Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 175 Rose Luxe was one of Long Harbor's fancier spots-a ritzy mall packed with shoppers pretty much every day. Stephanie's eyelid twitched as she tapped her teacup with a finger. “Shouldn't Chad be at the hospital right now?" Exactly Ella sand, sounding totally hailled. "Tyler's messed up had. Chad should be right there with him, no question." However, the guy was wandering around Rose Luxe like he didn't have a worry in the world.

Ella leaned m, dropping her voice to a sneaky whisper. "I'm telling you, Chad and that woman? Something's up. They looked way too comfortable Stephanie frowned, repeating it slowly. "With a woman pushing a stroller? And they were cozy?" Yeah, it didn't add up. Her stomach twisted a little..

Chad wasn't syoung hotshot-how'd he end up in a mess like this? Ella nodded hard. "Oh, for sure." Stephanie squinted. "You positive you didn't mix him up with someone else?" She wasn't sold yet.

For two years, she'd had Chad figured out-didn't seem like the type. Now she wondered if she had totally misjudged him. A tiny doubt started creeping in.

"No way, Ella fired back, dead sure. "It was Chad. I checked twice, three times even. Stared right at him." She smirked and leaned back with a shrug. “One quick look, maybe I'd goof. But every time? Con, I'm not that dumb. Stephanie didn't say anything. The mug just hung there in her hand.

Fair enough. This was big enough that Ella wouldn't screw it up. One slip? Sure, maybe. Every look? Nah, she wasn't that out of it.

After a pause, Stephanie asked, "Whose kid is it?" Ella laughed dryly. "Girl, I just peeked at them for a bit. They seemed tight, yeah, but I'm not a mind reader. No clue if the baby's his Stephanie went quiet again.

In her head, Chad was always this serious, no-nonsense guy-stiff as a board.

With Caitlin, he was polite but distant, like they were strangers stuck at the stable.

He didn't seem like the type to get caught up in romance or anything wild.

Then there was Tyler-the golden boy, heir to the Hart Group. He'd been running things for years, handling the big deals.

To Chad, Tyler was everything-untouchable, the top priority.

So why, with Tyler still stuck in the hospital, was Chad out playing family with swoman and a kid?-It felt off to Stephanie. like a cheesy TV .

1/5 Mapler 175 Stephanie's brow furrowed. "How cozy are we talking?" 3.44% П Ella's voice dropped again. "Shoulder-to-shoulder, practically cheek-to-cheek. You don't get that close with just a friend, you know?" Stephanie didn't answer. Her fingers tapped the table lightly, her eyes narrowing.

Yeah, this wasn't just friendly. It was obvious, in-your-face close-hard to ignore.

Back at the Hart place, Chad and Caitlin could barely sit on the scouch without it feeling awkward. Their hands didn't even cclose, Seeing Stephanie stewing, Ella gave her a playful nudge. "Wantto poke around smore? Shake things up at the Hart house?" Stephanie glanced at the snowflakes floating outside.

The Hart family was a total train wreck as it was. If things were on schedule, Amber was probably at the hospital by now, Stephanie shrugged faintly. "Why bother? Amber's on it." And don't forget Olivia, stuck in the States with no overseas treatment, or Tyler, about to get out of the hospital. The Hart family was a giant knot of chaos, top to bottom.

V too "Oh yeah. Amber!" Ella smacked her forehead and laughed. “How'd I blank on that disaster? This is getting crazy." Ella raised an eyebrow, still thrown. "Amber's really that big a player?" Stephanie let out a sharp, sarcastic chuckle. "If she uses her baby as the leverage and fails, she may go crazy. And she may even pull the whole Hodge family down with her.

Lilian was all in with Tyler-serious feelings.

Ella's eyes went wide. "Man, she's got snerve." Stephanie gave a little hum, keeping it cool. "I dug into Amber. I've got the scoop." "She had no idea about Tyler and Lilian before. Now that she's clued in, she's convinced Lilian's the one screwing up her plans. What's her next move?" She threw it back with a sly grin.

Ella sucked in a breath. "She's gonna go after Lilian. That's like tossing a match on the Hart family dumpster fire." "Olivia's already got the Harts and Ashfords clawing at each other, Ella said, shaking her head.

"If Amber takes a swing at Lilian now, isn't that just begging to blow up the Hart family for good?" Her voice kicked thrilled, half-shocked.

At this point, the Hart family was done for-chaos louder than a packed Super Bowl watch party.

Stephanie picked up her teacup and took a slow sip. "So, about that woman..." 1. up.

half- Ella jumped in, practically bouncing. "That woman? Caitlin has got to know. She's got to guard what's hers. Stefi, con, you're not even thinking about your own 'mom here!" Stephanie blinked, totally caught off guard. "Huh?" Ella kept going, all hyped up. Tm on it. I'm digging up everything on that chick "Stefi, the Harts always say you pick the wrong side. This time, you've got to stick up for YOUR mom. Her tone was firm, 2/5 Chapter 173 dripping with sarcasm.

Stephanie's jaw dropped. "What?" She couldn't believe that Ella wanted her to team Caitlin. This was way off track.

