Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 178 Sebastian's phone buzzed again, the screen glowing as he lounged on the couch.

He checked the number, dropped the teasing vibe, and headed to the study.

Stephanie's phone rang right after-Ella, practically buzzing with excitement. "Oh my God, Stefi, you won't believe this- huge news!" Stephanie flopped deeper into the couch, all chill. “What's so huge?" To her, now nothing could beat Chad strolling through Rose Luxe with a lady and a stroller. That was already wild enough.

Ella had a nose for -gossip was basically her sixth sense.

She could walk into any room and catch something juicy. Those ears? Like radar on steroids.

Ella's voice crackled through. "Three scoops: one's Chris, one's Chad, one's Caitlin. Pick your flavor!" . Stephanie paused, fingers tapping the armrest lightly.

"Whatever, just spill it," she said, dragging the words out.

To her, those three were all the skind of train wreck.

Ella paused for a sec, then jumped in. "Mrs. Hart's hunting a match for Chris. Word's already spreading." Stephanie's brow lifted. "Olivia's gonna flip when she hears that." S Olivia and Chris? Obvious sparks-love? Eh, she'd bounced through a bunch of guys overseas, then cback acting like the loyal ex.

Not love? Maybe, but in Long Harbor, she stuck to him like a shadow.

Before Ella could chin, Stephanie cut in. "Everyone knows about him and Olivia. Who'd still sign up to marry him now?" Between Olivia and that engagement she'd tanked herself, Chris was a hot mess.

After Stephanie had blown everything up, no solid Long Harbor family with any pull would throw their daughter at him.

Ella laughed. "Oh, please-it's still the biggest nin Long Harbor. Tons of people are dying for a crack at it." Stephanie went quiet, staring at the ceiling, letting it sink in.

Okay, yeah-she'd slept on the Ashford family's pull in Long Harbor. That kind of weight didn't just vanish. Sure, they'd stumbled after missing Sebastian's deal-stocks crashing for a bit-but even a beat-up giant's still bigger than most.

The Ashfords had deep roots and side hustles keeping them afloat. Roughed up, not ruined-their foundation was solid.

And that ore fiasco? They'd buried it good. Barely anyone knew the real story; to most, it was just chatter. People probably thought the Ashfords were rushing Chris into a wedding to shake off the Hart family's "sick daughter" baggage.

So, pushing Chris to tie the knot fast and ditch the mess? It tracked.

175 Chapter 178 Stephanie squinted, a sly grin sneaking in. “Should we clue Olivi in? End her suspense early?" "Already slipped it to Mayra," Ella said, sounding sinug as hell, like she was grinning ear to ear over the phone. Mayra-Olivia's supposed bestie. Once she got wind, Olivia was next. That fuse was lit.

They plotted like a couple of troublemakers, cracking up over the line.

Stephanie twirled her hair, rolling her eyes. "If Mayra blabs, that peak fake-friend vibes.” "Fake as they come," Ella snorted. "Qlivia thinks she's got a loyal one? Yeah, right." Mayra's envy wasn't a secret-except to Olivia, who still didn't see it, calling her a sister. Stephanie nodded, wandering to the window. "Yup." Ella's voice kicked up. "That kid? Ninety percent Chad's. I'd bet on it." Stephanie leaned on the sill, mouth agape. "How you figure?" "She's the Hart Group's CFO," Ella said, puffed up with pride-she'd done her homework. Digging that up so fast? Stephanie had to give it to her-Ella's detective skills were unreal. Stephanie's brow jumped. "Keeping it in-house, huh?" Ella kept going. "When she had the kid, Chad parked himself at the hospital for a week." A whole week? That baby had to be his-no one's buying a different tale.

"Oh, and hold up-not just one kid. Twins. Boy and a girl," Ella tossed in, her voice full of wow.

Stephanie blinked, then cracked up. “At his age? He's still got game?" Ella laughed. "Oh yeah, your old man's crushing it." Stephanie wrinkled her nose. "Ew, stop. If Caitlin finds out, she'll drop dead right there." A CFO side piece, popping out twins-one a boy? That was a powder keg.

The CFO held the cash reins at Hart Group- serious clout, right in her grip.

Caitlin had always counted on Chad staying loyal, betting Tyler was his only shot, her place in the Hart family rock-solid.

Now, with twins in the picture, Caitlin's seat was shaking.

Stephanie could already see her losing it, flipping tables left and right.

Ella's voice hummed through the phone. "Oh, it's a sure thing. Caitlin's going to bite their heads off." Stephanie flopped onto the couch, drumming her fingers on the armrest. "What's Caitlin doing now? She alread lost it?" Ella jumped in fast. "Nah, Amber just tore into her." ows and Stephanie raised an eyebrow, glancing at the tree shadows swaying outside. "You hit up the hospital again?" "Nope, got it from a doctor pal. Said it was a total shitshow-Caitlin wouldn't let Amber near Tyler, Ella spilled, laying it out like a pro.

2/5 91% Chapter 178 Stephanie went still, the faint buzz of the phone filling the quiet "Amber flipped out right there in the hospital. Called Caitlin out-said Olivia's a train wreck, accused Caitlin of pushing Olivia to steal Chris, even hooking Olivia up with Tyler. It got messy, Ella kept going, her gossip engine revved up.

