Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Chris’s mind went completely blank.

He stared at Stephanie, eyes blazing with anger, lips parting like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out,

Stephanie glanced at him, then at the box in her hand, with a giant diamond ring was sitting right there.

For a second, she thought maybe she was seeing things. But nope—it was real.

Wait a minute… What’s wrong with Jackson?

This was supposed to be an apology gift. Who the hell uses an engagement ring to say sorry?

Was Jackson seriously that clueless? Did he not know what a ring like this even meant?

Of…?

No. No way.

No halfway functional human being would have thought giving a ring like that was normal.

So the only explanation left was–Jackson was so out of touch, he didn’t even know what a proposal ring symbolized.

“Stephanie Giovanni!”

Chris’s roar shook the room.

89%

(+23)

Stephanie shot him a look, totally unimpressed. “Are you okay? Why are you yelling at me? So what if he proposed? What’s it to you?”

Her cars were still ringing.

“This man was completely unhinged.’

He knew damn well she barely even knew Jackson.

Somehow, his brain still connected those imaginary dots and jumped straight to a proposal. Incredible.

Chris’s chest rose and fell, trying to catch his breath. “Well, isn’t that nice. No wonder you had the guts to break off our engagement and cut ties with the Hart family. Guess you’ve got some serious backup now.”

“Damn right I do. Got a problem with that? What, mad you can’t screw me over anymore?”

Honestly, that’s exactly what was eating him, and the rest of the Harts, too.

They’d been waiting for her to hit rock bottom, to crawl back begging for their mercy.

But instead?

She didn’t just survive, she thrived.

And now, standing right behind her, was power they couldn’t touch.

For weeks, Chris had been digging into her life, trying to figure out how she kept landing on her feet. And every time, something–or someone–blocked his way.

On top of that, there was always some guys hovering around her.

1/5

11:51 Thu, 6 Mar MO.

Chapter 88

How many secrets was Stephanie Giovanni hiding?

Right then, it finally hit Chris–he had never understood Stephanie, not even once.

window, looking down at the street

by like ants, too small to care about.

K 89%

sharpened into something almost wicked. “So what’s the plan now? Cut off my cards?

and homeless, begging Olivia for forgiveness? Maybe cry a little, so you’ll turn my cards back on

word dripped with

Chris’s face twisted.

exactly what they’d been trying to do. But hearing her say it out loud, made

drag Olivia into this,” he snapped.

mess? What exactly

opened, but nothing came out.

all started, I hadn’t done a damn thing.”

Chris’s chest tightened.

on, calm but relentless. “At the time, you didn’t know I owned my place at Cloudridge Valley. You didn’t

what crime did I commit that made you

was furious–no

That anger was just the same old

the whole damn book at her. And none of it worked. That’s

was all over the place. “Cut the crap.”

arms crossed, cool as ever. “Oh? Sure. Then why don’t you tell me,

Chris’s chest tightened.

was

second, he completely blanked.

talent–pissing him off so bad, his brain straight–up

the edges. “Lemme

she said it, Chris felt his chest

why he came. He promised Olivia they’d move in within

sunrise over the water, falling asleep to sunsets,

2/5

Chapter 88

outside their

was already day three, and they still didn’t have the damn

left Chris struggling

you’ve been staying there

already checked–Stephanie hadn’t been back to Cloudridge Valley at all.

saw her at Whispering

no question. That was her

shrug.

Chris’s chest tightened.

like getting punched in

anything, and Stephanie

“Who owns it?”

he could barely even hear

“Why ask me? Didn’t your amazing

always threw back

snapped. “Enough. Just tell me the truth.”

breath away from losing it completely.

smirk sharpened. “What’s this? Mr. Ashford

Chris saw red.

drive a man

her chin like she was thinking real hard. “Say you couldn’t

Chris’s chest tightened.

was straight–up humiliation, and

breath, then another. Didn’t help. His chest

Stephanie turned colder with

something else, you know

“I know. Now go

“Just you wait,” Stephanie beat him to

3/5

Chapter 88

had ever dared talk to Chris Adord

dare the practically pen on

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255