Chapter 97 : Keep The Card
Jareth lifted his head slightly and watched as she pulled her arm to her chest, holding it protectively, as if making sure it would never be used as a pillow again.
This man, a grown man, had actually let someone hold him while he slept. Ridiculous.
She and Jareth were not close at all. Allison glanced around the room and realized Nova was gone. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains.
Morning had arrived.
Jareth gave her a piercing look, and a faint sensation crept over her scalp.
Did this man have no place of his own?
Why did he keep ending up in her bed?
Allison couldn't help but think of Nova’s teasing last night.
Men really do think with the lower half.
Jareth had shown his interest in her more than once.
Now that they were lying together like this, Allison’s thoughts began to spiral.
Jareth’s legs were not in good condition. But if one day he felt inclined, would that mean she would have to take the initiative?
Allison frowned deeply. She would rather die.
As if he sensed her thoughts, Jareth reached for her arm again.
Allison went on full alert.
Already? Now? Stop pulling. I don’t want to sleep with any man. Should I just cripple him for good? It was only one shot away anyway.
Jareth was calm when he said, “Give me your arm. I’m going back to sleep.”
“……”
Before she could react, he had already pulled her arm back and tucked it under his neck. Then, without another word, he shifted closer, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
Allison was completely speechless.
What… what was this? Forget it. Let him do whatever he wanted.
Allison lay there stiffly. Her arm was thin, yet even with his neck resting on it, it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
The ward was so silent. No one was going to come and disturb them.
Just as she began to settle, Jareth’s low voice broke the silence. “What are you mumbling about?”
He wasn't asleep yet?
Allison replied, “Russian.”
She had been practicing her Russian pronunciation, rolling her tongue and muttering softly. He would probably feel the slight vibrations through her arm.
Jareth closed his eyes again. “That’s probably useless.”
Allison shot back without thinking, “Knowledge is power.”
Jareth gave a low snort. “And are brains more useful than this?”
“……” Let’s see you say that when someone is insulting you in Russian and you do not understand a single word.
Allison gave up on her practice.
Silence returned. As she stared at the ceiling, Allison suddenly remembered that Jareth had never gone to school.
From what she knew, Jareth had left the Lopez family’s small courtyard when he was around thirteen or fourteen.
Before that, he hadn't studied for even a single day.
When she was young, Allison had heard the maids whisper that Jackson had always planned to cripple Jareth from the beginning. Otherwise, if this wild child were allowed to grow up properly, he might one day overturn the entire Lopez family.
After fourteen, Jareth shot up, growing tall and lean. The small courtyard could no longer contain him. He climbed walls, picked fights, and caused trouble everywhere.
Every time it happened, Jackson would order his men to drag him back, beat him bloody, and throw him into a dark room.
Later, after Jareth’s mother died, he vanished for several years. No one knew where he went, but Allison was certain it wasn’t school.
He must have survived by fighting his way through life.
No wonder he looked down on learning. He had never gained anything from it.
But Allison was different. Her fists were weak. Her mind was the only weapon she had.
Still, turning knowledge into money took time. She had already asked Kingsley to help her look for a traditional medicine shop that was up for sale. She should get the news within the next few days.
Jareth slept for another two hours.
When he woke up, he smoothed his rumpled shirt and handed Allison a bank card.
Inside was a $41,000 deposit for the Alphasirox pills.
“Keep the card. Any future payments can go here as well.”
This was business. Clean and straightforward. Money in exchange for goods.
And it made one thing painfully clear. In Jareth’s eyes, this marriage meant nothing. He had never planned to let Allison share his wealth or step into his world.
Allison thought this arrangement was perfect. She had no desire to get too involved with him anyway.
She had suggested using the Alphasirox pills as a treatment, and Jareth had handed her $41,000 on the spot.
Madam Berry’s consultation fee had been $140,000.
Now, with the advance payment for the improved formula, Allison had a total of $220,000 in hand.
Over the next two days, Kingsley helped her get in touch with a traditional medicine shop that was looking to sell its entire business.
The location was a bit remote, near the northern part of the city.
Allison went to inspect the shop. The interior was done in a classic redwood style, traditional and understated. The herbs in stock were not low-grade either.
Most importantly, the price was reasonable. The entire shop would cost $95,000 just within her budget.
Soon after, Allison used her new ID to sign the contract. She also contacted a renovation team to make one special change. A folding screen would be placed in the center of the shop, tall enough to hide her face and upper body.
In the center of the screen was a fan-shaped opening, just wide enough to extend a hand through it.
The shop was ready. All she needed now was customers.
Luckily, she had time. The Rogers family had no interest in bothering with her, and the Lopez family had no time to spare.
So Allison stayed in the shop every day, studying quietly as she waited for customers to come by.
The location was not ideal, and business was slow. That was exactly why the previous owner had been willing to sell.
In three days, only two or three nearby residents came by, all with minor issues like headaches or colds.
But Allison wasn’t anxious at all. Nova helped her watch the shop and grew so bored that she dozed off. She rested her head on the counter.
Just then, the sound of a car door closing came from outside, followed by the engine shutting off.
Startled awake, Nova straightened up immediately. A customer.
She hurriedly hooked her mask over her ears and rushed to the door. But the moment she saw who was outside, she was stunned and instinctively stepped back a few paces.