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.

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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.

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

so deep it dug into you, leaving no way

believe for a second her daughter

more–the woman who’d pushed Olivia

again, so quiet it

said, her voice thick with hurt.

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

about it. She

Bay was cozy, the heater humming softly in

the shock from the

Area–spotting Whispering Bay looming ahead like some fancy.

lights on, Stephanie still spoiled them rotten. Jennifer

figured it was Hart family cash behind it all–those

Stephanie, and she started second–guessing. No way they were funding

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

juice, they wouldn’t have spent the

to think? Stephanie slid a hot mug of coffee

“Boss, you owe me for emotional

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Chapter 173

eyebrow.

arms. “All that garbage the Hart family dumped

it go down”

turned out, Stephanie didn’t even need her

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

Dumb

Jennifer fake–cried, laying

Then

couldn’t believe they’d stooped so low as to cut off

thinking they’d crossed every

“You two are a real

turned to Jennifer. “You

fast. “Yep,

reached into her bag, pulled out a

couple pages before passing them to Ella

back to Fiorenza, huh?” Her voice got quiet, a little sad,

nodded slightly. “Yeah, sooner or

was, Sebastian popping up in Long Harbor or not,

kept tabs on Fiorenza, never letting

waiting for the right shot–just didn’t expect

her eyes. “Wait, you’re bailing?

job? Please, no, she groaned to

decent–she wasn’t ready to let it

“Already got a new boss lined up

her fingers

Jennifer. I won’t screw up the good thing she hooked you up with.”

voice went soft, her eyes getting inisty as she looked

up nice. She would never find a

“Cut the

had together mattered,

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Thu, 13

Chapter 173

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

answer it

chance, eyeing Stephanie’s neck.

Stephanie froze. “What?”

her sweater

“Too late.

it, Ella might’ve figured it was just a bug bite. But that quick move? It gave the

pressing her lips together to hold back a

an eyebrow. “So, you and him are a

nodded easy. “Yeah.”

point dodging it with Ella–she just put it