The corner of Stephanie's mouth twitched. "Alright, you've gotthere. I can't let srandom swoop in and steal the show. Need to stand up for my mom this time." "Exactly!" Ella clapped her hands. "Leave it to me. I'll get Caitlin the dirt to shove right in Chad's face Stephanie rubbed her temple, letting out a groan. “Yup, and stop calling her my mom. Already feeling a bit sick now Every tthat family tie cup, it hit her like a brick-bam, instant headache.

Ella cracked up. "Fine, call it your last favor to her. One quick assist, then you're out." Stephanie went quiet, staring at the steam drifting up from her mug.

If Ella hadn't said it, she wouldn't have even thought "favor" could go that far. Talk about a reality check They kept talking on the phone for a while, jumping from one thing to another-pretty much everything-before finally hanging up.

When Stephanie stepped out of the sunroom, she spotted Macro still hanging around in the hall.

One glance at him, and her headache slammed back full force. She didn't have the energy for a single word from that guy. Frowning, she swerved to avoid him, acting like he wasn't even there.

But Macro's eyes were too sharp. "Hey, Stefi! I've got something to tell you," he called, waving her over.

She sped up, head down, darting toward the side hall like she didn't hear a thing.

She'd rather choke than deal with Macro's nonsense right now He wasn't giving up, though. Long steps closed the distance, his voice pushy. "Listen, you rascal, I'm trying to help you out here Stephanie's lip twitched hard. Help? Yeah, right-she felt the doubt hit her like a tidal wave.

This guy, help her? She'd bet her last buck he'd screw her over and call it a win Macro didn't even hesitate. He shoved a box into Stephanie's hands, wiped his palms, and said, "Here, take this." "What's this?" Stephanie looked down, confused.

It was a pink box, covered in fancy English words, looking way too slick and polished.

She'd never seen anything like it, but one peek at the text, and her brain just stopped-face locked up jaw stuck Macro had seriously handed her adult stuff.

"You-l-What's your deal?" she stumbled over her words, barely getting them out.

"Aren't you worried about Sebastian flipping out if he catches wind of this?” she demanded.

3/5 19:05 Thu, 13 Mar 0 Chapter 175 Macro just shrugged, cool as ever. "No need to thank me. Just doing my doctor thing. You and Sebastian heading back to Fiorenza? Gotta ease into it, you know.

"You're not pulling swild power move, like using a baby as leverage, right?" He got real serious, adding. I'm telling you, Mrs. Mr. Lucano sees you as her own kid. Don't go all reckless with this.

Stephanie's mouth twitched, a vein practically throbbing in her forehead.

She stared at Macro, words gone, a silent scream tearing her up inside.

This idiot was about to make her pass out! "You're a doctor, yeah, but you're also a dude, she forced out through gritted teeth.

Macro blinked, thrown off.

"Shouldn't you be giving this to Sebastian instead?" ead?" she snapped, shooting him a death glare.

And yet, he was handing it to her like it was no big deal. Now Stephanie wondered how Macro's brain even functioned. It hit her-he was single because he chose to be.

Great looks, top-notch doctor skills, but that mouth and zero social m sense? No wonder no girl in Fiorenza would go near Macro scratched his head. "Give it to Sebastian? You want him to kill me? Stefi, don't be ungrateful- I'm trying to help you out here" Stephanie was at a loss.

Macro frowned. "What's that look supposed to mean? You seriously gonna brush off my good vibes?" She forced a tight, fake smile. “Thanks. Really appreciate it "No biggie, he waved it off. Tve known you forever, watched you grow up. Just giving you a heads- up." Stephanie had nothing left.

"Wait-did you take birth control?" Macro tossed out, totally random.

Her brain flatlined.

The box was already a lot-now he's bringing up birth control? The words slammed into her like a shockwave, scrambling her thoughts She stared at him, dazed, lost in his whirlwind of nonsense, Marro pushed, frowning. You didn't?" "No!" She waved her hands like crazy, "I haven't!" After her injury, she'd cstraight back from Mount Spring, hadn't even stepped outside.

She didn't have the tto get birth control, thinking her luck wouldn't be that awful. Macro slapped his forehead, over-the-top tic. “Oh, you're so screwed. Totally done." Her eyes went wide. "Who gets lucky on the first p I go 4/5 44% 19:05 Thu, 13 Mar Chapter 175 He nodded all wise-like, playing the guru. "Lots of people. If you're good to go, one try's usually all it takes Stephanie went silent, her mind wiped clean.

Macro's mouth was a headache factory. Now she didn't know what to do.

"Lucky with what?" Sebastian's voice cut through from the stairs, low and annoyed. Stephanie jolted, shoving the box behind her back. Her heart kicked into high gear.

Macro looked up, catching Sebastian on the landing. His face went pale, lips twitching 1-I didn't say anything!" he stammered, then took off running like a scared kid in a slasher flick. Stephanie watched him bolt, brain fried, dying to yank him back by the shirt.

She screamed inside, Run all you want, but take your dumb box with you! What am I supposed to do with this thing?" The hall went quiet, just her and Sebastian now.

He cdown the stairs, closing in, and stuck out a hand. "Give it "Huh? Give what?" She blinked, playing dumb with a quick lash flutter.

His eyes pinned her, dark and steady. "Whatever you're hiding behind your back." Stephanie froze in hesitation.

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