Chapter 207

Catlin's heart sank as Chad placed all the blame on her. She snapped, "What kind of mother am I? You know what Stephanie's like, and you can't handle her either!"

Chad, frustrated, retorted, "I can't handle her because I don't have the time! You're supposed to be raising the kids at home. When she came back, did you even try to guide her properly?"

Catlin fell silent. She would have liked to be patient with Stephanie, but had Stephanie given her the chance?

Chad sighed, clearly irritated. "Forget it. You handle the family stuff. The company's in serious trouble."

"How serious?" Catlin asked, instantly concerned.

Chad grimaced. "We're on the verge of bankruptcy. How serious do you think that is?"

"Is it really that bad?" Catlin asked, her heart tightening.

Chad nodded grimly. "The company's in big trouble. Someone's behind all this; they're deliberately targeting us." He had no doubt someone was trying to destroy the Hart Group.

"Who's behind it? Is it the Ashford Group?" Catlin asked quickly.

"I don't think so," Chad replied, frustrated. "Some of the partners have no connection to the Ashford Group at all."

Catlin grew more panicked. "Could it have something to do with Stephanie?"

Chad, taken aback, asked, "What do you mean?"

Catlin's voice dropped. "She must have someone powerful behind her. You know her studio made over two million dollars last year. There's no way she could do that without serious backing."

Chad's brow furrowed at the mention of Stephanie's studio. Could it really be connected to her?

Meanwhile, Stephanie arrived at her studio just as Sebastian called.

His voice was warm and calm. "Pack up; I'll be there to pick you up soon."

Stephanie was stunned. "Huh? Where to?"

"To the hot springs."

Stephanie glanced at the overcast sky. The weather was perfect for a hot spring trip; the springs at Mount Spring were famous. But they were far from the city, and she couldn't afford to waste time. "I'm busy. You're distracting me."

The thought of the hot springs, however, caught her attention, especially since her legs had started hurting again the previous night. The cold winters always aggravated the pain.

Sebastian chuckled softly. "Busy with what?"

"I told you last night; I have a big client's design to handle personally."

"Which client?"

"Skyriver Travel." Stephanie was serious about this project; they were paying way above market rate, and the requirements were minimal. But with that kind of payment, she intended to give it her all.

Sebastian asked casually, "Skyriver Travel? I'm really close with their CEO. Want me to ask for an extension?"

"You know the CEO of Skyriver Travel?" Stephanie was surprised.

Sebastian nodded. "Yeah, we're close."

Stephanie paused. "Well, I don't need it, actually…"

Before Stephanie could finish, Sebastian interrupted, "Get ready."

Stephanie gave in, closing her laptop and packing it into her bag. The hot springs were so far away that if she went that day, there was no chance she'd be returning.

In the car, Elliot turned to Sebastian. "Miss Stephanie's leg should have healed by now, right?" After her injury years ago, doctors had recommended she soak in hot springs every winter. When they were in Fiorenza, Sebastian had taken her multiple times each winter.

Sebastian glanced out the window. "She was in pain again last night." The bad weather had triggered it.

Elliot frowned. "It seems like the old injury still hasn't fully healed."