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Get Ready For Allvar Falck's Ruthless Return 251
251**The Next Day** Allvar adjusted the frayed scarf around his neck as he stepped into the crisp morning air. Dressed in faded jeans and an old jacket, he looked more like a man who’d wandered off the street than someone of his stature. It wasn’t often he dressed down—his position demanded a certain level of polish—but today, he needed anonymity. If the antique dealers knew who he was, the price of the clock he sought would magically triple. His goal was clear: find a vintage clock for Lily’s grandmother. He had promised to deliver something special, and Allvar never went back on his word. But as he stepped into the first shop on the narrow, cobbled street, he realized this task might be trickier than he’d imagined. The bell above the door jingled as Allvar entered, and a wiry old man behind the counter greeted him with a suspicious squint. The shop smelled of aged wood and dust, the shelves cluttered with trinkets and relics that seemed to groan under their own histories. “
Get Ready For Allvar Falck's Ruthless Return 252
252Lily’s heart pounded in her chest, her eyes scanning the crowded room. The laughter and chatter of the guests around her felt like a distant echo, her mind fixed solely on one thing—Allvar. He had promised to bring the antique clock, the one she’d been dying to give her grandmother, but with every passing second, her anxiety mounted. What if he didn’t show up? What if he had forgotten?Her gaze swept over the guests again, her fingers twitching at her sides. She tried to calm her breath, but the tightness in her chest grew. Where was he?"Relax, Lily, he’ll be here," she whispered to herself, though the reassurance felt hollow.But as if to mock her thoughts, a voice broke through the noise, sharp and unmistakable. Tobias."Still waiting for that prince charming, Lily?" he drawled, his voice smooth and condescending. Lily stiffened, her back straightening in defiance as she turned to face him."Tobias," she said with a strained smile, her tone icy. "I told you already, stay away f
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253Allvar smiled warmly as Lily approached, his deep blue eyes softening as they met hers. He held out the box with a gentle nod. "For your grandmother," he said, his voice steady yet filled with a quiet reassurance. Lily took the box, her hands brushing against his briefly. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Relief poured through her like a river breaking through a dam. "You have no idea how much this means to me." But their moment was short-lived. "Unbelievable," Tobias growled, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. His footsteps were heavy, purposeful, as he strode toward them, his face contorted with rage. Lily instinctively stepped closer to Allvar, clutching the box tightly to her chest as if it could shield her from Tobias’s fury. "You," Tobias spat, pointing an accusatory finger at Allvar. "You think you can just waltz in here, play the hero, and take what’s mine?" Allvar’s brows furrowed in confusion, but he held his ground,
Get Ready For Allvar Falck's Ruthless Return 254
254The tension in the room grew thicker as the noise of Tobias's shouting reverberated through the walls. People began to gather at the doorway, whispering amongst themselves, their faces a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Isn’t that Tobias?” someone murmured. “He’s completely lost it,” another whispered back. Tobias’s face was red with rage, his voice echoing over the quiet hum of the spectators. “You think you’re better than me, Allvar? Strutting around here like you own the place with your smug face and pompous attitude!” Allvar tilted his head slightly, his calm composure unbroken. “Smug? Pompous? My dear Tobias, if confidence and composure offend you so deeply, I shudder to think how you handle everyday life.” His voice was as smooth as silk, laced with a subtle arrogance that made Tobias’s fists clench even tighter. Lily’s temper flared once again. “Tobias, stop this! You’re acting like a child throwing a tantrum,” she snapped, stepping forward and placing herself f
