Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Anyway, Stephanie felt like Chris was completely clueless, and so was everyone around him.
Useless, the lot of them.
A 66–year–old guy? Seriously, where did they even dig up that info?
“Didn’t you say you’d be back in two hours? You’re early.”
She’d called him earlier, and he’d told her to go to bed without him.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Are you losing all self–control at night now?”
Stephanie blinked, “Huh?”
“You’re a grown woman. Don’t you worry about gaining weight? Eating so much.”
He was actually concerned she’d make herself sick. That’s why he’d rushed back.
Stephanie’s lips twitched. “You came back just for that?”
“Is that not a good enough reason?”
Stephanie was speechless.
More than enough!
“Well, I haven’t been eating properly before,” she mumbled.
Sebastian hummed in question:
“Nothing, never mind.”
She quickly buried her face in his chest, not daring to say another word.
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But Sebastian had heard it all. He gently stroked her slender back, his touch full of affection. He knew she hadn’t been eating well all these years.
Why else would she be bingeing these past few days, craving this and that?
“Seb…
“Hmm?”
“When are we going back to Fiorenza?”
This city was annoying. She hated it here.
“There are still a few things to take care of. If they’re bothering you, I’ll have Elliot deal with them.”
Sebastian’s voice lost some of its tenderness when he mentioned Elliot taking care of things.
His precious girl, being bullied like this… Hmph.
*****
The next few days, Stephanie was busy with her studio, and Catlin kept dodging the lawyer.
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Chapter 85
Catlin had hidden herself away after that hospital visit, avoiding signing the disownment agreement.
What were these people so afraid of, anyway?
But Elliot had made some progress on tracing the three hundred thousand dollars that Olivia had spent…
On the morning of the third day.
On the third morning, Stephanie woke up to a text message: “I’m getting discharged in four days!”
Stephanie was speechless.
It was from Olivia, a new number.
She’d been texting her for the past two days, constantly reminding her when she’d be out of the hospital.
Stephanie found it kind of hilarious.
What did her discharge have to do with her?
She’d blocked yesterday’s number, and now Olivia was using another one.
Where did these people get so many numbers?
No matter. She’d block every single one.
She didn’t believe she couldn’t block them all!
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She’d thought about changing her own number, but figured if these people were so desperate to annoy her, they’d just find her in person.
She didn’t have the patience to deal with them, or the energy to beat them up.
Unlike yesterday, Olivia added another message today: “I’ll be staying at Whispering Bay as soon as I’m discharged. Chris told me you also like watching the sunrise.”
A blatant, boastful show–off.
And so confident.
Stephanie chuckled. So that’s what this was all about.
For once, she didn’t stay silent like the previous two days.
She quickly typed a reply: “Whispering Bay? Good luck getting in.”
‘Go ahead and brag. It’ll just be another joke.‘
Olivia: “Chris personally promised me. There won’t be any changes.”
She sounded so sure, truly believing Chris. Stephanie scoffed.
Stephanie scoffed: “Well, I wish you success!”
Message sent, number blocked.
Stephanie was always decisive with these people. The moment she realized it was them, she blocked them immediately.
That’s why it was so hard for the Harts and Chris to reach her now.
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Chapter 85
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Downstairs, Sebastian was already at the breakfast table, instructing the butler.
“Tell the kitchen to cut back on portions. We don’t need mountains of food every meal.”
“It’s a good thing Miss Giovanni has a healthy appetite. Some young ladies these days practically starve themselves to stay thin,” the butler replied.
“Exactly, then they get sick from their crazy diets. It’s not healthy,” Sebastian retorted.
The butler nodded in agreement.
He knew the drill; young women could be obsessed with their looks, sometimes taking things to extremes.
Sofia had once dieted so hard she’d landed in the hospital.
Ever since then, Sebastian was strict about healthy eating for the women in his family.
Stephanie slid into the chair opposite him, all innocence. “Is my big brother saying I eat too much now?”
“Yes!” Sebastian shot back without missing a beat.
Stephanie blinked.
Seriously? Is he worried I’m going to bankrupt the Giovannis with my appetite?‘
Okay, he probably just cared about her health, didn’t want her pulling a Sofia and ending up in the ER for a crash diet.
Stephanie took a sip of her porridge. “What time did you get back last night?”
“Past two,” Sebastian answered. ·
“Did you come into my room?”
Sebastian paused, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his eyes.
He met her gaze, a hint of caution in his voice. “Why?”
“Just wondering.”
Stephanie shrugged it off. Maybe it was just a weird dream.
She’d had this strange sensation of being enveloped in a cold aura while half–asleep, like she was being held.
She’d tried to move, but felt completely paralyzed, like in a nightmare.
Must have been a dream.
*****
After breakfast, Stephanie headed to her studio, while Sebastian went to his study for a video conference.
It was already past ten when he finally emerged.
Elliot stepped forward. “Sir.”
“Hmm?”
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Chapter 85
“Mr. Ashford keeps requesting a meeting. And Mr. Hodge too.”
Both Chris Ashford and Jackson Hodge were eager to partner with Sebastian.
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Jackson had at least met Sebastian once, but Chris hadn’t even gotten in the same room yet.
Despite Sebastian making it clear he wasn’t interested in a deal, Chris was stubbornly persistent.
“That Hart woman at the hospital is still pushing to be discharged. And Ashford is digging into who owns Whispering Bay,” Elliot continued.
“Should we leak the info and let him give up?” Elliot asked.
Sebastian chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. “He’s got tunnel vision for that sick woman. He’ll run into a brick wall before he quits.”
If that woman croaked tomorrow, it would be too good for her.
A glint of amusement sparked in Sebastian’s eyes. “Leak nothing. Let him spin his wheels.”
“The longer he’s in the dark about who owns this place, the more amusing it will be. He’ll break himself trying to figure it
out.”
No need to kill his hope; prolonging his agony was far more entertaining.
Elliot added, “He knows Miss Giovanni lives here. He’s been asking her who the owner is.”
Chasing Stephanie around, asking her about the owner of her own home. The guy was clueless.
The thought of Chris grilling Stephanie reminded Sebastian of that absurd “66–year–old owner” rumor.
Where had Chris even pulled that number from?
It was a miracle the Ashford Group hadn’t crumbled under such incompetence.
“Just ignore him,” Sebastian instructed.
The best kind of torture was knowing your opponent was in the know while you were completely in the dark.
Chris was stewing in his ignorance, driving himself crazy.
********
Stephanie arrived at her studio to find Jennifer practically bouncing with anticipation.
“Boss, Mr. Hodge is here!“she whispered excitedly.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “Jackson Hodge?”
“Yeah, he showed up right when we opened. I tried calling you, but no answer.”
Stephanie checked her phone. “Silent mode.”
Chris had been blowing up her phone all week about Whispering Bay, desperate to get Olivia into the manor for her
recovery.
‘My house for Olivia’s sickbed? She can rot in that hospital for all I care!
She walked into her office to find Jackson lounging on the sofa.
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Chapter 85
He stood up as she entered, a tall, lean figure radiating an air of expensive confidence.
Stephanie noticed the ashtray on the coffee table was empty- no cigarettes.
Jackson strode over, flashing a wide, charming grin, and playfully took her arm.
“Sebastian, what a small world! Turns out you’re Mr. Giovanni’s sister!”
Stephanie met his gaze, a silent acknowledgment.
So, Jackson had done his homework and figured out the Giovanni connection.
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