Chapter 214

When Chris heard the name "Giovanni," his expression darkened, but he didn't dwell on it. "Why is Stephanie here?" he asked Kevin, his tone tense.

Kevin hesitated, striving for neutrality. "It's probably a coincidence. We arrived on short notice; no one knew we were coming. Maybe she came with Mr. Hodge?" He knew better than to reveal Chris's location. However, Chris's coldness intensified after his mention of coincidence. Kevin wasn't convinced she'd arrived with Jackson, but kept his doubts to himself.

"Find out who she came with," Chris ordered, his expression glacial.

Kevin nodded, feeling uneasy. "Understood... But we need to find the Lucano heir first. You know how crucial this is. Failure today will cause trouble with Mr. Ashford," he trailed off, knowing Chris understood the implications for the Ashford Group and Olivia. Time was critical; they needed to locate Mr. Lucano.

Chris pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache forming. "It won't take long. Go ahead and check."

"Yes, sir," Kevin replied, and with Chris's insistence, set off to investigate, aware there was no margin for error.

Meanwhile, Stephanie, having changed in the locker room, bundled up in a thick robe as Sebastian had advised, heading towards the hot springs. Emerging, she collided with a woman wrapped in a towel, sending the woman sprawling into a footbath with a splash. Her towel soaked instantly, leaving her drenched.

"Watch where you're going! Are you blind?" the woman yelled angrily.

Stephanie was speechless. It was clearly her fault. Her expression darkened. "I don't know if I'm blind, but you definitely are!"

The woman, furious, wiped her face, stood, and glared. Their eyes met; both recognized the other.

"It's you?" the woman asked, her face darkening.

"So it's you," Stephanie retorted. "Your lack of manners and vision makes perfect sense."

It was Mayra Garcia, Olivia's best friend. Stephanie had met her once at the Hart family home and twice while shopping, with Mayra consistently antagonizing her. Their mutual dislike stemmed from Stephanie's vengeful nature.

Mayra's anger intensified. She yanked off her towel, threw it down, and placed her hands on her hips. "Who are you calling impolite?" she snapped, looking ready to strike.

Stephanie didn't back down. "I'm talking about you. What's it to you?"

Furious, Mayra raised her hand to slap Stephanie. But Stephanie reacted quickly, grabbing Mayra's wrist while raising her own hand to retaliate. Before either could strike, a hand intervened, shoving Mayra aside. Mayra's wrist slipped from Stephanie's grasp, and she fell back into the bath. Stephanie was pulled into an embrace.

She turned to see Sebastian, his face dark with anger. He glared coldly at Mayra, then turned to Stephanie with concern. "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

Stephanie shook her head. "No, she just wanted to hit me!"

Macro arrived, glancing at Stephanie. He mused silently about Sebastian's unwavering attention. From a distance, he'd witnessed everything, including Sebastian's earlier hurried departure, fearing someone might bother Stephanie. He shook his head, thinking about Sebastian's concern for a woman who’d never experienced hardship in Long Harbor. Sebastian's face darkened as he shot a cold glare at Mayra, who had just risen from the bath.