Chapter 80

Olivia noticed Chris's cast. "Chris? What happened to your hand?" she asked, freezing momentarily.

His face darkened. A surge of anger toward his assailant, a violent urge, flooded him. "It's nothing, just a fall," he mumbled.

"You're so careless," Olivia said, her voice laced with concern. "That must hurt."

Chris opened his food container with one hand. "This soup is good for you," he said calmly. "Have some."

Olivia, sensing something was amiss, given his serious expression, said, "You don't have to keep running around like this."

"I'm busy during the day," Chris replied, "but I want to spend time with you at night."

His words touched Olivia deeply. She looked at him, wanting to speak, but hesitated.

Chris noticed her hesitation. "What's wrong?" he asked, his tone softening.

"It's Stephanie," Olivia said. "Mom told me she opened a studio and made over two million dollars last year. I don't understand how she made that much."

"A studio?" Chris asked, his brow furrowing.

Olivia nodded. "Yes, even Mom doesn't know about it. She made over two million dollars from it last year."

Two million dollars was insignificant to Chris, but for Olivia, it was a substantial sum, especially considering Stephanie earned it herself. Chris's face hardened further, his eyes colder. Stephanie had a studio? And he hadn't known?

That evening, at Whispering Bay, the meal was exquisite. Stephanie, unaware the chef hailed from Florence, ate three bowls of soup. During her second bowl, Sebastian called.

"Don't you worry about gaining weight eating so much?" he teased.

Stephanie, startled, glanced at the butler. Sebastian chuckled. "You used to complain about aging and not caring about your looks anymore," he recalled.

Stephanie decisively put down her spoon. "When are you coming back?" she asked.

"I'll be back soon," he replied. "Get some rest."

"Okay," she whispered. Hearing background noise, she hung up without further comment.

Meanwhile, Sebastian sat in a private room with Lorenzo Moretti. "Who was that? You sounded so gentle," Lorenzo remarked, surprised by Sebastian's tender tone—a side he’d never seen before.

They had become friends after a difficult beginning, their collaboration instrumental in the Casalini family's downfall. Sebastian smiled softly. "Just a kid at home who doesn't listen," he explained.

Lorenzo's eyes widened. "You have a kid? How come I didn't know about that?"

"My sister," Sebastian clarified.

"Oh, Sofia?" Lorenzo guessed.

Sebastian had a younger twin sister, Sofia. "No, not Sofia," Sebastian said. "I have another younger sister. We just found her after she was lost a few years ago. She's very mischievous."

Lorenzo was astonished. "Another one?" he exclaimed. The indulgence in Sebastian's eyes, however, suggested this little sister was truly cherished.