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255Tobias’s anger dissolved into feigned sorrow as he turned to Lily’s grandmother, his expression desperate and pitiable. “Mrs. Penrose,” he began, his voice trembling, “I’m so sorry you had to see this. I never wanted it to come to this point, but Allvar has been trying to turn Lily against me. He’s been manipulating her, feeding her lies about me. I only wanted to protect her.” Lily’s jaw dropped. “What? That’s not true, Grandma! He’s lying!” Mrs. Penrose held up a hand, silencing Lily. “Tobias,” she said softly, her piercing eyes fixed on him. “You’ve always been like family to us. Tell me exactly what happened.” Tobias cast a quick glance at Allvar, his expression carefully crafted into one of righteous indignation. “It all started when Allvar came into the picture. He’s been filling Lily’s head with nonsense, telling her I’m possessive and controlling. I only care about her well-being, Mrs. Penrose. I’d never hurt her. But he... he’s turned her against me.” “That’s not
Get Ready For Allvar Falck's Ruthless Return 256
256As the door to the dining room shut behind Mrs. Penrose and Tobias, Lily turned to Allvar, her voice trembling with frustration. “He’s wormed his way into her trust for years, and she always believes him over me. Always.”Allvar folded his arms, his gaze still fixed on the now-closed door. “Trust me, Lily. Tobias just played his hand. The more desperate he gets, the sloppier his lies will become. We’ll catch him.”Lily frowned, shaking her head. “It won’t matter. Grandma’s too stubborn to see reason when it comes to Tobias. He could light the house on fire, and she’d still blame me.”Before Allvar could respond, the door creaked open, and a soft voice interrupted them. “Lily?”Lily turned to see her younger cousin, Clara, peeking into the room, her wide eyes darting nervously between Lily and Allvar. “I... I think I saw something,” Clara whispered.“What did you see?” Lily asked, stepping toward her.Clara hesitated, wringing her hands. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier becau
Get Ready For Allvar Falck's Ruthless Return 257
257Mrs. Penrose slammed her hand on the table, the sharp sound echoing in the tense silence. “Enough!” she barked, her piercing gaze landing on Allvar. “Who do you think you are, coming into my home and stirring up trouble on my *birthday* of all days?”Allvar remained calm, though his jaw tightened ever so slightly. “With all due respect, Mrs. Penrose, I’m only trying to ensure—”“I don’t need your interference!” she snapped, cutting him off. “This is a family matter, and you are *not* family. How dare you ruin my special evening?”“Grandma, Allvar is only trying to help,” Lily interjected, her voice pleading.“Help?” Mrs. Penrose scoffed, her glare shifting to Lily. “By accusing Tobias of baseless nonsense in front of everyone? No, Lily, you’ve been stirring up drama for years, and now you’ve roped this man into your schemes.”“Schemes?” Lily repeated, her voice cracking. “Grandma, I’m telling the truth! Tobias has been manipulating you for years. Can’t you see it?”“Tobias has bee
Get Ready For Allvar Falck's Ruthless Return 258
258 The atmosphere in the dining room remained thick with tension after Lily and Allvar's abrupt departure. Mrs. Penrose, now calm and collected, surveyed the table with her usual air of authority. Her steely gaze dared anyone to speak out of turn, the weight of her presence ensuring no one did—at least, not immediately. Finally, one of the guests, an older man with a finely tailored suit and a sharp nose, cleared his throat. “Mrs. Penrose, if I may,” he began, his voice oozing with faux diplomacy, “I can’t help but agree with you. Tobias has been nothing but a loyal and upstanding gentleman in every interaction I’ve had with him. This... Allvar fellow, on the other hand—well, who even is he?” A ripple of murmured agreement passed around the table. The other guests, emboldened by his words, exchanged knowing glances, their expressions laced with thinly veiled contempt. “He’s no one,” chimed in a woman with perfectly coiffed hair and a diamond necklace that sparkled under the chand
