Chapter 45 : I’ll Get My Revenge On You
The director lingered for a moment, clearly unwilling to look away from Allison. But under Jareth’s cold warning stare, he had no choice but to mutter under his breath and return to watching Madam Berry’s condition.
Jareth slowly walked towards the door, holding Allison’s hand.
Allison lowered her eyes to their intertwined hands. The memory of how he had spoken about her before made her chest tighten. She felt anxious and tried to pull her hand away.
Jareth noticed it immediately. Instead of letting her go, he tightened his grip on her hand. He stopped walking, looked down at her, and said quietly, “In Kansas, there’s no one more reliable on your side than me.”
Allison was just about to retort when something at the end of the hallway caught her eye.
Ronan was standing there.
Ronan's eyes landed on their clasped hands, and his face twisted with anger as he stormed toward them.
Allison suddenly realized Jareth was holding her hand on purpose, just to provoke Ronan.
Ronan yelled at her, “Do you even know what time it is? Does the Rogers family have no shame left?”
After they got engaged, Ronan had always held the upper hand. Over the years, he had grown used to controlling Allison. He refused to tolerate anything he considered inappropriate.
Even though the engagement had ended long ago, Ronan still believed Allison should listen to him.
After all, he had practically raised her. He believed her safety was his responsibility.
Yet even now, after everything, she still had not let go of Jareth’s hand.
Ronan’s face flushed with rage. He raised his voice and scolded her again. “Your brother already told you about the marriage arrangement with the Berrys. You even spent the night at their place. And now you’re doing this? Are you trying to let all of Kansas know how shameless you are?”
She spent the night at the Berrys’?
How did Ronan know about that?
Allison quickly realized Nigel and Sherrie must have told him. And from his tone, it was obvious he believed spending the night meant she had slept with Mr. Berry.
My own brother. My former fiancé. Eighteen years… and this is what they think of me.
They really believe it was fine for me to sleep with Mr. Berry, but holding Jareth’s hand makes me a disgrace.
It was not that they looked down on Jareth. They hated the fact that they could not control him.
Allison was so furious that she laughed. Then she tightened her grip on Jareth’s hand.
A direct slap to Ronan’s face.
Hatred came across to Ronan's eyes. “You want to be a disgrace? Fine. But if you drag Sherrie’s name into this, I won’t let it slide!”
He reached out and grabbed Allison’s wrist. “You’re coming with me!”
Allison couldn’t break free. She stumbled and was yanked off balance, until Jareth let go, stepped forward, and shoved Ronan hard.
Ronan was already seething, and he nearly fell. That shove was the final spark. All logic and restraint vanished from his mind.
He swung a punch at Jareth. Jareth lifted his arm to block it, but with his mobility issues, he could not react fast enough. Ronan kicked his cane away.
Without the support, Jareth lost his balance. His left knee crashed into the tiled floor.
Ronan was completely out of control this time. He raised his fist again, aiming straight for Jareth’s face.
Allison moved on instinct and blocked it.
The punch landed squarely on her.
She did not make a sound. Her face throbbed with a dull, swelling pain. She curled herself onto the floor as her body reacted out of instinct.
“Allison?” Concern pulled tight in Jareth’s voice as he struggled toward her.
Ronan’s anger flared again. “I was going after him! Why did you block my punch?”
He lifted his fist again, refusing to stop until he landed a few more blows.
But he never got the chance. Jareth’s bodyguards finally reacted. Two of them rushed in from behind, seized Ronan, and slammed him to the ground.
Jareth knelt beside Allison, clothes rumpled and body aching. He gently pulled her hands away from her face. The moment he saw her, his expression hardened.
He lifted his head and shot Ronan a furious glare.
Coldness filled his eyes, and a sharp, deliberate fury burned beneath them.
Ronan flinched, a sudden cold sinking into his stomach. Would that cripple really dare to touch me?
He got his answer a second later.
“Hit him harder!” Jareth ordered coldly.
There was no hesitation. The guards’ fists came down hard.
Ronan curled into a ball, shielding his head. “You’re dead, you hear me! You crippled bastard. I swear I’ll get my revenge on you!”
Jareth did not spare a glance at Ronan. With some effort, he reached for his cane, then helped Allison to her feet.
She held her head, dizzy and swaying. The two of them looked equally battered. They could only stand firmly by leaning on each other.
With one arm around her waist, Jareth frowned and said in a low voice, “Come with me.”
Staggering and limping, they strode away while Ronan endured the beating in silence.
He covered his head with both hands, but his eyes remained fixed on Allison’s back, burning with resentment.
He could not understand it. Why was Allison leaving with that cripple? Why had she taken the hit for Jareth? She used to protect him from harm.
Did she really fall for Jareth?
They had spent eighteen years side by side. How could she fall for someone else so easily?
By the time Jareth and Allison reached their room, she was half-conscious.
Oliver rushed over, shocked. “What happened to her!”
Still holding Allison firmly, Jareth swiped the keycard with his free hand and said, “Get the doctor.”
He nudged the door open with his cane, his entire body tensing as he struggled to support her weight.
Oliver hesitated. “Are you sure you’ve got her?”
Jareth turned back. “Why are you still standing there? Go get the director. Him personally.”
Oliver gave up on helping. “Fine.”
Once Oliver left, Jareth quickly helped Allison onto the bed.
Her face was flushed, and her breathing was rapid. Jareth sat beside her and placed a hand on her forehead.
She was burning hot.
He remembered the ginger soup she never got to drink. She must have already been getting sick, yet she still pushed herself long enough to save Madam Berry.