Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 19

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Grace still clung to Stephanie, trying to find something more to say.

But Stephanie’s stance was firm, her words cutting. “I’m sorry, but Chris and I just won’t work.”

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Grace had said everything she could, but now, facing this rejection, she felt helpless. There was nothing more she could do.

Stephanie gently patted Grace’s hand. “I don’t expect him to dedicate his whole life to me—that would be greedy. But right now, he can’t even give me the basic respect.”

Grace thought about it, and she realized Stephanie was right.

Chris clearly had no intention of hiding his feelings for Olivia, and that was a huge slap in the face to Stephanie.

Even it was her son’s doing, Grace couldn’t ignore that.

With a deep sigh, Grace spoke. “But what are you gonna do? Without Chris, your life in the Hart family is gonna be even harder.”

Grace was trying to remind Stephanie of where she stood in the family.

Though both women despised Olivia, neither could deny that Olivia was the family’s golden child.

Stephanie lowered her gaze, staying quiet.

Grace continued, her voice softening just slightly. “Don’t rush to answer me. I’ll talk to Chris. I’ll make sure he sends Olivia away as soon as possible.”

Grace was furious–more furious than Stephanie at this point.

She just couldn’t understand what hold Olivia had over Chris. What kind of magic did that woman have to make him act

this way.

The thought of Stephanie and Chris going their separate ways, with Chris only getting more reckless with Olivia, had Grace on edge.

She squeezed Stephanie’s hand, anxiety creeping into her voice. “The Hart family favors Olivia. If you keep fighting them, your life’s about to get a whole lot harder.”

The message was clear: Please, Stephanie, just give in!

Stephanie could tell Grace meant well, and for once, it felt like Grace might actually be on her side.

But it didn’t matter anymore. Everyone seemed to think there was no place for Stephanie in the Hart family, and the Ashford family was her only shot at any future.

She met Grace’s gaze, her voice steady, unwavering. “No matter how hard life is, I can find a way out. Mrs. Ashford, Chris and I are done. That’s final.”

There was no room for debate. She wasn’t backing down now.

Stephanie didn’t want to leave anyone with false hope.

She wasn’t the type to drag things out, either.

The longer it went on, the messier it would get, and she wasn’t about to waste more time.

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Grace paused, taken aback by Stephanie’s resolve. “You’re so… independent. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing

Grace tried to soften her approach, then got tough, but she could feel her composure slipping

She hadn’t expected Stephanie to be this unyielding. A flicker of annoyance crossed her face.

Stephanie wasn’t interested in dragging this out

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I’m leaving now,” she said, almost too casually, as she shoved the necklace back into Grace’s hand and turned on her heel.

to say something,

necklace clutched in her hand only made

stepping

sound. “What’s she being so stubborn for? Who else

engagement, Stephanie’s reputation would tank. No prestigious family in Long Harbor would touch

Grace knew them too

lost Chris, they’d chew her up and spit her out without a second

it. ‘How could Stephanie just reject

young. She just can’t swallow her pride

butler thought Stephanie was just acting out because she couldn’t let go of

agreed with

“She can stir up trouble anywhere, but when it comes to the Hart family, she better

only reason Grace cared so much about Stephanie

marry Stephanie, calling her

none of the Hart girls were worth

over. She was furious about Chris and Olivia’s affair, but even more enraged that it was Stephanie who had

had lost face. Dignity?

couldn’t help

foot again, making a final decision. I’m really losing

stiff nod. “Long Harbor International Clinic.

of the Ashford family when a sharp honk broke through the

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Chapter 19

and

He hadn’t left

a

frame seemed to command the space around him, the kind of presence that

aloof elegance to him that made it clear: he wasn’t

overlook his issues, he was hard

Group had doubled its market

had everything going for him–except one glaring flaw: his awful judgment when it came

was cold. No

low but commanding. “Give your car keys to Kevin. He’ll drive your car back to Cloudridge Valley. You can ride with

a short, almost bored laugh. “I

the words out with just

was the charm of an independent woman–Stephanie would never let herself be the one who needed saving, or waiting. for someone else

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Stephanie, trying to find

“I’m sorry, but

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could, but now, facing this rejection, she felt helpless. There was

life to me—that would be greedy. But right now,

thought about it, and she realized

clearly had no intention of hiding his feelings for Olivia, and that

her son’s doing, Grace

a deep sigh, Grace spoke. “But what are you gonna do? Without Chris, your life in the Hart family is gonna be even

Stephanie of where she stood

despised Olivia, neither could deny that Olivia was the family’s golden child.

her gaze, staying quiet.

slightly. “Don’t rush to answer me. I’ll talk to Chris. I’ll make sure he sends Olivia away

was furious–more furious than Stephanie

Chris. What kind of magic did that woman have to

this way.

separate ways, with Chris only getting

squeezed Stephanie’s hand, anxiety creeping into her voice. “The Hart family favors Olivia. If you keep fighting them, your life’s about to get

message was clear: Please, Stephanie, just give

well, and for once, it felt

for Stephanie in the Hart family, and the

met Grace’s gaze, her voice steady, unwavering. “No matter how hard life is, I can find a way out. Mrs. Ashford, Chris and I

room for debate. She wasn’t backing down

to leave

wasn’t the type to

it went on, the messier it would get, and she wasn’t about to waste more

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Chapter 19