Chapter 151

Without missing a beat, Stephanie produced the papers from her desk and slid them across the table. "Go ahead," she said.

Catlin froze. Stephanie's demeanor was crisp, almost gleeful—as if she couldn't wait to sever ties with the Harts. This struck Catlin harder than she anticipated, tightening her chest with anger.

Fine. Let her sever ties. Catlin would sign, but she'd make Stephanie pay for it one day, when she came crawling back. Blinded by fury, Catlin ignored Stephanie's quiet power. With a shaky breath, she grabbed the pen and scrawled her signature.

The instant the ink dried, Stephanie snatched back the papers, swiftly and sharply, as if fearing Catlin might change her mind. This enraged Catlin further, but she swallowed her anger, asking calmly, "So, when will they be back?"

She’d signed. The deal was done. It was supposed to be over. But—

Stephanie casually locked the papers in her safe, then turned, genuinely confused. "They? Who's 'they'?"

Catlin's heart plummeted. "What the hell does that mean?" she demanded. Her mind raced to catch up, breath catching in her throat. "You… you…" she stammered, her voice laced with disbelief.

Stephanie blinked, feigning innocence. It hit Catlin like a truck—she'd been manipulated.

"You promised me!" Catlin's voice cracked. "You said if I signed, Dr. Vitale and Dr. Pierce would come back!" She trembled, hands shaking with panic and fury.

Stephanie tilted her head, a sharp smile playing on her lips. "Mrs. Hart, are you serious? You really think I control them? They're doctors, not my personal property. Do you think I can just snap my fingers and make them appear? They don't even work for me. Why would they listen to me?"

Catlin was shaking so violently, she had to grip the table to remain upright. She'd been scammed—completely and utterly played. "You… you…" she choked out, her finger jabbing at Stephanie, trembling with rage. The Hart family, above all else, couldn't tolerate anyone jeopardizing Olivia's life. And Stephanie was doing just that.

Stephanie laughed softly, her voice laced with mockery. "Oh, and now that you've signed that little paper, we're officially done here, right? From this point on, whatever happens to the Harts has absolutely nothing to do with me." Like it ever did. They'd dragged her back into their lives, treated her poorly, and now expected her to be their savior?

Catlin's vision blurred with anger. She'd signed the agreement. It was real. And now? "You're playing games with a life on the line! Get Dr. Vitale and Dr. Pierce back here right now!"

Stephanie locked the paperwork away. "If you've got the skills, go ahead and ask them yourself. I won't stop you. If you can get them to show up, good for you."

Catlin's hands shook. "As for me helping you beg? You're kidding, right? Olivia's spent all this time trying to ruin me, and you expect me to stick my neck out to save her?" Stephanie hadn't forgotten Olivia's gloating these past few days—acting like victory was hers. If Olivia wanted to survive, she could figure it out herself.

Catlin's voice cracked. "You lied to me… How could you…?" She shook so hard, words failed her. Stephanie Giovanni had actually lied to her. "How could you be so heartless? This is someone's life we're talking about! Do you even know how badly Olivia needs them right now?"

Catlin's voice was full of anguish, but Stephanie's face remained cold. "And what does that have to do with me? People die every day. Am I supposed to cry for all of them?"