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262Lily turned her back to the room, her hands gripping the edge of a nearby chair to steady herself. Her knuckles whitened as the tension in the room became unbearable. The audacity of her grandmother’s words and Tobias’s melodrama made her stomach churn. "Lost my way?" she whispered, her voice low but sharp enough to cut through the suffocating silence. She spun around, her eyes blazing. "No, Grandmother, I haven’t lost my way. I’ve finally found it. And it’s not on the path you all forced me to walk."Mrs. Penrose raised a brow, her expression unwavering. "Lily, don’t be so dramatic. This tantrum is unbecoming."Lily let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Tantrum? Is that what you call standing up for myself? Because if it is, I should’ve thrown one years ago."Tobias took a cautious step forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Lily, please. Let’s not do this here. It’s your birthday. We should be celebrating, not—""Not what?" Lily snapped, cutting him off. "Not expos
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261**Lily’s jaw tightened as the whispers erupted around the room.** “Allvar,” Tobias said softly, his face etched with the perfect blend of shock and hurt. “That’s a serious accusation. I would never—” “Don’t,” Allvar interrupted, his voice sharp enough to slice through the tension. “Don’t play the innocent act with me. You’re not fooling anyone who’s paying attention.” “Enough!” Mrs. Penrose’s voice rang out, silencing the murmurs. Her icy gaze fell on Allvar like a blade. “You will not disrespect Tobias in my home.” “Disrespect?” Lily interjected, stepping forward. “You’re seriously defending him after everything he’s done?” Mrs. Penrose’s lips thinned, her face a portrait of restrained fury. “Lily, this is not how a lady of your stature should behave. Tobias has been nothing but kind to you, and yet you bring *this man*—this *brash, uncultured* individual—into my house on your birthday, of all days?” Allvar scoffed, but before he could respond, Lily’s fists clenched a
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260**Back in the Dining Room...**The murmurs among the guests had only just begun to subside when the door to the dining room opened. All eyes turned expectantly as Thomas returned, stepping aside to allow Lily and Allvar to enter. Lily walked in with her chin held high, her eyes scanning the room with steely defiance. Allvar followed closely behind, his hands tucked into his pockets, his stance casual but his eyes sharp as they landed on Tobias. “Ah, Lily,” Mrs. Penrose greeted, her voice icy yet polite. “I trust Thomas delivered my message.” “Oh, he did,” Lily replied smoothly, the edges of her tone cutting through the room. “I just wasn’t sure why I should bother returning, considering the lovely discussion you were having about me.” A faint ripple of unease passed through the room, and Mrs. Penrose’s lips tightened. “This is a family matter, dear. It requires all of us to be present.” “Does it?” Lily countered, folding her arms. “Because it sounded more like a gossip c
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259 **Meanwhile, outside the estate...** Lily stormed toward Allvar’s car, her heels clicking furiously on the cobblestone driveway. Her breaths came in sharp bursts, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and humiliation. “Allvar!” she snapped over her shoulder, her voice sharp enough to cut through the chilly evening air. “Why didn’t you just keep your mouth shut?” Allvar followed a few paces behind her, his normally calm demeanor cracking ever so slightly. “Lily, wait—” She spun around abruptly, her eyes blazing. “Wait for what, Allvar? For Grandma to come running out here and apologize? For Tobias to suddenly admit he’s a lying snake? It’s never going to happen!” “Lily, I didn’t say that!” Allvar countered, his voice firm but not unkind. “But you need to breathe for a second. Yelling at me isn’t going to change anything.” Lily let out a bitter laugh, the sound laced with frustration. “You don’t get it. This is my family, Allvar. They’re supposed to have my back. Instead, the
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258 The atmosphere in the dining room remained thick with tension after Lily and Allvar's abrupt departure. Mrs. Penrose, now calm and collected, surveyed the table with her usual air of authority. Her steely gaze dared anyone to speak out of turn, the weight of her presence ensuring no one did—at least, not immediately. Finally, one of the guests, an older man with a finely tailored suit and a sharp nose, cleared his throat. “Mrs. Penrose, if I may,” he began, his voice oozing with faux diplomacy, “I can’t help but agree with you. Tobias has been nothing but a loyal and upstanding gentleman in every interaction I’ve had with him. This... Allvar fellow, on the other hand—well, who even is he?” A ripple of murmured agreement passed around the table. The other guests, emboldened by his words, exchanged knowing glances, their expressions laced with thinly veiled contempt. “He’s no one,” chimed in a woman with perfectly coiffed hair and a diamond necklace that sparkled under the chand
