Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Chris had been talking to Kevin for what felt like forever, but it was the kind of conversation that felt good to get off his

chest.

89%#

He showed up at Cloudridge Valley early for lunch, but both his and Kevin’s calls were straight–up blocked by Stephanie.

No other options left, he went ahead and knocked on her door.

Ten minutes straight, nothing.

His mood, which had been kind of okay earlier, plummeted.

Kevin rubbed his chin, thinking. “You think she dipped out before you even got here?”

The idea of her leaving before him hit Chris like a punch to the gut.

“She left first?” His voice was a sharp, low growl.

Kevin just shrugged. “Maybe you should call Mrs. Ashford?”

Chris pulled out his phone and dialed his mom immediately.

“I just already called her. She’s on her way, his mom, Grace, said, sounding calm as always.

There was a pause, and Chris could hear the confusion in her voice. “Why’re you calling me? Shouldn’t you just call Stefi?”

Chris’s frustration bubbled up. If he could actually get through to Stephanie, he wouldn’t be calling his mom.

But since his mom was already on the line, he forced a sigh and said, “Alright, heading back now.”

He didn’t mention that Stephanie had blocked him–hell, that’d be way too embarrassing to bring up.

tone softened, but there was still a little edge. “You’d better apologize properly when you see her, and you better

went into lecture mode, and Chris could

on edge, especially after the news about Olivia’s cancer.

old–school Ashford elders weren’t about to accept Olivia–she

about making another big promise to Stephanie. It

but finally

cut him off before he could finish. “Your grandparents said if this wedding

that hitting him. He didn’t realize how much his grandparents were invested in this. It felt like one wrong move,

muttered, “Why do they

ever. “They say a fortune teller told them she’s a lucky star. She’s the one

for a

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Chapter 16

people in the community. To hear that they were basing everything on some fortune teller’s words–well, it was too much

said, “Enough talking.

a word

door. It felt like Stephanie had totally won this

just a regular person with a shorter fuse, had somehow worked her way into his family’s good

grandparents didn’t need her to do a damn thing. Just being their “lucky

walked in the door later, Chris still hadn’t shown

taking her hand. “Good girl. I’m sorry you had to deal with

you a gift,” Stephanie said, holding out a velvet box with a polite smile.

melted a little at the gesture. It was impossible not to like

glowing. “I

thoughtfulness just made Grace like her even more.

like her even more. In that moment, Grace couldn’t help thinking. The Hart family must be blind if they don’t see how amazing this girl

this brooch would look nice

pleased. “That’s sweet. Actually, I’ve got something for you too.”

and