Chapter 1444
Chapter 1443:
In the next moment, Allan strode toward her. For a man who was normally so refined and well-mannered, he abandoned all pretense of courtesy. He planted himself squarely between Adah and Lance, turning his back on his romantic rival and focusing his entire attention on her. Just like that, he shut the other man out with a single bold move.
Though he hadn’t uttered a single word, possessive energy radiated from him in waves. It was clear he intended to reclaim what was his.
There was nothing quite like facing a rival in love to ignite the competitive fire in a man.
Suddenly, embarrassed and outmatched, Lance stepped aside, retreating a few paces.
Allan didn’t even glance over his shoulder, but he heard the shuffle of footsteps and sensed the growing distance between the man and Adah. With his rival successfully displaced, his mood brightened further.
He fixed his gaze on Adah, pure affection in his eyes. “You remember our bet, don’t you p>
The woman looked taken aback. She couldn’t understand why he was bringing up the bet, especially when he himself seemed to have forgotten all about it. In any case, unwilling to give him any advantage, she replied coldly. “So what p>
“I never forgot it,” he answered, his voice soft and brimming with warmth. “It hasn’t left my mind. I relived it every single night. I spent these six weeks longing for this moment, just to see you again p>
The tenderness of his words sent a wave of discomfort through the room. No one there had ever seen Allan so sentimental, and it was a startling revelation.
A moment later, Ruben looked from Lance — now standing awkwardly off to the side — to Allan, who had seized control of the situation, and frustration consumed him. He wanted nothing more than to scold his grandson for yielding so easily, but he bit his tongue.
Meanwhile, Raymond’s feelings ran in the opposite direction. He had nearly lost all hope, but watching Allan step in and stake his claim with such boldness lifted an enormous weight from his shoulders.
In fact, had social decorum not held him back, he would have burst into cheers. Allan had proven beyond any doubt his determination to go after the woman he loved.
Anyone would have been surprised to learn that, at that very moment, these two old men were waging their own private battle.
𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻
All eyes remained fixed on the pair standing at the center of the room, and curiosity continued to mount. What kind of bet had Allan and Adah made?
Adah narrowed her eyes and studied Allan with open suspicion. She analyzed every detail of his expression, searching for any hint of deception.
Meanwhile, he simply stood there, unfazed by her thorough scrutiny. He understood that she didn’t trust him yet, but he felt no urgency. Sooner or later, his sincerity would speak for itself.
“What have you been doing these past six weeks?” Adah asked.
A gentle warmth spread across Allan’s face. “I told you before I left, remember? I went to prepare your birthday gift p>
That simple remark carried multiple layers of meaning. When a man took the trouble to explain his schedule to a woman, it said everything — it was clear their relationship was more than mere friendship. They had to be romantically involved, even if they weren’t yet married.