Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 19

hapter 19

. Chapter 19

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.”

༨ ༣ 89%E

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.

1/3

12:45 Sun, 2 Mar

Chapter 19

A

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

89%

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

wanting to say something, stared

her hand only made her frustration

appeared, stepping into the tension. “Mrs.

“What’s she being so stubborn for? Who

Stephanie’s reputation would tank. No prestigious family in Long Harbor would touch her after that.

Hart family… Grace

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

her head around it. ‘How could Stephanie just reject someone like

She just can’t swallow her pride when it comes to

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

agreed with

in agreement. “She can stir up trouble anywhere, but when it comes to the Hart family, she better check that

so much

marry Stephanie, calling her the family’s

as Grace was concerned, none of the Hart girls were worth her time.

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

family had lost face. Dignity? Gone.

Stephanie be taken back, Grace couldn’t

stomped her foot again, making a final decision. I’m really losing my mind! Where is Olivia

stiff nod. “Long Harbor

had just stepped out of the Ashford family

2/3

89%

Chapter 19

turned toward the sound and saw Chris’s Phantom parked

He hadn’t left

a cigarette dangling

lean frame seemed to command the space around him, the kind of presence that made people stop and take notice.

him that made it clear: he wasn’t

you could overlook his issues, he was hard

had doubled its market value in

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

met, but Stephanie’s gaze was cold.

keys to Kevin. He’ll drive your car back to Cloudridge Valley. You can

short, almost bored laugh. “I can drive

words out with just the

an independent woman–Stephanie would never let herself be the one who needed saving,

3/3

C

still clung to Stephanie, trying to find something more

firm, her words cutting. “I’m sorry, but Chris and

༨ ༣ 89%E

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

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

about it, and she realized Stephanie was right.

his feelings for Olivia, and that was a huge slap in

her son’s doing, Grace couldn’t ignore

Without Chris, your

to remind Stephanie of where she stood in

neither could deny that

her gaze,

continued, her voice softening just slightly. “Don’t rush to answer me. I’ll talk to Chris. I’ll make sure he

furious–more furious than

Olivia had over Chris. What kind of magic did that woman have to make him

this way.

ways, with Chris only getting more reckless with Olivia, had Grace on edge.

family favors Olivia. If you keep fighting them, your

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

it felt like Grace might

think there was no place for Stephanie in the Hart family,

steady, unwavering. “No matter how hard life is, I can find a

room for debate. She wasn’t backing down now.

leave

wasn’t the type to drag things

get, and she wasn’t about to waste more time.

1/3

Sun, 2

Chapter 19