Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 25

At 7:30 PM, the airport was packed. People hustling in every direction, all in their own little worlds.

Stephanie stood by the exit, bouquet of tulips in hand, nerves fluttering.

She was dressed in a beige coat, her hair pulled up in a neat bun, giving off this sweet, innocent vibe–like she belonged in a Hallmark movie.

A chill breeze swept by, and she instinctively hugged her coat tighter around herself, feeling the cold creep in.

They’d agreed to meet at 8:00 at the exit.

When the clock hit 8, she spotted him.

His tall frame cut through the crowd like a statue, and seeing him instantly flooded Stephanie’s mind with memories–like a movie skipping through scenes too fast to keep up with.

She remembered the way he held her, comforted her, how he could make her feel so safe… and so small at the same time.

He wore a black mid–length coat and a gray scarf, exuding this polished, refined look that could’ve belonged to a model in a high–end magazine.

But only she knew the cold, ruthless side of him–the one that hid behind that well–groomed exterior.

Sebastian. The man who took her in, raised her…

Their eyes locked, and immediately, she felt that chilling, authoritative gaze pierce right through her. Without thinking, she lowered her head.

His presence was like a shadow, suffocating, heavy. And that familiar scent of his… it wrapped around her like a trap.

She held the tulips out toward him, her hand shaking. “You… you like these,” she said softly.

Guilt and fear twisted in her chest.

Sebastian didn’t take the flowers. He just stood there, his presence pressing in on her, making the air feel thick and suffocating.

The buzz of the crowd seemed to fade away, and for a second, it was like they were the only two people in the entire world.

Her hand, still holding the flowers, trembled. She hesitated for a second, then reached up to adjust his scarf. “It’s been a long

time.”

soft but heavy, like a delicate shift in the atmosphere. For a

his large hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Before she could

low, dark with

and in all that time, she

if her defiance was his fault–maybe he’d spoiled her too much, like

her voice trapped

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Chapter 25

her, his eyes reading her like an open book. “Now,

thick

only tightened, and her voice shook as she tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

she could say anything, he released her wrist, grabbing

waiting by the car. When he

nod.

when she saw the car. “You… you shipped your car here?”

car–the one he always drove in Fiorenza.

hard. It made it clear: he wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon.

dread settled

her, making her feel even smaller. She swallowed, her

Elliot’s respectful voice cut through

still trying to hold it together, nodded

again, pulling her into the

Stephanie shifted as far as she could to the other

tried to distance herself, he was still

hand closed around her wrist,

even react, he effortlessly yanked

voice trembling. “Don’t… don’t do

giving a low

face flushed bright red. “I’ve grown

sitting on his lap, the closeness between them in such a public place making her feel exposed, almost like she couldn’t

cheek, sending a shiver down her spine before it paused at her chin.

herself to look him in the eye.