Chapter 94

She felt no connection to her father, likely because she'd never known him. His existence or lack thereof was inconsequential.

"Alright, let's stop talking about depressing things. Let's talk about Chris and the Hart family instead," Ella said.

"That's depressing too," Stephanie muttered. Their conversations about family invariably soured.

Ella popped a mushroom in her mouth; it was flavorless, completely bland. For a spice enthusiast, this was nearly unbearable.

"Just a heads-up: Tyler's a snake, and Chris will be a complete idiot regarding Olivia. They'll definitely cause trouble for your studio," Ella warned.

Stephanie wasn't worried about direct attacks; her powerful brother had her back. Sneaky tactics, however, were harder to defend against. Olivia, besides whispering in Chris's ear, had plenty of other underhanded tricks up her sleeve.

Stephanie understood and smiled. "Don't worry. Openly or secretly, I'm ready for them." She would counter every maneuver they made, leaving Chris and his associates to suffer the consequences.

Ella, reassured by her confidence, nodded. Chris and his allies were desperate, resorting to reckless tactics. Stephanie, however, was prepared, waiting for them to stumble into their own downfall.

"That's good," Ella said. "If you need anything, let me know. I'm not afraid of them." The Ashfords were Long Harbor's most powerful family, formidable enemies. But Ella, spoiled by her mother, feared nothing and no one. Her mother rarely spent time with her, but always defended her fiercely against complaints. "She already did it, so what do you expect me to do?" was a common refrain. She rarely interfered unless someone challenged Ella, at which point she'd fight back—a typical maternal response.

Stephanie chuckled. "Got it."

Lunch ended. As they were leaving, a waiting driver approached. "Miss Giovanni, Mr. Giovanni is waiting for you outside."

Ella raised an eyebrow and teased, "He really spoils you, huh? Does he even monitor how much you eat?"

Stephanie's mind flashed back to recent dinners. Even when absent, Sebastian would call during meals, reminding her not to overeat. Most families worried about their children eating too little; Sebastian worried about her eating too much.

Ella saw Stephanie's silence and smirked. "Wait...he actually does?"

Stephanie nodded. "Yes."

Ella's eyes widened with envy. "I want a brother like that. A hundred wouldn't be too many."

Stephanie froze. A hundred? She imagined a first-grade classroom, a hundred children bombarding her with questions. The thought gave her a headache.

Stephanie got into the car. The familiar, refined scent of Sebastian filled the air, making her cautious as she looked up at him. "You came all this way just to wait for me?"

Sebastian simply asked, "Did you eat?"

"I did," she nodded.

"Then let's go back," he said, pulling her onto his lap.

Stephanie stiffened. Being carried like this felt incredibly awkward now that she was older, and even more so after last night.

His rough fingertips traced her lips as he murmured, "Why is your mouth so swollen? That bug must have been aggressive."

Stephanie's mind went blank. Sebastian's words felt oddly suggestive.