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.

still wanting to say something,

necklace clutched in her hand only made her frustration spike. She stomped

the butler appeared, stepping into the tension. “Mrs.

sound. “What’s she being so stubborn

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

family… Grace knew them

her up and spit her out without a second thought.

her head around it. ‘How could Stephanie just

at Stephanie. “She’s still young. She just can’t swallow her pride when it comes to Olivia”

out because she couldn’t let

with

can stir up trouble anywhere, but when it

Grace cared so much about Stephanie was because of Chris’s

marry

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

but even more enraged that it was Stephanie who had declared the cancellation of

the Ashford family had lost face.

with Chris’s grandmother demanding that Stephanie be taken back, Grace couldn’t help feeling like there

making a final

replied with a stiff nod. “Long Harbor

family when a sharp honk broke

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toward the sound and saw Chris’s Phantom parked

raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t

of the car, a cigarette dangling

seemed to command the space around him, the kind of

that made it clear: he wasn’t someone you could just walk

overlook his issues, he was hard to

its market

to his elders, dutiful, and seemingly had everything going for him–except one glaring flaw:

Stephanie’s gaze was cold. No warmth. No

Kevin. He’ll drive

short, almost bored laugh.

tossed the words out with just

woman–Stephanie would never let herself be the one who needed saving, or waiting. for

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to find something

firm, her words cutting. “I’m

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

to dedicate his whole life to me—that would be greedy. But right

thought about it, and she realized

feelings for Olivia, and that was a huge

her son’s doing,

are you gonna do? Without Chris, your

trying to remind Stephanie of where she stood

could deny that Olivia was the

lowered her gaze, staying quiet.

answer me. I’ll talk to Chris. I’ll make sure he sends Olivia away as soon as possible.”

than Stephanie at

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

this way.

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

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

Please, Stephanie, just

well, and for once, it felt like

seemed to think there was no place for Stephanie in the Hart family, and the Ashford family

matter how hard life is, I can find a way out. Mrs. Ashford,

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

didn’t want to leave anyone with

wasn’t the type to drag

it went on, the messier it would get, and she wasn’t

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