Chapter 28

It seemed Chris was attempting to buy Allison's medical care with money. He nudged a credit card closer, his voice low. "Your family's too preoccupied with Olivia's health to manage your finances. Take it." After all, she was still technically his fiancée, and any financial difficulties wouldn't reflect well on either of them. He'd offered before, but she'd refused. Now, he thought she might be desperate enough to accept.

Stephanie's hand moved toward the card—who could refuse such an offer?—but before she could take it, Chris snatched it back, a smug expression on his face. She rolled her eyes; she should have known it wouldn't be that simple.

Chris leaned back, smirking. "The wedding. On schedule?"

Stephanie laughed coldly. Just as she expected. Nothing with Chris was ever easy. The mention of the wedding made her withdraw her hand; the card remained just out of reach. Unconditional money? She'd take it. But using their wedding as leverage? Absolutely not.

"I thought you weren't in the mood to plan a wedding," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She'd seen him stressed over Olivia for days—who would have guessed he was still fixated on marriage? The Ashford family's pressure was clearly immense. With his grandfather hospitalized and Olivia's situation dire, his insistence on the wedding made no sense.

Chris sighed, attempting a softer approach. "Let Allison return to Olivia's treatment team, and I'll stop seeing her." He repeated himself, as if it would somehow change things. Stephanie found it laughable. A credit card was one thing, but now he was adding conditions—first the wedding, then Allison? Chris wasn't just greedy; he was shameless.

"All this talk, and it's all about doing favors for Olivia," she said, her sarcasm sharp.

Chris, seeing her refusal, felt his temper rise. "What favors? Haven't I given you everything you've asked for?"

Stephanie gave him a cold look.

He added defensively, "Once she's better, she'll go abroad. Isn't that what you want?"

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Do you really think she'll get better anytime soon?"

Her words struck a nerve. Chris stiffened, the harsh reality sinking in.

He kept claiming it was for her, "it's what you want," but the truth was, Stephanie would be perfectly content never seeing Olivia again. Could Olivia truly be whisked away so quickly?

Seeing Chris's face darken, Stephanie continued, "And what? Just because you say you won't see her, it's all over?" It was clear Chris believed he was making a grand sacrifice, but the only beneficiary was himself. Stephanie began to suspect his promises were empty. By midnight, they'd likely be back in each other's arms at the hospital. She knew better than to hope for anything from a man like him. No reason to give him another chance.