Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

hapter 174 Lorenzo looked like bed walked off a movie set-sharp, rugged features carved just right.

His glasses had hit the ground in the fall, and now those icy, deep eyes sliced through the dim light like a knife. Anyone tight with Sebastian wasn't exactly the cuddly type. Throw in that tattoo peeking out from his collar, and the guy screamed trouble-like a flashing red flag you couldn't miss.

Ella went stiff under that energy, too freaked to even blink, just standing there like a spooked animal. Lorenzo's eyes tightened, giving her a slow, cold look-over.

Macro grabbed her wrist, laying on the sarcasm thick. "Oh, con, girl, where's your class? Grabbing a dude's belt the first tyou meet! Might as well pull his pants down and get straight to it!" “I-I didn't mean to!" Ella sputtered, scrambling to explain herself.

She couldn't believe what Macro just said. She wasn't trying to flirt or anything.

Macro eyed her iron grip on the belt and frowned.

Jennifer, meanwhile, was just as thrown. Seeing Ella hooked onto Lorenzo's belt-of all things-left her frozen, mouth hanging open Ella's panicked eyes shot to Lorenzo. "I swear, I didn't mean it! I'm so sorry, so sorry-she rambled, words tumbling over each other.

Macro rolled his eyes. "Then let go already, genius!" He added. "What's your problem? Apologizing like crazy but still holding on like a leech? Ella met Lorenzo's stare-those deep, killer eyes-and her heart kicked into panic mode. Her brain just shut down, blank with fear.

"Sorry, she mumbled again, voice shaky as hell.

Jennifer finally snapped out of it, blinking at the disaster in front of her.

She jumped in, grabbing Ella's hand. “Alright, alright, you've said sorry a hundred times-let go already! Ella blinked, out of it. "Huh?" Stephanie had seen Sebastian's car roll up but hadn't spotted him inside, so she'd gone out to check it out One step outside, and there was Lorenzo, down on one knee in the snowy muck, with Ella's little pale hand latched onto his belt like it was her last hope.

Her eyes brugged out. "What the- "Ella, what are you- She started, then stopped, totally floored.

Stephanie showing up snapped Ella back. She jerked her hand away like it was on fire, her face lighting up red- bright, tornato red I didn't mean it, she muttered, dying of embarrassment.

She wanted to disappear, maybe melting into the snow.

1/5 П Chapter 174 Lorenzo got up, brushing off his wrinkled clothes slow and smooth-like he was too cool to care.

His face was all grumpy, and without a word, he turned and headed for the house Sebastian saw Stephanie and frowned. "Why're you out here? You're not even dressed for this cold" Stephanie pulled her coat tighter. "You weren't coming in, so I cto see what's up." She started toward Ella, worried. "Ella, you good?" Ella's face was blazing, red as a stoplight.

She jumped up, dodging Stephanie. "1-1 got to go. Bye" she blurted, head down, booking it like she'd just robbed a bank Stephanie watched her go. "Uh... what?" Jennifer hustled after her, heart still pounding.

The people around Stephanie were wild-especially that guy. His stare could freeze a pond solid.

Macro grinned at Stephanie, all sly and poking fun. "Stefi, your friend's got snerve, huh?" Stephanie scrunched her face. "What're you talking about?" Macro cracked up, howling. "She almost yanked Lorenzo's pants off in front of everyone-ha!” Stephanie's eyes went huge. "What?" Ella hadn't made it far enough to dodge that. Macro's words tripped her up, and she stumbled, nearly face- planting into the snow again.

Lorenzo spun around. locking Macro with a glare so icy it could've cut through metal.

That usual cocky, carefree vibe he rocked with Macro? Gone. Now he looked straight-up dangerous. Stephanie's lip twitched. She glanced at Ella hightailing it away, then flicked her eyes to Sebastian. "No way she'd do that, she said, dead serious, brow all creased.

Sebastian reached over, messing up her hair with a lazy grin. "You're really buying Macro's nonsense?" Stephanie shot Macro a dirty look. "Keep talking like that, and you'll die alone, you get me?" She groaned inside. She'd never met anyone who could run their mouth as shamelessly as this guy. Unreal.

Macro shrugged, smirking, “Hey, I'm just saying what I saw. No BS here." Ella's little slip had almost turned Lorenzo's belt into a front-row strip tease, right? Stephanie wasn't having it. "She slipped, alright? Lorenzo was just close enough to grab." Even without watching it happen, she could figure it out.

It wasn't swild move-when you're falling, you snatch whatever's nearby. Pure reflex.

Ella just happened to grab the most awkward thing possible.

Macro opened his mouth to push back, but Sebastian shut him down with a cold, sharp stare. "You're clowning on Lorenzo now?" 2/5 Chapter 174 Back in Fiorenza, everyone knew the deal: Lorenzo could talk smack, but you didn't dish it back.

Anyone stupid enough to try was begging for a midnight beatdown-bag over the head, no chill.

Macro pouted, mumbling. "I didn't even say that much." Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Oh, you've said more than enough." When this guy got going, it was like he wanted you to sink through the floor.

Macro gave her a weird look, then clammed up.

Whatever, he thought, 'should've been born mute. Less hassle.

