Chapter 53

Catlin sighed, glancing at the ward. “Alright, enough. Don’t forget you’ve got Mr. Hodge’s birthday banquet to attend. Get a move on; don’t waste time.”

“But what about Stephanie?” Tyler hesitated.

“I’ll handle it,” Catlin cut him off, her eyes narrowing. She had figured it out: threats wouldn’t work on Stephanie. It was time for a different tactic—sweet-talking her into returning.

Meanwhile, Stephanie slid into the car, only then realizing someone else was in the front seat.

“Macro? What brings you here?” Stephanie was surprised. As the famous cardiologist from Fiorenza, she assumed Macro would be busy with surgeries and business. She hadn’t expected to see him here.

Macro turned, grinning. “Well, well, look at you. Hiding so well, I swear, if Sebastian didn’t find you soon, he’d start digging up graves to see if you were buried there.”

Stephanie felt a pang of guilt and shot a quick, guilty glance at Sebastian beside her. He made no comment, but snatched her phone without asking. Stephanie almost jumped. “Hey, give it back!” she declared.

“I’m just checking if anything’s suspicious,” Sebastian explained.

Stephanie watched in stunned silence as he scrolled through her contacts, messages, and WhatsApp. Was he investigating her? She couldn’t believe it. She hesitated, then snatched her phone back. “What’s this? I’ve been out of school for years!” she complained. Back then, the rule was no dating while in school, but she wasn’t in school anymore. Stephanie hated Sebastian investigating her.

Sebastian chuckled and smoothly pulled her onto his lap. Stephanie felt uncomfortable; her eyes widened. “Wait… Macro is still here.”

“That’s fine,” Sebastian said, pressing a button. The divider between the front and back seats slid up without warning.

Stephanie squirmed, trying to get free. “Sebastian, I’m grown up now!”

Sebastian laughed softly. “Is that so? So now you’re ready for a relationship?”

Stephanie frowned. Relationship? She hadn’t even considered it. She remained silent, but Sebastian pressed on. “Or are you planning to go through with that engagement to Chris Ashford? The wedding is only a few days away. If I hadn’t come back… would you really have gone through with it?”

A chill crept down Stephanie’s spine. There was something dangerous in his voice.

Chapter 68

“No,” she replied.

“Really?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. Elliot had already done a background check; Stephanie had never fought back. Now, feeling the weight of Sebastian’s presence, she couldn’t take it any longer. “Chris was never going to marry me,” she explained honestly. She hadn’t resisted the engagement because she knew Chris wouldn’t go through with it, especially with Olivia involved. Even more so, she didn’t know if the Casalini family was truly gone. If someone was still watching, waiting for her to make a mistake, she couldn’t risk Sebastian getting caught in the crossfire.

“Are you so sure?” Sebastian asked.

“Well, you saw it yourself. He abandoned me for another woman,” Stephanie shrugged.

Sebastian remained silent. The mention of “another woman” deepened the already heavy atmosphere. Although Stephanie’s situation with Chris had already displeased him, the fact that the Ashford brat had abandoned her for another woman enraged him further. He couldn’t bear seeing his precious little sister, whom he had raised with such care, treated this way by another man.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t speak, but patted Stephanie’s back.