Chapter 51 : You Want Jareth Now?
Allison looked up at him.
Even when he apologized, he acted like he was doing her a favor. He raised his head high, lifting his chin as he looked down at her the whole time.
Ronan had been with plenty of women over the years, but Allison had only ever seen him lower his guard for one person, and it was Sherrie.
When Sherrie was angry, he would crouch in front of her, lifting his face just to look into her eyes, desperate for even the slightest bit of her attention.
When she smiled, his whole face brightened, as if nothing else mattered. His eyes would focus on her, following her everywhere, as though she were the center of his world.
He was a spoiled rich boy in every sense of the word. Yet he must have loved Sherrie deeply, because he was willing to change for her.
Sometimes, Allison had to admit it. Some people are simply made to be loved, no matter how selfish or cruel they are, even when they do not deserve it.
Ronan shifted uncomfortably when Allison did not respond. His eyes fell on the scar across her face, and his expression hardened with guilt and anxiety.
“That scar…” He hesitated, visibly uncomfortable, before saying, “If it ends up being permanent, I’ll take responsibility. I’ll look after you.”
Allison blinked, and she was stunned for a brief moment. Then she looked at him with pure contempt.
Ronan lifted his chin, still trying to maintain his composure. “What? Why are you looking at me like that? I’m only ever going to marry Sherrie,” he said, then added casually, “but I can still take care of you. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”
Allison scoffed, narrowing her eyes. “So you want me to be your mistress?”
Ronan’s brows furrowed. “You want to compete with Sherrie? Seriously?”
“Ronan, are you actually this dense?” Allison quickly interrupted him in a sharp and cold voice. “I don’t want you. How is that not obvious? You and Sherrie can stay tangled for the rest of your lives. Just leave me out of it.”
Ronan stared at her, speechless for a long moment. Then anger flashed across his face, twisting his expression.
“You don’t want me? What, you want Jareth now?”
“None of your business.” Allison’s voice was cold.
“Oh, stop pretending,” Ronan quickly retorted, straightening up as his frustration spilled over. “This was all just to get my attention, wasn’t it? You let me hurt you so I’d feel guilty. You covered for me, so I’d start thinking about you again. Don’t tell me this wasn’t all planned to make me come here. And now that I did, you’re acting innocent? Like you’re above all of it? Please.”
Allison gave Ronan a cold look, then stood up abruptly and headed for the door.
Ronan panicked and rushed after her, slamming his arm against the door to block her path. He leaned down closer and said in a small, nervous tone, “What do you think you’re doing?”
Allison scoffed inwardly. “If you really think you have nothing to hide, then what are you so afraid of?”
Ronan’s face darkened. He did not think he was wrong. He was just furious that her words struck a nerve and made him look like a fool.
She used to do whatever he said. Now she challenged him at every turn, and he could not stand it. Who gave her the nerve to argue with him?
His tone turned jealous and bitter. “You really think you’re somebody now just because Jareth is paying attention to you?” Ronan sneered. “He’s nothing. The Lopez family only keeps him around when he’s useful. The moment he steps out of line, he’s done. You’ll see. Lying a hand on me was a big mistake. He’s not walking away from this. Just watch it.”
Allison blinked, clearly baffled after she heard Ronan’s words. To her, Jareth did not seem like someone the Lopez family could control.
Jareth was ruthless, sharp, and strategic. In Kansas, his influence was already starting to surpass the Lopez family’s. It did not make sense. Someone like him should not have to answer to anyone.
She lifted her chin and said in a sharp tone, “Jareth is better than you. Face it.”
She was baiting him, hoping he would reveal something about the Lopez family. However, Ronan did not take the bait.
Instead, he frowned deeply, as if he really could not understand. “Seriously? You’ve barely even talked to him. What’s so great about that guy? Oh, so that’s your type now?”
Allison was speechless.
The truth was, their history went back further than anyone knew. It did not start with the black market, but with something buried in childhood.
Jareth was the result of one of Jackson Lopez’s drunken mistakes. From the day he was born, he and his mother were pushed into a back courtyard, hidden away where no one had to see or think about them.
His mother gained no status from having a child. Because of that, both of them were treated like trash. Everyone in the Lopez family looked down on them.
Back when Ronan was just a spoiled kid, he used to sneak off with his friends to torment Jareth. Allison had gone along with them once.
They brought thick snakes and shoved them through the crack in the old wooden gate, snickering as they waited for someone inside to scream.
One of the kids started to panic. “What if the snakes bite them and they die? Won’t we get into trouble?”
Ronan only shrugged, smug as ever. “So what if they die? My dad says they’re worthless anyway. If they die, it just saves everyone the trouble.”
They waited for a long time, but nothing came from inside. Not a single sound. In the end, one of the kids could not hold back and crouched down to peek through the crack in the gate.
No one knew what he saw, but he let out a scream and fell straight back onto the ground.
Allison’s heart was pounding as she walked closer and looked inside for herself.
A boy, not much older than them, was crouched on the ground. His other hand pinned the snake’s head down while the other one gripped a rock.
He lifted it and brought it down again and again, smashing the snake’s head to pulp. Blood splattered across his face, and he did not even flinch.
Then he threw the rock aside and, in one swift motion, peeled the snake’s skin away. The pale flesh twitched in his hands.