Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 5

Stephanie made her way back to Cloudridge Valley, the place that still felt like home.

As soon as she stepped into the elevator lobby, she spotted Ella sitting on the couch, looking up from her phone.

ཱ90%

0

When Ella saw her, she shot up and rushed over, pulling her into a hug. “Girl, all men are pigs. Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to someone way better.”

Stephanie gave a tired nod. “Sure.”

Ella expected Stephanie to lash out, but instead, she seemed strangely calm–like the whole thing with Chris hadn’t even fazed her.

Ella pulled back, giving her a quick once–over. When she noticed bloodstains on Stephanie’s clothes, her eyes widened.

“Wait, what? That’s blood? Did you get hurt?” She rushed over to check.

Stephanie glanced down and saw a few spots of blood on her beige coat.

With a nonchalant smile, she shrugged. “Easy. They’re not mine.”

Ella blinked, confused. “Whose is it, then?” Her voice was laced with concern.

Stephanie replied coolly, “Don’t know. Maybe Olivia’s or Chris’s.”

Ella’s eyes went wide. “What?”

Stephanie, noticing the worry in her friend’s face, casually explained, “Yeah. I taught Olivia and Chris a lesson.”

Ella’s eyebrows twitched when she heard Stephanie’s calm response. She was in awe of how efficiently Stephanie had handled everything.

Ella had just run into Chris and Olivia at the hospital that morning and told Stephanie about it. Now, not even half a day had passed, and Stephanie had already dealt with them.

She couldn’t help giving her a thumbs–up.

A mischievous grin spread across her face as she teased, “I know a short fuse can get you in trouble, but when it comes to jerks like them, you need a temper like yours.”

What those two had done was outrageous–so much so that even Ella couldn’t hold back her anger. And she wasn’t the one who’d been betrayed.

Ella had thought Stephanie would cry and whine about Olivia, but instead, she didn’t shed a tear. She’d taken action and handled things herself.

Stephanie had pulled it off, but she was glad to see her handling it so well.

fiery–it was just that Olivia had a way of pushing her buttons,

at her phone, a playful gleam in her eyes. “Don’t head

“You took the afternoon off?”

I left early. Still gotta to

1/3

2

Chapter 5

༥ ༣ 90%I

coming up in just a week, and everything

wandered around the street for a while

steak, poking at it as she muttered, “Let’s not get this next time. It doesn’t taste that great.”

of bland food–Ella

on the other hand, was devouring her meal, not even slowing down to chew properly. She mumbled between bites, “I don’t have time for that today, but I’ll take

quick and

second, swallowed, then asked, “So what’s the plan with

name, Stephanie’s steak suddenly tasted

fork with a sigh, wiping her mouth before turning to Ella. “Can you help me issue a statement? I want to announce that we’re canceling the

in mid–air as she processed

beat, she asked, “Your families are

it. Just hours ago, Stephanie was dealing with Olivia, and now she

the casualness in her voice at odds with the weight of what

raised an eyebrow, surprised by the

she realized it made sense.

had never really been Stephanie’s choice in the

maid, a secret they’d kept hidden for years. The Ashfords had wanted

family

could be disastrous. So, Catlin and

had fallen out, Chris had unexpectedly stood by Stephanie’s side—a major shift from his

Olivia was sent away, Chris had pampered Stephanie, treating her like she was

Stephanie thought he’d finally seen through Olivia’s true colors.

shift back toward

her

Olivia behind bars,

of the situation and muttered under her breath, “He’s a total jerk.”

2/3

Sun, 2 Mar