Chapter 137

If it was going to be discussed, so be it. Jackson prided himself on his impeccable character, but as Stephanie questioned Sebastian on speakerphone, he heard indulgence dripping from the man's tone. How dare the Hart family treat her so carelessly?

"Why did you ask about Jackson Hodge?"

"Just asking. What do you think, Sebastian? Is he a good guy?"

Silence followed. When Sebastian finally spoke, his tone had shifted. Coldly, almost bitingly, he asked, "Do you like him?"

Stephanie was silent. Jackson was equally bewildered. She'd only asked about his character. How did Sebastian twist it into whether she liked him? And why the displeasure?

Stephanie's lips twitched. "No, I was just asking."

"He can't even manage his own family well. People like him aren't trustworthy. Put away those silly thoughts," Sebastian said, his tone noticeably cold.

"I really don't like him," Stephanie insisted.

"I'll pick you up for lunch. Be good, I'm hanging up."

Before Stephanie could reply, Sebastian ended the call. Jackson was dumbfounded, sensing a brewing storm.

Stephanie glanced at him. "Did you hear that, Mr. Hodge? In Sebastian's eyes, you aren't worth a dime."

"So it all comes back to you."

"No, it's not about me. It's about Lilian. Sebastian has seen things clearly through her actions."

Jackson grew agitated. "Our cooperation has nothing to do with Lilian! She isn't even connected to the company!"

"In Sebastian's eyes, if you can't keep your own household in order, you have no integrity."

Their cooperation would be a tall order.

Chapter 137 (Continued)

Jackson was furious. It made sense; if someone couldn't manage their own household, how could they be trusted to run a company? Lilian had truly pushed his buttons. And then there was Stephanie, flaunting her intimacy with Sebastian. Everyone knew she'd shown no such intimacy with Tyler Hart, or even her biological parents, since returning to the Hart family. But that was understandable. People tend to open up to those who treat them well. The Hart family had showered their adopted daughter with attention, leaving Stephanie on the periphery. Given her fiery personality, her retaliation was natural.

She grew up in the Giovanni family—a world unto itself. The Giovannis were notorious arms dealers in Fiorenza, shadowy figures controlling the city's underworld. In that ruthless environment, her challenges were extraordinary. Living among wolves, there was no room for a delicate bunny.

Jackson ventured hesitantly, "So, the Giovanni family… are they like the Hart family?"

"What do you mean?" Stephanie snapped.

Jackson continued, "You're only their adopted daughter. I've seen how they treat you, and I wonder, how do they treat their own daughter?"

Stephanie's face darkened instantly. "You're comparing the Giovanni family to the Hart family?" The suggestion was enough. The difference between the two families was vast. The Harts, though lacking in fortune, were notorious for their conniving ways. Olivia Hart had played mind games with her, and they'd even abandoned their own daughter. How could they compare to the Giovannis? In the Giovanni family, whether blood-related or adopted, everyone's interests and safety were intertwined.

Seeing Stephanie's expression, Jackson's heart sank. "I'm sorry."