Chapter 186
"Kelvin, even if you won't think about yourself, shouldn't you consider your family?" Allison said with a smirk, her voice carrying a subtle threat.
"Leaving Crystal Haven now would be best for everyone, wouldn't it? I'm your mother, and I believe you'll find success elsewhere too."
Kelvin could only feel the bitter irony of it all.
With the truth laid bare before him, he felt nothing but disgust and nausea.
"Don't call yourself that, Allison. There are things I'd rather not spell out."
Allison didn't care about his reaction.
After all, she'd only come to pressure Kelvin into leaving. Whether she acted as his mother or not was completely irrelevant.
Seeing Kelvin's continued resistance, Allison gradually lost her patience.
"Kelvin, I'm not the only one in the Williams family who wants you gone. I've said what I needed to say. If you refuse to leave and something like what happened five years ago occurs again, will you be so lucky next time?"
Allison rose gracefully.
"Lucky or not, I'm still standing here," Kelvin replied.
From the beginning, his reactions had been remarkably calm.
He'd anticipated this confrontation from the moment he submitted his resignation.
Hearing this, Allison's attitude softened slightly. She took out a prepared bank card from her purse and said with false sincerity, "Kelvin, I may have been a bit harsh. This card has two hundred thousand dollars on it. Take this money, start fresh somewhere else, and I'm sure you'll do great things."
She pushed the card into Kelvin's hand.
Looking at the card, Kelvin immediately threw it to the floor.
"Is this Mrs. Williams' compensation? Typical of Mrs. Williams I don't need this money. I'll be leaving Crystal Haven soon anyway. You can go now."
With that, Kelvin stepped aside, making way for Allison to leave.
Allison was irritated by Kelvin's attitude, but since he'd agreed to leave, she had to accept it.
"I hope you keep your word."
Allison picked up the card from the floor and left Kelvin's home.
As the door closed, Kelvin collapsed tiredly onto the sofa.
Leaving Crystal Haven might actually be a good thing for him.
"Mr. Williams, let me toast to you."
In the noisy private room, a group of people surrounded Arthur, each offering him drinks.
But Arthur coldly refused them all.
He had absolutely no interest in this environment and found it nothing but a headache.
Seeing Arthur's lack of engagement, the man sitting beside him put down his glass and spoke with displeasure.
"Arthur, why so glum? I've just returned home after all this time."
The speaker was Flynn Rivera, Arthur's friend of many years.
Two years ago, Flynn had been sent abroad by his family for experience, and had only recently been reassigned back home.
Today's gathering was primarily to welcome Flynn back.
Arthur closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa, completely out of place in his surroundings.
If not for Flynn's insistence, he wouldn't have bothered attending this party at all.
Seeing his despondent state, Flynn couldn't help but speak up.
"Arthur, we've known each other for years, so let me be direct."
Flynn's gaze lingered on Arthur, and after some hesitation, he continued.
"I understand you're upset about divorcing Chloe, but you really were in the wrong there."
Though Flynn hadn't witnessed what happened between them firsthand.
Since his return, mutual friends had filled him in on the details.
Hearing Flynn mention Chloe, Arthur opened his eyes and sat up, his voice heavy.
"I did wrong by Chloe, which is why I have to win her back."
Since divorcing Chloe, he hadn't slept well for a long time.
Whenever he lay down and closed his eyes, memories of their time together played on repeat in his mind.
But when he opened his eyes and saw who was actually lying beside him, his heart felt crushed.
If given another chance, he would never have accepted his family's proposal.
Flynn sighed, unable to hide his regret.
"Chloe was truly good to you. Back then, she unhesitatingly gave up her beloved design career for you, devoting herself completely to being a housewife and taking care of you. We all saw that."
Being close to Arthur allowed Flynn to speak without restraint.
Thinking of Chloe's sacrifices, Arthur felt an inexplicable pain in his heart.
Looking at the glass before him, he said nothing, simply picking it up and downing the drink in one go.
As if only alcohol could temporarily numb his brain.
But with one glass down, memories of Chloe became even clearer.
"If Chloe were here, she'd never let me drink like this. I lost her. I'm such a jerk."
Arthur let out a dry laugh, shaking his head in self-mockery.
As Arthur's mood suddenly shifted, the group around him tactfully fell silent.
"Come on, Arthur, don't overthink it," Flynn said, breaking the awkward silence.
He took Arthur's glass, refilled it with liquor, and handed it back.
"Tonight I'll drink with you. We won't stop until we're wasted."
Looking at the refilled glass, Arthur downed it without hesitation.
Several bottles later, Arthur was visibly drunk. He stood up unsteadily, fumbling for his phone, slurring his words.
"I was wrong. I need to apologize to Chloe. I need to ask Chloe to forgive me."
As he spoke, Arthur scrolled through his contacts.
Finding that familiar number, he dialed immediately.
Meanwhile, Chloe had just finished showering and was drying her hair.
Hearing her phone ring, she answered without checking the caller ID.
When Arthur realized she had picked up, his eyes lit up with excitement. He hiccupped and exclaimed, "Honey, you finally answered my call!"
Hearing that familiar voice through the speaker, Chloe frowned instinctively, disgust washing over her.
"Arthur, are you sick in the head?"
Despite Chloe's harsh words, Arthur remained elated.
"Honey, I know I was wrong. I regret everything. Please come back. I miss you so much."
Arthur poured out his feelings into the phone, not holding anything back.
Belated affection was the cheapest kind.
Chloe wasn't buying any of it. In fact, she grew increasingly impatient.
"Arthur, your wife is Sable. Don't come ranting to me."
With that, Chloe hung up, giving him no chance to continue.
Staring at the darkened screen, Arthur's face fell in disappointment. He murmured, "Chloe must still be angry with me. I need to go beg for her forgiveness."
Arthur stubbornly called Chloe again, but this time he was met with the cold, mechanical voice of the operator.
Panic immediately set in, and he tried calling repeatedly, but the result remained the same.