Chapter 533

Sebastian, casually twirling a string of rosary beads, smiled meaningfully. “Looks like you haven’t done a great job teaching him, huh? After all these years, he still has no backbone.”

Lorenzo didn’t respond.

Bernard frowned in confusion and thought, ‘No backbone? Wait. When I first met Mr. Giovannis, I was begging him to take me?’ Back then, Sebastian refused to take Bernard in when he knelt like this. In fact, the kneeling only made him more determined to turn him away. Sebastian didn’t keep soft-hearted men like Bernard around.

Later, as Lorenzo walked past Bernard, he suddenly stopped, looked at him, and said, “From now on, you’re with me.” That was how Bernard ended up sticking by Lorenzo’s side, and it was why he’d risk his life for him every time after that.

Bernard lowered his head. “I just want Ms. Turner to stay.”

Lorenzo clenched his teeth. “Get out.”

Looking at Bernard in such a wimpy state, Lorenzo couldn’t help but think, When he’s facing an enemy, he’s not like this. How can he just kneel so easily? Is he even a man?

“Lorenzo,” Bernard said, hesitating.

“Out,” Lorenzo growled under his breath.

Bernard was about to say something else, but the dangerous tone in Lorenzo’s voice made him keep quiet. Slowly, he stood up and turned to Sebastian. “Mr. Giovanni, Lorenzo hasn’t been with a woman in years. You—”

“Out!” Lorenzo cut him off, his patience running thin. He almost wished he could sew Bernard’s mouth shut.

Bernard, completely shut down, kept quiet and slunk out of the room.

Lorenzo glanced at the rosary beads in Sebastian’s hand, raising an eyebrow. “Mr. Giovanni, when did you start liking these?” He knew Sebastian had never been religious or really cared about anything related to God.

Sebastian looked at the beads, smiling slightly and almost affectionately. “Stefi bought them at the airport. What do you think?”

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. “Figures.” He thought, I knew it. Who else but Stephanie could get Sebastian to wear something like this?

“Yeah, she’s always had a good eye,” Lorenzo said, nodding. Since it was Stephanie’s choice, he had to say something nice, even though he wasn’t sure about it. Then he asked, “Is this the first gift she’s given you?”

Sebastian shook his head. “Not exactly. But it’s the first time I’ve seen her pick something out so thoughtfully.” Before, Stephanie had bought him things, but he was never there to see how she chose them. This time, though, he saw how carefully she picked it out. Lorenzo felt like he was getting hit with a full-on display of affection.

Chapter 533

Sebastian was coming down the stairs when he overheard Stephanie and Ella gossiping. From where he stood, he could see Ella practically glowing with excitement. Suddenly, he felt a flicker of irritation. She was crying her eyes out on the phone earlier, making Stefi worry so much. But now? She doesn’t look freaked out at all, he thought.

Ella was still talking, her voice full of energy. “This time, the Ashford family might end up like the Hart family. Just wait and see. Grace isn’t someone you mess with. If Chris doesn’t get the Ashford Group, she’ll destroy it before she lets Mr. Ashford’s illegitimate son take it.”

Fred and Grace had always kept up a perfect image for everyone. But now, Fred brought home a son who was even older than Chris and Claire. The irony was just insane.

Stephanie nodded. “Yeah, their situation is gonna be worse than the Hart family’s.” In the Hart family, Catlin didn’t really have any say in front of Chad. So when it came to fighting for something, Catlin barely stood a chance. But Grace was a different story. Over the years, she’d been involved in pretty much everything, both at work and at home. If things got ugly, it would be way more intense than anything that happened with the Hart Group.

Just as Ella was about to say more, Sebastian’s voice cut through. “Stefi, we need to go.”

Stephanie and Ella both looked at him.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “Lorenzo allowed me to take Ella, right?”

Ella immediately spoke up. “Hold on. I need to check with Lorenzo about my mom first.” Bernard had already mentioned something about her mom, and she hadn’t had a chance to go upstairs and ask Lorenzo before Sebastian showed up.

“Wait a second,” Ella said, and then she rushed upstairs, her footsteps echoing.