Chapter 118

For a moment, Tyler thought Chris would enter to check on Olivia. Instead, Chris abruptly turned and walked away, his movements sharp yet unsteady. The fight had clearly taken its toll.

Tyler blinked, surprised. "Huh?" He hadn't expected that. With Olivia's cries and Caitlin's frantic attempts to comfort her echoing from the room, he assumed Chris would at least take a look. But he simply left. For a moment, Tyler was completely baffled.

Meanwhile, Elliot drove Stephanie to Eastview Tower. As she exited the car, he said, "Mr. Giovanni has business to attend to today, so he can only join you for dinner."

Stephanie nodded. "Got it." Without another word, she entered the building. Elliot watched her go before calling Sebastian. "Hi, Mr. Giovanni," he said.

"You went to see Mrs. Blackwood?" Sebastian asked.

"Yes. We also encountered the Hart family and Chris," Elliot replied.

Silence followed, the iciness radiating from Sebastian even through the phone. "Chris seems to have a lot of free time," Sebastian finally said, his tone sharp.

Elliot responded calmly, "The entire Hart family has nothing better to do. They're constantly hovering around her." They'd assembled a team of top specialists and insisted on personally keeping Olivia company. Chris, in particular, visited daily.

"How's Stefi feeling?" Sebastian's voice was colder. Clearly, his concern lay not in the Hart family's idleness, but in whether their actions affected Stephanie's mood.

Elliot answered, "Miss Giovanni doesn't seem to care. She acts as if they don't exist."

The tension eased. "Okay," Sebastian said, his tone lighter, a hint of satisfaction audible.

Elliot then added, "However, Chris and the Hart family are planning to kidnap Miss Giovanni."

The line went frigid.

Chapter 118

Stephanie had been in her office only a short time when Chris stormed in unannounced. Seeing him, she didn't bother concealing her displeasure. "What are you doing here? Barging in without a greeting? Ever heard of common courtesy? People's time is valuable."

Already in a foul mood, Chris's anger flared. His eyes darkened. "How many people can even reach you by phone these days?" His frustration was evident. Besides him, likely no one in the Hart or even Ashford families could contact her.

Stephanie remained unfazed. She took a slow sip of water and said indifferently, "If they can't get through, then they can't. We have no reason to stay in touch."

"No reason to stay in touch?" Chris's temper erupted. "Then who do you need to stay in touch with? Those men?"

Her words struck a nerve. She'd cut off all contact with her family, relying only on those men.

The thought sent Chris into a rage. "That man at the hospital, why did he stand up for you? What's your relationship with him? Is he your sugar daddy? Are you being kept again?"

He'd replayed the situation repeatedly, unable to understand their relationship. Yet, the man's fierce protectiveness clearly indicated intimacy.

"This studio? So you did open it with dirty money, didn't you?" His anger drowned out logic, a barrage of accusations flying at her.

Stephanie, still holding her water glass, threw its cold contents at Chris. The splash jolted him back to his senses.