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.

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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.

pulled it off, but she was

just that Olivia had a way of pushing her buttons, making her lose control.

eyes. “Don’t head upstairs just yet. Let’s grab something to eat. It’s already

took the afternoon off?”

a grin. “Nuh, I left early. Still gotta to get back to work after

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Chapter 5

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up in just a week, and everything going on, Ella

wandered around the street for a while before

as she muttered, “Let’s not get this next time. It doesn’t taste

wasn’t a fan of bland food–Ella knew

the other hand, was devouring her meal, not even slowing down to chew properly. She mumbled between bites, “I don’t have

quick and no–nonsense for most people.

asked, “So what’s

of his name, Stephanie’s steak

put down her knife and 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

Her fork hovered in mid–air as

beat, she asked, “Your families

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

shrugged, the casualness in her voice at odds with the weight of what she was saying. “I

eyebrow, surprised by the

it made sense. That was the truth. They didn’t need anyone’s

really been Stephanie’s choice in the first place.

Ashford family knew Olivia wasn’t really the Hart family’s biological daughter–she was born to a maid, a secret they’d kept hidden for years. The Ashfords had wanted to

family

on the Ashfords for several major business deals, and losing that connection could be

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

her like she

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

Chris’s shift back toward Olivia

her only to keep her close,

behind bars,

complexity of the situation and muttered under

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