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.

as she cried. Even sleep, the one thing that used to help her escape the pain,

she knew what being sick was like–a pain so deep it dug into you, leaving

for a

that just made her hate Stephanie even more–the woman who’d pushed Olivia to this point.

Olivia whispered again, so quiet it was almost nothing.

my poor girl, Caitlin said, her voice thick with hurt.

one sinking. Sitting in her car, Caitlin felt it too–a

do a damn thing about it. She hurt for Olivia and

cozy, the heater humming softly in the

from the moment she first saw Stephanie,

the second she pulled into Shallow Bay Area–spotting Whispering Bay looming ahead

keeping the lights on, Stephanie still spoiled them rotten. Jennifer could

it was Hart family cash behind it all–those people just

how the Harts treated Stephanie, and she started second–guessing. No way they were

Shallow Bay Area? Maybe connected to that dude who picked her up? This can’t be the Harts Jennifer

had this kind of juice, they wouldn’t have

you gawking at? Forget how to think? Stephanie slid a hot

“Boss, you owe me for emotional

2/5

9.44%

Thu, 13

Chapter 173

raised an eyebrow. “Say what?”

“All that garbage the Hart family dumped on you? Broke my

it go down”

Stephanie didn’t even

her eyes at herself. Here she was, scraping by paycheck to paycheck, pitying a

Dumb

Jennifer fake–cried, laying it

side. Then

the Harts had their big fallout, Ella couldn’t believe they’d stooped so low as to cut off Stephanie’s card.

her, thinking

both a look. “You two are a real comedy

“You got the files?”

nodded fast. “Yep,

a stack of papers, and handed

through a couple pages before passing them to

it’s really back to Fiorenza, huh?” Her

slightly. “Yeah, sooner

Sebastian popping up in Long Harbor or not, Stephanie had been dying

tabs on Fiorenza,

shot–just didn’t expect Sebastian to jump in.

her eyes. “Wait, you’re bailing? What

about to lose my job? Please, no, she groaned

solid, paid decent–she wasn’t ready

shrugged, cool as ever. “Already got a new boss lined

her fingers gripping the table edge.

I won’t screw up the good thing she

Jennifer’s voice went soft, her eyes

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

brushed it off. “Cut the tears.

the time they’d had

35

13 Mar D

Chapter 173

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

answer it

on the chance, eyeing Stephanie’s neck. “What’s that mark?“.

Stephanie froze. “What?”

yanking her sweater collar higher to hide

late. I saw it

might’ve figured it was just a bug bite.

head, pressing her lips together to hold back a goofy

and him are a

nodded easy.

with Ella–she just put it out