The Billionaire's Forbidden Longing

Allison's first night at Carter Manor was anything but peaceful. It wasn't the new place that bugged her, but the throbbing pain in her fractured shoulder blade. She'd overdone it during the day, and now her whole shoulder was screaming. She gritted her teeth and popped a painkiller, but it barely took the edge off. Just as she was about to call for help, the door creaked open.

"Allison, what's up?" Alexander walked in, looking sleepy in his pajamas.

"Why are you still awake?" Allison asked, but Alexander was already by her side, noticing the sweat on her forehead and getting worried. "Where does it hurt?" he asked, reaching out to comfort her.

Allison gently pushed him away. "I'm fine. It's just the pain from the fracture. I might need some more meds."

"Tell me what you need, and I'll get it," Alexander insisted.

After getting her answer, he threw on a jacket over his pajamas and headed out to the nearest pharmacy.

Half an hour later, he was back, but before going up to the third floor, he found Felicity.

Felicity rushed upstairs when she heard about Allison's discomfort. "Ms. Bennett, why didn't you call for help? Look at you, you're drenched in sweat. Mr. Carter, leave the medicine with me. I'll give it to her and help her change. The bed linens need to be changed too!"

Alexander nodded, ignoring Felicity's fussing, and went downstairs to get Allison a glass of water for her meds.

All the noise woke up Jessa, who was staying on the first floor.

She stepped out of her room, concerned. "Alexander, what's going on? Is everything alright?"

"Allison's not feeling well. I went out to get her some medicine. Jessa, sorry if we woke you. You can go back to sleep; Felicity's here to help," Alexander explained.

Jessa frowned and went upstairs. Seeing Allison's condition, she went to find Victor.

Since Victor was a doctor, he could at least understand the situation.

By now, it was nearly 5 AM, and the whole house was awake.

Allison felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. "I'm fine, really. You didn't need to wake everyone up!"

Jessa came out with a warm towel and smiled. "We're family. How could we sleep knowing you're unwell? Victor, come take a look."

Victor examined Allison, noting the redness and swelling around the fracture site. He also checked the wound where she had been shot, which was inflamed.

"The new environment and increased activity have caused some inflammation. The fracture area is likely very painful," he explained.

Jessa, filled with concern, helped Felicity wipe Allison's sweat and change her clothes.

Alexander then scooped Allison up and carried her to his own room.novelbin

"The bedding in your room needs to be changed, so you'll sleep here," Alexander declared. He wasn't giving her a choice; there was no way he'd let her go back to the guest room in her condition.

After taking the painkiller, Allison felt much better. Alexander watched over her until she fell asleep, then carefully slipped out of the room, making sure not to disturb her rest.

"Alexander, stay with Allison for the next few days. We don't have strict rules here. Let her rest upstairs without worrying about coming down to greet us. Her health comes first! Liliana is making some soup. When she wakes up, make sure she eats something," Jessa instructed before heading downstairs. Alexander felt a pang of guilt.

However, when Lilian found out about it, she gave him a good scolding. "You know Allison hasn't fully recovered. How could you not keep a closer eye on her? Look at those soaked sheets. She must have been in so much pain! Get a doctor to check on her in the morning. Victor isn't her primary physician."

Alexander nodded and went upstairs. Seeing Allison sleeping, he sighed. His heart ached for her.

Meanwhile, the Bennett family was in chaos. With Jasper's situation, the Bennett Group's stock had taken another nosedive, teetering on the brink of collapse. Preston saw his chance and called for a shareholders' meeting. When Cleo heard the news, she called Allison, but Alexander picked up the phone.

"A shareholders' meeting?" Alexander sneered.

"Haven't you been buying Bennett Group's shares? It's time to use them. Also, submit the evidence of Preston's asset transfers to the authorities," Alexander instructed, determined not to let Preston cause Allison more stress. At 9 AM, the large conference room at Bennett Group was packed with shareholders, who quickly surrounded Preston as he entered.

"Mr. Bennett, the stock has hit rock bottom again. We can't go on like this!"

"Exactly! As the chairman, Allison hasn't even shown up at the company. At this rate, she'll ruin everything!"

Several shareholders voiced their frustrations, and Preston couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

"I told you from the beginning, Allison doesn't understand business and can't manage the company. But you ended up removing me. Now look where we are on the brink of bankruptcy, and the chairman is nowhere to be found. This is the result of your decisions, not mine!" Preston declared.

"No, we can't have such a chairman. We must remove her!" one shareholder suggested.

Others quickly agreed, except for the three senior shareholders.

"Alright then, let's put it to a vote," Preston said confidently.

But just then, the conference room door swung open, and Cleo strode in with an air of authority.

"Ladies and gentlemen, calling a shareholders' meeting without the chairman's consent is a bit over the line, don't you think? Not to mention, it's against legal procedures," she stated firmly.

Expecting Allison, Preston was taken aback to see a young woman instead.

He dismissed her with a sneer. "Who do you think you are, daring to speak here? Get out now!"

Cleo looked at Preston, walked over, and pulled him from the head seat, taking it herself. "Mr. Bennett, I am the new general manager of the Bennett Group, personally appointed by Ms. Bennett. So, I am the one who should be sitting here." "You? A general manager? Ridiculous! Where's Allison? Tell her to come out here!" Preston shouted, visibly agitated.

Cleo looked at him with a smirk. "You want to see Ms. Bennett? Do you think you're worthy? Mr. Bennett, you're just a minor shareholder. Recognize your place!"

"Minor shareholder? I own 20% of the Bennett Group's shares! How dare you call me minor? I'm here to remove Allison as chairman. Most shareholders support me. Allison is no longer the major shareholder!" Preston declared confidently, believing today would be his victory.

Cleo raised an eyebrow, her expression turning even more mocking. "Major shareholder? Mr. Bennett, are you getting senile? You only hold 10% of the shares. Calling yourself a major shareholder? What a joke!"