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257Mrs. Penrose slammed her hand on the table, the sharp sound echoing in the tense silence. “Enough!” she barked, her piercing gaze landing on Allvar. “Who do you think you are, coming into my home and stirring up trouble on my *birthday* of all days?”Allvar remained calm, though his jaw tightened ever so slightly. “With all due respect, Mrs. Penrose, I’m only trying to ensure—”“I don’t need your interference!” she snapped, cutting him off. “This is a family matter, and you are *not* family. How dare you ruin my special evening?”“Grandma, Allvar is only trying to help,” Lily interjected, her voice pleading.“Help?” Mrs. Penrose scoffed, her glare shifting to Lily. “By accusing Tobias of baseless nonsense in front of everyone? No, Lily, you’ve been stirring up drama for years, and now you’ve roped this man into your schemes.”“Schemes?” Lily repeated, her voice cracking. “Grandma, I’m telling the truth! Tobias has been manipulating you for years. Can’t you see it?”“Tobias has bee
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256As the door to the dining room shut behind Mrs. Penrose and Tobias, Lily turned to Allvar, her voice trembling with frustration. “He’s wormed his way into her trust for years, and she always believes him over me. Always.”Allvar folded his arms, his gaze still fixed on the now-closed door. “Trust me, Lily. Tobias just played his hand. The more desperate he gets, the sloppier his lies will become. We’ll catch him.”Lily frowned, shaking her head. “It won’t matter. Grandma’s too stubborn to see reason when it comes to Tobias. He could light the house on fire, and she’d still blame me.”Before Allvar could respond, the door creaked open, and a soft voice interrupted them. “Lily?”Lily turned to see her younger cousin, Clara, peeking into the room, her wide eyes darting nervously between Lily and Allvar. “I... I think I saw something,” Clara whispered.“What did you see?” Lily asked, stepping toward her.Clara hesitated, wringing her hands. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier becau
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255Tobias’s anger dissolved into feigned sorrow as he turned to Lily’s grandmother, his expression desperate and pitiable. “Mrs. Penrose,” he began, his voice trembling, “I’m so sorry you had to see this. I never wanted it to come to this point, but Allvar has been trying to turn Lily against me. He’s been manipulating her, feeding her lies about me. I only wanted to protect her.” Lily’s jaw dropped. “What? That’s not true, Grandma! He’s lying!” Mrs. Penrose held up a hand, silencing Lily. “Tobias,” she said softly, her piercing eyes fixed on him. “You’ve always been like family to us. Tell me exactly what happened.” Tobias cast a quick glance at Allvar, his expression carefully crafted into one of righteous indignation. “It all started when Allvar came into the picture. He’s been filling Lily’s head with nonsense, telling her I’m possessive and controlling. I only care about her well-being, Mrs. Penrose. I’d never hurt her. But he... he’s turned her against me.” “That’s not
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254The tension in the room grew thicker as the noise of Tobias's shouting reverberated through the walls. People began to gather at the doorway, whispering amongst themselves, their faces a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Isn’t that Tobias?” someone murmured. “He’s completely lost it,” another whispered back. Tobias’s face was red with rage, his voice echoing over the quiet hum of the spectators. “You think you’re better than me, Allvar? Strutting around here like you own the place with your smug face and pompous attitude!” Allvar tilted his head slightly, his calm composure unbroken. “Smug? Pompous? My dear Tobias, if confidence and composure offend you so deeply, I shudder to think how you handle everyday life.” His voice was as smooth as silk, laced with a subtle arrogance that made Tobias’s fists clench even tighter. Lily’s temper flared once again. “Tobias, stop this! You’re acting like a child throwing a tantrum,” she snapped, stepping forward and placing herself f