Inside, Stephanie's slippers were wet with melted snow. Sebastian glanced down, then at the butler. "Why's the porch still a mess?" The ground outside was a thin sheet of ice when they'd stepped out The butler went pale, panic in his eyes. "Sir, 1-it's-” Stephanie rugged Sebastian's sleeve lightly, jumping in. They cleaned it earlier. It's just too damn cold out there." The butler shot her a thankful look, letting out a shaky breath.

She wasn't lying-half an hour ago, the staff had cleared it.

They'd been busting their asses all day, but with the cold biting and snow stacking up, it was pointless.

Sebastian eyed Stephanie's soggy feet. 'Go change your shoes." "On it," she said with a quick nod, all chill.

A maid bolted off, grabbing a fresh pair of dry slippers in no tflat.

Sebastian and Lorenzo had stuff to sort out, so they headed to the study after tossing out a few orders.

Stephanie was halfway up the stairs to swap her shoes when her phone buzzed-Ella, calling and sobbing her head off.

Stephanie sighed. "I know it was an accident. Just not sure Lorenzo's buying that." "What? What're you saying?" Ella's voice broke over the phone, panic spilling out.

She'd been a wreck earlier-heart still racing, wishing she could zap back in tand wipe out that whole embarrassing She'd never felt so so humiliated.

Stephanie cut in, steady but firm. “Just stay away from him from now on Lorenzo might act like slaid-back rich kid, but he was trouble-hard to figure out.

Ella's words spilled out fast. “Wait, what? I didn't mean to-did I actually tick him off? Stefi, you've got to backup here. please!" She'd figured it out by now: the people around Stephanie weren't exactly warm and fuzzy, Even Tyler was stuck in the hospital with a bullet in him. That was how crazy it got.

3/5 44% Thu, 13 Mar Chapter 174 Stephanie sighed. "Alright, I'll say something. But you probably won't see him again anyway." She'd smooth things over, sure, but no guarantees it'd matter.

She and Sebastian were headed back to Fiorenza soon-just a matter of time.

And if Sebastian wasn't around, Lorenzo wouldn't be either.

Ella kept rambling, still rattled. "Oh my God, Stefi, you don't even know-I slipped and couldn't stop myself. I just grabbed whatever was close!" "And it had to be his belt buckle. Thank God I didn't pull his pants down, or I'd be done for, she added, her voice jumping with desperation.

Stephanie groaned. "Can you chill?" "I didn't mean to!" Ella shot back, sounding like she might cry..

Stephanie let out a breath. I know it wasn't on purpose."

"I just-froze. Ella muttered, so quiet you could barely hear, still wincing at the thought. No surprise there. Her brain had blanked out for a good few seconds, nothing but static. Everyone watching? Dead quiet. The whole thing was so cringe it made your skin crawl. They talked it out on the phone for a bit, the chat eventually shifting to Caitlin. Ella's curiosity kicked in. "So, what'd Caitlin want? Still about Olivia?" "Her son's still laid up in the hospital, you know," she mumbled under her breath.

If Caitlin was still hounding Stephanie over Olivia while Tyler was down, Ella couldn't tell if she was brave or just oblivious.

"She keeps this up, Chad's gonna snap eventually. What if she blows up her own marriage and still points the finger at you?" Ella couldn't help but say Stephanie had drifted back to the sunroom by then, her steps quiet on the wood floor.

The coffee was still warm. She extra, a holding it poured herself a ling it as she talked, "Let her blme, I don't care. Tyler's getting out soon anyway." "Huh?" Ella blinked, caught off guard.

Stephanie took a sip, cool as ever. "You know me-I don't cave just because someone's throwing shade," "Fair, Ella said with a nod, totally getting it.

She'd seen it up close: these past few months of , Stephanie hadn't flinched once. She didn't take crap from anybody.

Caitlin showing up today? Probably just more guilt trips and finger-pointing.

And yet Caitlin kept coming back, gutsy enough to poke the bear again.

Stephanie wasn't exactly the type to back off either-she lived for pushing back.

Take Tyler: he was the latest one to get hit. First Olivia, now him. It just kept going.

Chad might be easygoing, but even he had a breaking point. Their house had to be a total mess by now.

4/5 19:04 hu, 13 Mar 44% Chapter 174 Ella treaded lightly. "The Hart family falling apart-it's not really your fault, you know." Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Ella stumbled over her words. "Uh, well, you know..." She faded out, her voice heavy with second-guessing, like she wasn't sure how to unload this on Stephanie.

The Hart family was a total mess-everybody got that. A m screwed-up crew that churned out N chaos like it was their job. Stephanie took a sip of her coffee, chill as always, while Ella danced around it. "What'd you catch this time?" she asked, smooth and steady.

Ella groaned. "I'm not into gossip, alright? But it's like the world keeps throwing it at me-what am I supposed to do, ignore Stephanie set her cup down with a little clink. "Just say it. What happened?" From Ella's vibe. Stephanie knew it wasn't good news. She steadied herself, already running through what it could be.

Ella dropped her voice low, like she was leaking top-secret info. "So, on my way here, I swung by the mall, Rose Luxe-and I saw Chad." Stephanie's brow ticked up. "Yeah...?" Ella rushed on, quiet and fast. "He was with slady. She had a stroller, and there were bodyguards and staff tagging along behind them.

Stephanie went silent. The room felt still, just the light smell of coffee drifting around the sunroom.

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