Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 173

Caitlin dragged herself out of the sunroom, feeling heat down and worn out.

She’d wanted to make one last pitch for Olivia, to beg for even a sliver of mercy

But then she caught that icy, heartless look in Stephanie’s eyes–shutting down even Tyler’s medical care–and the clammed

up

If Chad found out she’d come here to face off with Stephanie and it somehow pulled Tyler into the mess, her marriage would be done for good.

Caitlin shoved the door open and stepped out into the freezing wind and snow.

Stephanie glanced at the butler. “Handle it.”

“Yes, miss,” he said quietly, dipping his head.

Tyler Stephanie muttered as she leaned back in her chair, lost in her thoughts.

She’d been dying to stick it to him for ages. And now, with Sebastian making his move, it was the perfect chance to twist the knife a little more.

The Hart family was already a train wreck, and they all blamed her, never owning up to their own crap.

If that was how they wanted it, Stephanie wasn’t about to go easy on them.

Caitlin had just left Shallow Bay Area and hopped into her car when her phone buzzed. Olivia’s voice came through, weak and shaky. “Mom?

That tiny whisper hit Caitlin like a punch to the gut, tearing her up inside.

In what felt like no time, the Hart family had fallen apart–once solid, now totally helpless against someone like Stephanie.

“Mom, help, I can’t do this, Olivia whimpered, her voice trembling “It hurts so much. It hurts.”

Back at the Hart place, it was like a ghost town. Everyone had bailed, leaving Olivia with just a few staff.

The illness had wrecked her–hair gone, skin pale as the snow stacking up outside.

The pain was brutal, nonstop, keeping her up, shaking through her whole body until it felt like it was in her bones, leaving nothing but misery.

“Did Stefi say I could go abroad?” Olivia asked, her voice barely hanging on.

Hopelessness stuck to her like glue. She could feel herself fading, bit by bit.

Last night was the worst–tossing around in bed, no sleep, stuck in a fog of nightmares she couldn’t shake.

And it was all Stephanie’s fault. She’d made sure Olivia had no treatment, no break, and she still wouldn’t let up.

“Olivia.” Caitlin’s voice came out soft and useless.

“Mom, I can’t do this anymore, Olivia cried, “I didn’t sleep at all last night. It hurts so bad–please, just talk to Stefi. Beg her to let me go. I’ll admit to anything. ll do whatever she wants.

1/5

44%

19:04 Thu, 13 Mar 0

Chapter 173

Caitlin didn’t say anything.

“Please,” Olivia pushed, tears cracking her voice. “Tell her to let me off this time. She can mess with me later, when I’m better. I just need a break”

“Olivia” Carlin’s tone got heavy, serious.

Olivia struggled to breathe between words, “Whatever she wants me to say, I’ll say it. I’ll take the blame for everything. Just ask her to wait until I’m not dying, okay?”

Stuck in that suffocating house, with no way out, Olivia couldn’t take it anymore.

She flopped back on the bed, wondering if she’d even see tomorrow.

“Mom, please talk to her, she begged, voice shaking. Tm begging you, please…”

Her sobs broke through, rough and desperate.

Even sleep, the one thing that used to help her

what being sick was like–a pain so deep it dug into you, leaving no

didn’t believe for a second her daughter deserved it.

hate Stephanie even more–the woman who’d pushed Olivia to

Olivia whispered again, so quiet it was almost

girl, Caitlin said, her voice thick with

her car, Caitlin felt it too–a heavy, helpless ache.

she couldn’t do a damn thing about

at Whispering Bay was cozy, the heater humming softly in the

the moment she first saw

into Shallow Bay Area–spotting Whispering Bay looming ahead like some fancy.

lights on, Stephanie still spoiled them rotten. Jennifer could

it

then she saw how the Harts treated Stephanie, and she

Shallow Bay Area? Maybe connected to that dude who picked her

wouldn’t have spent the last few months looking like total goofballs.

how to think? Stephanie slid a hot mug of coffee

bouncing around. “Boss, you

2/5

9.44%

Thu, 13

Chapter 173

raised an eyebrow.

that garbage the Hart family dumped on you? Broke my heart

it go down”

turned out, Stephanie didn’t

herself. Here she was, scraping by paycheck to paycheck, pitying a woman chilling

Dumb

fake–cried, laying it on thick.

snorted from the side. Then I deserve some cash too.”

their big fallout, Ella couldn’t believe they’d stooped so low as

her, thinking

a look. “You

turned to Jennifer. “You got the files?”

fast. “Yep, right

out a stack

a couple pages before passing them to Ella

grabbed the files, glancing over them. “So, it’s really back to Fiorenza, huh?” Her voice got quiet, a little sad, as she stared at

nodded slightly. “Yeah, sooner

popping up in Long Harbor or not, Stephanie

two years, she’d kept tabs on

right shot–just didn’t

her eyes. “Wait, you’re bailing? What about the

to lose my job? Please,

paid decent–she wasn’t ready to let it go.

shrugged, cool as ever. “Already got a

eyes flicked to Ella, her fingers

up with a smirk. “Stick with me, Jennifer. I won’t screw

soft, her eyes getting inisty as she

leaving, yeah, but she’d still set them up nice. She would never find

off. “Cut the tears. Nothing

time they’d had together mattered, she

35

Thu, 13 Mar D

Chapter 173

the paperwork, Jennifer’s phone buzzed. She excused herself and stepped out

answer it

jumped on the chance, eyeing Stephanie’s neck. “What’s

Stephanie froze. “What?”

sweater collar

“Too late.

hadn’t tried to cover it, Ella might’ve figured it was just a bug bite. But that quick move? It gave the

dipped her head, pressing her lips together

an eyebrow. “So, you and him are a thing now?”

nodded easy. “Yeah.”

dodging it with Ella–she just put