Chapter 100

Her expression turned ice-cold. “What do you mean? We agreed when we made the deal. I gave you 1.5 million dollars, and you were supposed to leave the country and never come back.” Olivia’s voice was low, but the barely contained anger thrummed beneath it.

“I’m back,” he said.

“W-what?” Olivia’s voice rose uncontrollably. She thought, He’s back? And he’s contacting me? Even an idiot could see where this is going. Her already pale face drained further. “What do you want?”

“My mother just passed away. My daughter is seriously ill. The cost of living overseas is too high; we couldn’t afford it anymore,” he explained.

So that was his excuse for returning. And now, with his daughter’s illness, he was desperate for money. Olivia’s vision blurred with rage. “That’s not my problem! I already paid you what you asked for. Our business was nothing but a transaction.”

“Yes, it was a transaction,” he admitted. “But Miss Hart, I’m out of options. Should I ask you for money, or should I go to Miss Giovanni?”

A chill ran down Olivia’s spine. If he went to Stephanie for money, it meant handing over evidence of the car accident. That would expose Olivia’s true colors to the Hart family and Chris.

“You’re blackmailing me?” she hissed through clenched teeth. He was blackmailing her, and clearly planned this. He knew what mattered to her—the Hart family—and who she didn't get along with: Stephanie.

“I have nowhere else to turn,” he said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t resort to this.”

“You were the one who named the price, 1.5 million dollars! I didn’t even negotiate!” Olivia snapped. The fury inside her erupted, but the man on the other end remained unfazed. “I don’t have a choice. I’m truly desperate.”

Olivia closed her eyes. And what the hell am I supposed to do? she wondered. The past two years abroad had drained her finances. Most of her savings from her time with the Hart family were gone. Now, with the Hart family covering her medical bills, she had little left.

“You have no options, so you’re coming to me? What do you expect me to do? I don’t owe you anything!” Olivia growled. She was almost certain she had been blackmailed.

Sebastian’s tone remained calm and firm. “I need 300 thousand dollars.”

Olivia’s head spun. “Where the hell am I supposed to find 300 thousand dollars?”

Her rage was boiling over. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to destroy him.

“Miss Hart, I know exactly what your status is in the Hart family. You’ve been treated better than their real daughter all these years,” he said.

Olivia froze. A deep darkness settled in her eyes as she gripped the phone, her knuckles turning white. “You’re shaking me down?” she said.

“I really do need the money, Miss Hart. No need to make it sound so bad,” he replied smoothly.

Olivia shut her eyes, barely containing her emotions. By then, Chris and Catlin had reached the hospital room door. Catlin suddenly remembered something. “Hey, Olivia mentioned earlier that she wanted soup from Lobster House, Chris, you go in first; I’ll have someone pick it up for her.”

“Alright,” Chris nodded.

As he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open slightly, Olivia’s furious voice erupted from inside. “Fine! Then you’ll be rotting in prison too!”

Chris’s face instantly darkened. Without hesitation, he shoved the door open and stepped inside.