Stephanic froze, her cup stuck halfway to her mouth.

This was insane-shoving Olivia at Chris, pairing Olivia with Tyler? Like something straight out of a cheesy . Thinking back, Caitlin's old begging sessions with her had that saine energy.

Then there was Tyler-ever since Olivia got sick, Caitlin had him stuck to her hip, wearing him out.

The whole family revolved around Olivia.

Ella pressed on. "Look, Tyler's been dodging Amber and the kid lately-no shock there. Now he's laid up bad because of Olivia." "Amber didn't even try to play nice with Caitlin-just went off,” Ella added, practically buzzing with excitement.

Ella was loving it-Stephanie could almost see her grinning like a kid with a front-row seat.

Even over the phone, the hype was catching. You'd think Ella was the one getting payback.

Stephanie shook her head, cracking a smile despite herself. "They've been shaky for ages. Amber's got a short fuse." Back in the day, Caitlin was a ball of nerves-face all scrunched up like she'd sucked a lemon.

Tyler had stepped up, cooled Amber off for a while.

Now, with Tyler down from Olivia's chaos, Amber-flush with his cash-was bound to blow up. Her hospital meltdown made sense.

Ella cackled. "Oh, she's a live wire. I'm sending you the video-it's gold." Stephanie paused, staring at the trees swaying outside, keeping quiet.

"The Hart family's a total clown show today. The Hodge family will hear about it any second," Ella said, soaking in the mess.

A blowup this big? It'd spread like crazy-the Hodges wouldn't sleep on it.

Stephanie hummed. "Send it." "Sent," Ella chirped, then hung up.

The call cut off, and right then, a knock landed on the door.

A maid peeked in, dipping her head a little. "Miss," she said, lingering by the doorway.

"What's up?" Stephanie turned, tossing it out all casual.

"Dr. Vitale said to tell you-he wants you in the boxing room, like, now," the maid said quietly, her voice careful.

Stephanie frowned, putting her phone down. "For what?" "He said Mr. Giovanni is there too," the maid tacked on, then waited, watching for her reaction.

Stephanie's eyebrow popped up. “Sebastian was there? What was Macro cooking up now?" 3/5 $23 10:05 Fri, Mar 14 Chapter 178 "Alright, I'll swing by," she said with a nod, figuring she'd go see.

If Sebastián was in on it, why not? She didn't have anything else going on.

She got up, shoved the chair back, and headed downstairs.

The house was huge-loaded with everything. The hall lights threw a soft shine on the floor.

She passed the glass hallway, then the pool room, snow still floating down outside, swirling in little dances. From down the way, Macro's shouts spilled out of the boxing room.

"No way, I can't keep running-you trying to offor something?" His voice was ragged, full of frustration. Stephanie hit the doorway and stopped cold.

Sebastian flicked his hand; two bodyguards yanked a sweaty, limp Macro back up, hauling him for more laps. Stephanie blinked. "What's this mess?" Macro panted, "Sebastian, I'm serious-Stefi's gonna hate this. You're too brutal, dude!" Sebastian was kicked back in a chair, a cigar in his fingers, smoke drifting up slow and easy.

Shirt half-open, he looked icy, sharp-like nobody could touch him.

The air around him was chilly, pushing everyone back. He took a long drag and said, "Ten more laps." His voice was low, even, not a crack in it. Macro lost it. "Five almost killed me, and you're adding ten? You wantdead or what?" Stephanie checked Macro out-soaked, legs shaking, totally wiped, just like he'd said. Elliot, standing behind Sebastian, clocked her first, nodding toward the door. He leaned in, muttering, "Sir, she is here," keeping it low.

Sebastian turned, meeting her eyes.

He waved her over. "Stefi, chere," he said, light but solid, like it wasn't optional. Macro's head jerked up at her name-rescue! His eyes sparked like she was his lifeline.

He swore to himself: if he made it out, no more cracks about Stephanie. Not a word.

No more poking around either-just chill and keep it low-key from now on.

Sebastian was scary as hell-sitting there with that cigar, looking like suntouchable crlord.

What was Stephanie to him? -Macro wondered-His to call the shots for, his to look out for, and nobody else got a vote? One slip from anyone, and he'd bring the hammer down. Sebastian's protective streak was insane. Stephanie stepped up. Sebastian pulled her onto his lap in one easy move, handing the cigar off to Elliot. "What's Macro doing?" she asked, settling in, keeping it laid-back Sebastian glanced down at her. "Getting him fit. A good doctor should handle ten surgeries, no sweat," Stephanie tilted her head, thrown. She scrunched her face, not sold.

4/5 Chapter 178

"But he doesn't need that kind of stamina right now, does he?" shen asked, her tone skeptical, pushing nerdonie back a little. Macro was their family doctor now-he was never going to pull ff ten surgeries a day.

Sebastian shrugged, chill as always. "It's for his own good." Stephanie's eyes went big.

She gawked at his deadpan face, mumbling under her breath.

That line felt so familiar.

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