Chapter 218

Everyone saw Olivia's importance to Chris, so his abrupt phone call was baffling. Catlin felt a knot in her stomach.

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, Chris said he was busy and hung up. He said it was about business." Her tone suggested Chris was concealing something.

Catlin's face darkened. She was about to call Stephanie, urging her to stay away from Chris, but realized her calls were going unanswered. Since their falling out, Stephanie had completely cut her off.

Catlin fumed. Just as she was searching for another phone, Tyler called. Immediately, Chad began berating her.

"They say a woman can ruin three generations with a bad marriage. I never believed it, but now I see it clearly. Is this how you act as a mother? Is this how you treat your daughter? I've told you repeatedly we owe Stefi so much. You need to be kind to her, stop fighting with her. But you wouldn't listen and even signed that agreement to sever ties with her! Now look, the whole company's going down because of you!"

Catlin's chest tightened. "What do you mean, the company's going down because of me?"

"The people causing trouble for our company are the same ones who helped Stefi make over two million dollars last year."

The pieces clicked into place. What was once suspicion was now confirmed. Catlin was speechless. The room fell silent. Olivia, within earshot, heard the entire conversation.

Chad's frantic accusations, blaming Catlin for the rift with Stephanie, angered her. Chad rarely visited her in the hospital, and she always felt he favored Stephanie. Now, learning the company's troubles stemmed from the same company that enriched Stephanie's studio, Olivia grasped the gravity of the situation. The Hart family was in deep trouble, and Stephanie was somehow implicated.

Would they beg Stephanie for help? Allow her to return to the Hart family? No, that was unthinkable. The thought of Stephanie in Long Harbor, constantly demanding money, unsettled Olivia. If Stephanie returned, Olivia's own secrets risked exposure. That couldn't happen.

Amidst these thoughts, Chad's voice cut through. "I don't care what you do, but you need to find Stephanie and make things right with her!"

Catlin's breath hitched. She knew the company's problems were severe, especially with Tyler's absence from the hospital. She had tried calling him. But now, realizing the connection between the trouble and Stephanie, she…