Chapter 217

"I'm busy, I'll call you back later," Chris said quickly, preparing to hang up. But Olivia interrupted, "You're at the hot springs, aren't you?"

Chris froze, his breath catching as his grip tightened on the phone. "What about it?" he asked.

"Is there something important that needs discussing at the hot springs?" Olivia's voice was sharp, laced with frustration. "Wasn't everything supposed to be handled in the office? Even if it were business, surely it didn't require a hot springs getaway!" Her tone clearly questioned his motives. Chris narrowed his eyes, sensing the rising tension.

Before he could respond, Olivia added, "Is Stephanie there with you? You went to find her, didn't you?" Olivia's mind raced, remembering Mayra's account of the conflict between her and Stephanie. Now Chris was there too, along with Stephanie's protector. She wondered, what was it about Stephanie that captivated these men? The more she considered it, the angrier she became, particularly with Chris's current attitude. Not only had the Whispering Bay situation left her humiliated, but now Stephanie was at the hot springs with Chris. It felt as though she had nowhere to hide.

As her frustration mounted, Chris's cold tone snapped her back to reality. "Olivia," he said sharply. She paused, her intended outburst stifled by his coldness. Her voice softened, vulnerability replacing anger. "Chris, I'm scared."

He closed his eyes. "I know," he replied, his voice softening slightly, though the tension remained. "Then, were you going to see Stephanie?"

"No," he answered curtly.

"What then…" she trailed off, unsure how to press further.

Chris pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have business to attend to. I need to go."

In the past, Chris would have provided a more thorough explanation, but now he had no time. The Lucano family situation remained unresolved, worsening by the minute. Without another word, he hung up.

Olivia stared at the blank screen, a wave of confusion and disappointment washing over her. Did he just hang up on me?

At that moment, her mother, Catlin, entered. Seeing Olivia's distraught expression, she immediately put aside her own concerns, suppressing her worry. "Olivia, what's wrong?"

Olivia, eyes red, looked up, her voice shaky. "Mom, Chris and Stephanie are both at Mount Spring."

"What?" Catlin was shocked. She couldn't help but overthink; after all, Chris and Stephanie had almost married before.

Olivia sniffed, her voice breaking. "Mom, Chris and I are just not meant to be, right? He's meant to be with Stephanie, and I ruined it."

"Don't say that, stop talking nonsense. The most important thing now is for you to take care of yourself. Chris is waiting for you," Catlin replied, her heart aching. In her eyes, Olivia and Chris were meant to be together; Stephanie, her biological daughter, had ruined it. Catlin regretted bringing Stephanie back. Had they not, Olivia wouldn't have been treated as the adopted daughter, and the Ashford family wouldn't have objected. Had they not brought Stephanie back, Olivia and Chris likely would have children by now. Their selfishness had caused all this.

"But Chris… I don't think Stephanie can let go of him either," Olivia said, her words choked with emotion.

Stephanie's name alone made Catlin's head throb. "Why would they go to the hot springs?"

Olivia shook her head. "I don't know. Mayra told me she saw Stephanie and Chris there. I tried calling Chris, but he hung up on me. He's probably with Stephanie."

"Chris hung up on you?" Catlin couldn't believe it. The Shallow Bay deal had fallen through, and now he was hanging up on her daughter's call?