Chapter 450

When Sebastian first made his move against the Hart Group, Chad had thought he was being smart by pulling out in time. He figured that if he withdrew all his money and started fresh, completely severing ties with the Hart Group, he could avoid the fallout. He never expected every single path to be blocked. And now, if he couldn’t find a solution for his new company, all his investments would go down the drain. He would lose everything.

Hearing this, Stephanie looked at Chad, her gaze cold. “So?” she asked flatly.

Chad said, “Tell Mr. Giovanni to stop. This has gone far enough.” After everything that had happened, the entire Hart family was in chaos. Chad truly believed they had paid a steep enough price.

When Stephanie heard him say “enough,” she looked at him, expressionless. “I agree,” she said. “It has been enough.”

Chad’s face lit up. “Really?”

“Stefi, I’ve thought a lot about what happened before,” he said hurriedly. “Your mother… well, she wasn’t entirely at fault. Olivia was always by her side, after all. You don’t understand – when Olivia was little, she was such a good kid.”

Stephanie said nothing.

“From a young age, she was obedient, polite, always looking out for the family,” Chad went on. “That’s why, when everything happened, your mother unconsciously favored her. She didn’t mean to—”

“But what can I do?” Stephanie cut him off, her patience clearly worn thin.

Chad froze. “What do you mean?”

Stephanie shrugged. “When it comes to Sebastian, I don’t get a say.”

Chad’s eyelid twitched hard. He still didn’t understand what she was getting at.

Stephanie’s tone was careless. “I can’t help you with your new company.”

The flicker of hope that had just ignited in Chad’s eyes was ruthlessly snuffed out by her words.

Stephanie sneered. Then she turned to the driver and said, “Let’s go.”

“Stefi, you can’t do this! I’m still your—” Chad didn’t even get to finish before the window rolled up, shutting him out completely. The dark glass blocked any view inside the car.

Panic seized him. He rushed forward on instinct, but the car had already pulled away, speeding toward the estate. Chad stood frozen in place, feeling the chill seep into his bones. If he couldn’t fix the situation with the new company, everything he had prepared these past few months would be for nothing. But he had no idea what to do. Stephanie’s attitude had been colder than he ever imagined.

In his desperation, Chad laid all the blame on Catlin. He convinced himself this was all because she had failed to handle the conflicts between the children, letting things spiral this far out of control.

His phone buzzed. Chad numbly pulled it out of his pocket. When he saw Catlin’s name on the screen, his expression darkened, his anger flaring even higher.

The moment he answered, before he could say a word, Catlin’s voice came through first. “I need to see you.” Her tone was unusually calm. Lately, whether it was because of Chad’s lover and illegitimate children, or because of Olivia, every phone call between them had been filled with hostility, on the verge of erupting into a fight. It had been a long time since things had felt this peaceful.

For a brief moment, Chad forced himself to swallow his rage. His voice was low and rough. “What is it?”

“You’re at Highridge Bay, aren’t you?” Catlin said.

“What?” Chad frowned.

“You put that woman in one of the villas at Highridge Bay, didn’t you?” Catlin’s voice cracked as she spoke. The eerie calm from before vanished in an instant, replaced by a furious roar. Every ounce of restraint she’d been holding onto crumbled in that moment. Even through the phone, Chad could feel how much Catlin wanted to tear him apart.

He was already in a foul mood—Stephanie had just humiliated him, and now Catlin was pushing him again. His patience snapped. “I’m done with you, Catlin,” Chad said nonchalantly. ‘She had the nerve to go snooping around Highridge Bay? What was she trying to pull now?’ As far as he was concerned, there was nothing left to say between them.

“What did you just say?!” Catlin screamed.

“If you so much as go near her, you’ll regret it,” Chad warned, his voice sharp. And with that, he hung up without hesitation.