Chapter 36
“Miss Giovanni is at Whispering Bay,” replied Kevin.
76%
+13
The moment Tyler heard Stephanic was at Whispering Bay, his expression darkened. “What’s she doing there?” he sneered.
Was she really cutting ties with the Hart family and looking for a way out through that place? Or… Was she seriously trying to cozy up to the mysterious owner of Whispering Bay?
What a joke. Tyler thought to himself. There weren’t many men in Long Harbor who would even spare Stephanie a second glance.
The owner of Whispering Bay–whoever they were–had to be someone big. Owning a property like that in Long Harbor? That wasn’t small–time money.
If Stephanie thought she had a shot with them, she was straight–up delusional.
Kevin hesitated. “No clue,” he replied.
Stephanie hadn’t been in the mood to chat with him earlier, and Whispering Bay was tight–lipped about everything. How was he supposed to know why she was there?
Chris‘ face turned stormy. He shot Kevin a glance. “Find out who owns that place. Fast.”
Clearly, Chris wasn’t letting this go.
Olivia had said she was scared, and honestly… Chris felt the same. He was scared she wouldn’t make it this time.
In what might be her final days, he wanted to give her whatever she wanted.
Seeing Chris still hung up on this, Kevin sighed and nodded. “Got it.”
Catlin had barely left Olivia’s side for the past two days. Watching Olivia pass out from the pain over and over was brutal.
Just as Chris was about to step forward, his phone rang. It was Grace.
“Chris, get home. Now. I have something to ask you.” Grace’s tone was serious.
Chris glanced at Olivia, who had finally fallen asleep, and sighed. “Alright.”
As soon as he hung up, he saw Catlin looking at him, eyes filled with sorrow.
“Chris, Olivia just blacked out from the pain again,” she said, her voice tight with emotion.
“It would be so nice if Dr. Pierce is here. I herd she isn’t just good at controlling the illness–she’s also great at managing pain.”
Chris was even more determined to get Dr. Pierce back. But no matter what he did–pressuring the hospital director, personally calling Dr. Pierce–she wasn’t budging.
Just thinking about Dr. Pierce’s sharp tone over the phone gave Chris a headache.
“Chris, you’ve got to figure something out. Olivia’s suffering,” said Catlin, her voice breaking.
Chris exhaled sharply. “I know. I’m working on it.”
1/3
76%
Chapter 36
“And one more thing… with Olivia’s health being what it is, you and her…” Catlin trailed off, clearly struggling with what to
say.
She had always wanted Chris and Olivia to be together.
But seeing the endless medical reports, and Olivia writhing in pain every other hour? Catlin knew the Ashford family would never accept her now.
If they pushed too hard, it’d just piss the Ashfords off. And if that happened, not even Chris could keep the Hart family from getting crushed.
Weighing her options, Catlin took a deep breath.
“You need to stop dragging things out with Stephanie. And as for Dr. Pierce, I don’t care what it takes–we need to get her
back.”
Catlin had wanted Chris to stay by Olivia’s side during this time.
But now? What was the point? Chris wasn’t a doctor. The key to all of this was Dr. Pierce, and Dr. Pierce was tied to Stephanie.
Chris‘ expression darkened the moment Stephanie’s name came up. He already knew what mom’s phone call was about.
He never knew Stephanie had somehow charmed all the old folks at home.
An hour later, Chris finally arrived the Ashford family manor, where Grace was waiting.
“What did you promise me yesterday, Chris?” yelled Grace. She spat out every word through clenched teeth, and her face was thunderous. “You said you wouldn’t see Olivia again!”
Just thinking about Olivia’s medical condition made her blood pressure spike. It was one thing for an elderly person, but
Olivia was still young. How could she married Chris?
Chris‘ jaw tightened. “Forget about me and Stephanie,” her replied.
“What did you just say? Are you seriously still considering Olivia?” Grace wasn’t buying it.
“This has nothing to do with her,” Chris cut her off.
Before last night, maybe Olivia had been the reason things weren’t moving forward with Stephanie.
But after what happened at Cloudridge Valley, Chris knew he was mad at that mysterious guy staying with Stephanie.
Chris‘ tone was final. “It just isn’t about Olivia.”
Chris knew what Grace meant. That meant every single elder in the family–his maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, his mother, and his father–disagreed with him marrying Olivia.
With all six of them putting their foot down, there was no way in hell he and Olivia had a future.
“Chris, you-” Grace snapped, clearly annoyed.
The tension in the room was suffocating, neither side backing down.
“Fine. You don’t have to marry Stephanie,” said Grace. “But don’t forget why we were even considering the Hart family in the first place.”
2/3
09:27 Mon, 3 Mar
Chapter 86
The Han family held an extremely rare mineral deposit, with only a hendid sure onkunde More importedly, the resources extracted from this mine werk precisely when the Han famdy Arde
But now, that mine was almost tapped out The Ashford family needed * ne
Grace rubbed her forehead before speaking again. “Your unde puy www mdleting tete
Chris‘ pupils contracted. He knew Grace was talking about the one from Vincze w Wode that family, he don controlled the same type of mine–Except his was ten times ingger
“Right, the heir of the Lucano family” Grace nodded. “You need to fund a way to reduce say hems that connection, we won’t need the Hart Family at all?
3/3
