favoritism.
Byron became serious. "I can give it to you, but on one condition."
Allison looked up. "What condition?"
"You go back to school. Take the SATs this year. The chauffeur will take you and Regina tomorrow morning."
Byron wasn't about to let Allison throw her education away at such a young age.
Went back to school? Now, that was the last thing she was interested in.
Allison traced a pattern on the chair's armrest with her finger. "And if I say no?"
- Writer
