Chapter 17 " You okay ? " Quinn murmured from behind her , his voice low with concern . Allison didn't turn around right away . Her father's death had always been a wound she carried close to the chest . She forced a smile and glanced over her shoulder . " I'm fine " But then her expression shifted - something cold flickered in her eyes . " Can you help me ? " she asked quietly . " I want to take the Rockwoods down . All of them . " Quinn didn't even hesitate . " Anything you want , I'm in . Whatever you can't finish …. I'll handle the rest . " Hegently smoothed a hand over her head , brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb . Allison nodded , then leaned in and wrapped her arms around him . She didn't know when it had started , but something about Quinn had become different , With him , she didn't have to pretend . She could just be With Quinn's support , Allison secured full control of Winters Group and took over as acting CEO . And once she was firmly in place , she made her move , She bought up Rockwood Holdings ' struggling projects for pennies on the dollar . She deliberately tanked their growth trajectory . And when the time was right , she dumped a sizable chunk of inherited stock - sending the Rockwood shares into chaos . Alexander scrambled to keep up . Every attempt to meet with her was shut down . The gifts he sent ? Returned unopened He was drowning in debt , the company hemorrhaging money , and nothing he did could slow the bleeding . One day , Alexander showed up outside the Winters Group headquarters , waiting to catch her in person . When he saw her step out of the lobby , dressed in an immaculate white suit , hair swept into a sleek updo , he froze . She looked … powerful . Poised . Untouchable . He couldn't stop staring " Allie , " he called out , moving toward her like a man half - drunk . " Can we talk ? There was no arrogance left in his voice just desperation . She didn't spare him a glance . " There's nothing to talk about . My only goal is to destroy you . " Alexander blocked her path . " What about your father's death ? " he blurted . That stopped her . She turned sharply . " What did you just say ? " There's more to it than you know , " he said , voice tight . " I swear it wasn't what it seemed . " Allison hesitated , just for a moment . Then , against her better judgment , she followed him . He took her to a restaurant she used to dream about - one she'd mentioned a hundred times but never visited . Along the way , he tried to fill the silence with old memories . Chapter 17 " You remember that time I rescued you ? " he said , forcing a smile . " You were terrified . I told you everything would be okay . " " Or when you brought me chocolate and said you liked me you were so nervous . " " And my birthday , when you kissed me first . God , I was so happy . " She said nothing . Just watched the city blur past through the window . Everything he mentioned belonged to a different lifetime . What was he doing ? Trying to buy forgiveness with nostalgia ? They arrived , and she stepped out of the car without a word . He had rented out the entire restaurant . He wheeled over a cart of wine and flowers himself , poured her a glass , even sat down at the piano to sing a love song - one she had once told him she liked . He'd remembered . Back then , she'd dreamed of moments like this . But he'd ignored her . Dismissed her . Thought she wasn't worth the effort . It wasn't that he hadn't heard her . He just didn't think she deserved it . " Alexander , " she said flatly , tossing the bouquet aside . " Get to the point . I'm not getting back together with you . And I'm not calling off my plans . " His smile faltered . The sadness in his eyes deepened . He wanted to beg her for a truce - for for mercy . But he also wanted her back " Allie I really did fall in love with you . " " I don't love you . " Her words sliced through him . He fell silent , swallowing whatever else he had left to say . Minutes passed . Then finally , in a hoarse whisper , he spoke again . " It wasn't the argument that triggered your dad's heart attack . " Allison's expression tightened . " It was Sarah , " Alexander said slowly . " She paid someone to slip him a muscle relaxant . It weakened his heart . The attack was inevitable after that .