Chapter 41

D

For a moment, Stephanie wasn’t sure if she’d heard him right

She noticed the subtle shift in Sebastian’s tone when he mentioned the name “Chris–it went cold, like he was talking about something he didn’t want to touch.

She shrugged, trying to play it cool. “They’ve got nothing to do with me now.

Even though the Hart family was her biological family, the truth was, she was only back because Valentina had put the pressure on her.

Getting engaged to Chris? That was her escape from Valentina’s control.

Once she had that ring on her finger, Valentina stopped bothering her completely.

Sebastian’s eyebrow arched. “They’ve got nothing to do with you?

Stephanie let out a breath. “Valentina threatened me. I got engaged to Chris so she and Richard would back off.”

Sebastian’s icy stare never wavered. Stephanie knew it was time to tell him the truth.

Now that Valentina was behind bars, the pressure was off. The timing felt right.

Sure enough, Sebastian’s expression softened, just a little.

Across the city, things were far from calm.

At the hospital, Chris stood helplessly by Olivia’s bed, watching her twist in pain.

Just yesterday, she’d been fine enough to stop by his office. Now? She could barely move.

Catlin was practically beside herself, pacing the floor.

“Chris,” She said, “we need to move fast. her condition is critical. The liver and uterus are the big problems right now.”

Her liver needed surgery, and so did her heart.

They were hoping Allison could step in for the uterine cancer so Olivia wouldn’t have to endure another surgery.

through his hair, his exhaustion written

in the morning, and the hospital had quieted down.

but only after hours of grueling pain.

physically, while those who stayed by her side were tortured mentally.

heart ached, but Chris’s heart

of talking to Catlin. “Yeah, I

without Catlin saying it, he knew: they needed Allison, and they needed her

phone that wasn’t his,

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Chapter 41

*****

D

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in Cloudridge Valley, Stephanie was still in the

as he was about to say

number, then

again, the same unknown number

narrowed. “Why didn’t you answer?”

nothing,” she said, shrugging

everything with her divorce from Chris, she’d blocked calls from him and the

of hand, and when they weren’t happy, they’d just call her

one of them,

not with Sebastian standing

but the phone rang

to hit “end” for the third time, Sebastian reached out and placed his hand in front of her.

eyelid twitched. “What are you

for you? I assume you wouldn’t

in annoyance. “It’s

eyebrow. “No big deal? Non–stop calling

his question. She couldn’t come up with an excuse fast

the phone, letting out a small sigh..

call connected, Chris’s tired voice came through.

a whisper. “Tell me what you

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