Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 173 Caitlin dragged herself out of the sunroom, feeling heat down and worn out.

She'd wanted to make one last pitch for Olivia, to beg for even a sliver of mercy But then she caught that icy, heartless look in Stephanie's eyes-shutting down even Tyler's medical care-and the clammed up If Chad found out she'd chere to face off with Stephanie and it somehow pulled Tyler into the mess, her marriage would be done for good.

Caitlin shoved the door open and stepped out into the freezing wind and snow.

Stephanie glanced at the butler. "Handle it." "Yes, miss," he said quietly, dipping his head.

Tyler Stephanie muttered as she leaned back in her chair, lost in her thoughts.

She'd been dying to stick it to him for ages. And now, with Sebastian making his move, it was the perfect chance to twist the knife a little more.

The Hart family was already a train wreck, and they all blamed her, never owning up to their own crap.

If that was how they wanted it, Stephanie wasn't about to go easy on them.

Caitlin had just left Shallow Bay Area and hopped into her car when her phone buzzed. Olivia's voice cthrough, weak and shaky. "Mom? That tiny whisper hit Caitlin like a punch to the gut, tearing her up inside.

In what felt like no time, the Hart family had fallen apart-once solid, now totally helpless against someone like Stephanie.

"Mom, help, I can't do this, Olivia whimpered, her voice trembling "It hurts so much. It hurts." Back at the Hart place, it was like a ghost town. Everyone had bailed, leaving Olivia with just a few staff.

The illness had wrecked her-hair gone, skin pale as the snow stacking up outside.

The pain was brutal, nonstop, keeping her up, shaking through her whole body until it felt like it was in her bones, leaving nothing but misery.

"Did Stefi say I could go abroad?" Olivia asked, her voice barely hanging on.

Hopelessness stuck to her like glue. She could feel herself fading, bit by bit.

Last night was the worst-tossing around in bed, no sleep, stuck in a fog of nightmares she couldn't shake.

And it was all Stephanie's fault. She'd made sure Olivia had no treatment, no break, and she still wouldn't let up.

"Olivia." Caitlin's voice cout soft and useless.

"Mom, I can't do this anymore, Olivia cried, "I didn't sleep at all last night. It hurts so bad-please, just talk to Stefi. Beg her to letgo. I'll admit to anything. Il do whatever she wants.

1/5 44% 19:04 Thu, 13 Mar 0 Chapter 173 Caitlin didn't say anything.

"Please," Olivia pushed, tears cracking her voice. "Tell her to letoff this time. She can mess withlater, when I'm better. I just need a break" "Olivia" Carlin's tone got heavy, serious.

Olivia struggled to breathe between words, "Whatever she wantsto say, I'll say it. I'll take the blfor everything. Just ask her to wait until I'm not dying, okay?" Stuck in that suffocating house, with no way out, Olivia couldn't take it anymore.

She flopped back on the bed, wondering if she'd even see tomorrow.

"Mom, please talk to her, she begged, voice shaking. Tm begging you, please..." Her sobs broke through, rough and desperate.

Tears ran down her pale face as she cried. Even sleep, the one thing that used to help her escape the pain, was gone now, Now she knew what being sick was like-a pain so deep it dug into you, leaving no way out.

Hearing Olivia like this, Caitlin didn't believe for a second her daughter deserved it.

And that just made her hate Stephanie even more-the woman who'd pushed Olivia to this point.

"Mom, Olivia whispered again, so quiet it was almost nothing.

"Olivia, my poor girl, Caitlin said, her voice thick with hurt.

Olivia wasn't the only one sinking. Sitting in her car, Caitlin felt it too-a heavy, helpless ache.

Her daughter was suffering, fading away, and she couldn't do a damn thing about it. She hurt for Olivia and hated herself for being so useless.

The sunroom at Whispering Bay was cozy, the heater humming softly in the background.

Jennifer couldn't shake the shock from the moment she first saw Stephanie, Honestly, it hit her the second she pulled into Shallow Bay Area-spotting Whispering Bay looming ahead like sfancy. snow-covered castle. Her heart hadn't stopped racing since.

Back when the stuwas just starting out, barely keeping the lights on, Stephanie still spoiled them rotten. Jennifer could still feel that wild surprise.

She'd figured it was Hart family cash behind it all-those people just screated old money and attitude.

But then she saw how the Harts treated Stephanie, and she started second-guessing. No way they were funding this.

Hold up-is she secretly the queen of Shallow Bay Area? Maybe connected to that dude who picked her up? This can't be the Harts Jennifer thought.

If they had this kind of juice, they wouldn't have spent the last few months looking like total goofballs.

"What're you gawking at? Forget how to think? Stephanie slid a hot mug of coffee across the table to Jennifer. Jennifer grinned, her eyes bouncing around. "Boss, you owefor emotional distress." 2/5 9.44% 19:04 Thu, 13 Mar MD.

Chapter 173 Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "Say what?" Jennifer putted out a breath, crossing her arms. "All that garbage the Hart family dumped on you? Broke my heart watching it go down" That it turned out, Stephanie didn't even need her feeling sorry.

Jennifer rolled her eyes at herself. Here she was, scraping by paycheck to paycheck, pitying a woman chilling in a castle.

Dumb "Wor's me," Jennifer fake-cried, laying it on thick.

