Chapter 174

Jackson's gaze conveyed Landyn's foolishness. Landyn asked, "Why that look?"

Jackson replied coolly, "Do you really think he'd treasure a ring like that? He wouldn't want it if it were handed to him on a silver platter. You're acting like someone's pulling a fast one on you."

"You're right," Landyn agreed. "So why bring me here?"

"Because his sister lost the ring," Jackson said.

Landyn was stunned. "His sister? Which sister?" He couldn't believe his ears. "No way. Who is Mr. Giovanni's sister?" How could Sebastian's sister lose the ring? What had Jackson gotten himself into? This mess was spiraling out of control.

"Do you know Stephanie Giovanni?" Jackson asked.

Landyn's face blanked. "Who?"

"Stephanie Giovanni."

The name sounded familiar. Then it clicked. She was Chris's former fiancée. "Isn't she the Hart family's biological daughter, the fiancée Chris dumped?" Landyn nearly gasped. News of Stephanie and Chris's broken engagement had spread like wildfire, exposing the harsh truth that her status in the Hart family was even lower than an adopted child's. Now Jackson was saying she was Sebastian's sister?

Jackson rolled his eyes. "Let me clarify. Stephanie ditched Chris. Reports of the canceled engagement made it clear she was the mastermind."

Landyn was silent for a moment. Then, "If she's Mr. Giovanni's sister, the Hart family and Chris are screwed!" Stephanie was actually Mr. Giovanni's sister? The Hart family had treated her like a ghost since her return. Although their biological daughter, they'd never publicly acknowledged her. Even Mrs. Hart introduced Olivia Hart as her daughter in social circles. Even the explosive fallout between Olivia and Stephanie two years ago didn't change Olivia's privileged status. Their treatment of their daughter couldn't be harsher.

Jackson nodded. "Yeah, they're pretty much done for."

Excitement flared in Landyn's eyes. "But didn't Chris always want to collaborate with Mr. Giovanni? What's the point now?" The Hart family's mineral reserves were drying up, and the Ashford family desperately needed a replacement. The mineral was extremely rare, a stroke of luck for the Hart family. Now, the only substitute was in Sebastian's hands. Offending Stephanie was like stirring a hornet's nest.

Jackson snorted. "Partner up? Dream on! I bet he doesn't even know which last name to claim from Mr. Giovanni now." Chris had been so preoccupied with Olivia. Who knew if the Ashford chairman would have a heart attack upon hearing the news?

Landyn's lips twitched. "Are you saying Mr. Giovanni takes things personally?"

Jackson's face darkened. "He sure is."

Landyn fell silent, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Like Jackson, he had long found Chris insufferable. Even the fox preys farthest from his hole. Swapping out his fiancée for the family's sister – he was scum.

"This is going to be a real show," Landyn said. He still couldn't figure one thing out. "If Stephanie is Mr. Giovanni's sister, why hasn't she mentioned it? That alone wouldn't make her life so miserable, would it?"

Jackson shrugged. "Do you think she cares about her life in the Hart family?"

Landyn was quiet. With the Fiorenza underground emperor backing her, who else mattered? "Then Olivia went at her hysterically? But she didn't even give a damn." That underscored the Hart family's foolishness. Everyone saw Olivia wasn't a good egg, yet they treated her like a treasure, especially now with her failing health.