Ella snorted from the side. Then I deserve scash too." When Stephanie and the Harts had their big fallout, Ella couldn't believe they'd stooped so low as to cut off Stephanie's card.

She'd felt awful for her, thinking they'd crossed every line.

Stephanie gave them both a look. "You two are a real comedy act." She turned to Jennifer. "You got the files?" Jennifer nodded fast. "Yep, right here" She reached into her bag, pulled out a stack of papers, and handed them over.

Stephanie flipped through a couple pages before passing them to Ella Ella grabbed the files, glancing over them. "So, it's really back to Fiorenza, huh?” Her voice got quiet, a little sad, as she stared at the papers.

Stephanie nodded slightly. “Yeah, sooner or later.

Truth was, Sebastian popping up in Long Harbor or not, Stephanie had been dying to get back.

For two years, she'd kept tabs on Fiorenza, never letting it slip.

She'd been waiting for the right shot-just didn't expect Sebastian to jump in.

Jennifer's head jerked up, panic in her eyes. "Wait, you're bailing? What about the studio?" Am 1 about to lose my job? Please, no, she groaned to herself.

This gig was solid, paid decent-she wasn't ready to let it go.

Stephanie shrugged, cool as ever. "Already got a new boss lined up for you guys.

Jennifer's eyes flicked to Ella, her fingers gripping the table edge.

Ella looked up with a smirk. "Stick with me, Jennifer. I won't screw up the good thing she hooked you up with." "Miss Giovanni Jennifer's voice went soft, her eyes getting inisty as she looked at Stephanie.

She was leaving, yeah, but she'd still set them up nice. She would never find a boss like that again.

Stephanie brushed it off. "Cut the tears. Nothing lasts forever? At least the tthey'd had together mattered, she thought.

35 19:04 Thu, 13 Mar D Chapter 173 While they sorted out the paperwork, Jennifer's phone buzzed. She excused herself and stepped out of the sunroom to answer it Ella jumped on the chance, eyeing Stephanie's neck. "What's that mark?".

Stephanie froze. "What?" Her hand flew up, yanking her sweater collar higher to hide it.

Ella grinned. "Too late. I saw it If she hadn't tried to cover it, Ella might've figured it was just a bug bite. But that quick move? It gave the whole gaway.

Stephanie's face turned pink. She dipped her head, pressing her lips together to hold back a goofy little smile.

Ella raised an eyebrow. "So, you and him are a thing now?" Stephanie nodded easy. "Yeah." No point dodging it with Ella-she just put it out there, straight up.

Ella's eyes flickered, a little worry creeping in. "You sure about all that in Fiorenza?" "He's gotcovered, Stephanie said, calm and solid.

No matter what went down, Sebastian had her back. She knew it deep down, no question.

Ella arched her brows again. “You trust him that much, huh?” That quiet sureness in Stephanie's tone made Ella sneak another look her way.

Stephanie shrugged, casually. It's the kind of trust you wouldn't get."

Sebastian had been looking out for her since they were kids-always there, rock steady. That kind of bond didn't shake, no matter what.

Ella gave a a little nod. "Alright, well, I'll keep this sturunning smooth for you. Hope it doesn't end up your Plan B.

If Stephanie killed it in Fiorenza, awesome. If not, the stuwould still be there. Ella kept that part to herself.

Stephanie felt a warm little glow inside, a quiet thanks.

Ella waved it off. "Don't go getting mushy. I'm just like Jennifer-sbroke girl worrying about a princess getting hassled." Back then, she'd legit panicked over what the Hart family might pull on Stephanie.

Turns out, she'd stressed for nothing-big-tbackup was already in the mix.

Stephanie gave her a fake stink-eye. “Knock it off, or your mom will teach you slesson again." Ella grinned. After two hours hanging in the sunroom, she and Jennifer finally got up to head out.

They were at the door, hands on the knob, when Sebastian walked in Two randoms followed him, all three giving off this vibe like they owned the place.

Ella figured she'd seen enough of life to have sstreet sense, But Sebastian? And that guy next to him? They hit different-danger rolled rat 4/5 MU 19:04 Thu, 13 Mar D Chapter 173 She and Jennifer weren't about to play greeters. That kind of energy made them hang back, keeping it chill.

But as they crossed paths, a slick patch of snowy ground screwed Ella over. Her foot slipped.

"Whoa" she yelped, arms flailing as she lost it. Her hand grabbed whatever was close.

She hit the ground hard, landing on her butt, pain shooting up before she could even think IXO.

Then something heavy crashed down on her. "Ugh! Ella groaned, squashed under it, struggling to breathe.

Macro stopped short. "What the- "Hey, what's happening?" He jogged over to help.

Sebastian turned, his cool stare landing on the mess, a tiny frown creasing his face.

Lorenzo-the one who'd fallen on Ella-was already getting up with Macro's help.

Then he felt a pull at his waist. He looked down.

Ella's hand was locked onto his belt buckle, holding on like it was a lifeline.

Her eyes went huge.

Lorenzo's stare turned sharp.

Realizing she'd grabbed his belt, Ella's brain froze. "Oh God, 1-I didn't mean to! Sorry, I- Holy crap, what did I just do?' Her mind went into full meltdown.

"You letting go or what? Lorenzo grumbled, jaw tight.

There was a hard edge in his eyes, his voice cold as the snow crunching under them.

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