Chapter 97

Stephanie had planned to nap, but the studio kept calling. She couldn't mute her phone mid-day. After Jennifer's call, an unknown number appeared—Catlin. Catlin's choked sobs filled the line the moment Stephanie answered. "Stefi, I'm begging you, please… just this once. Let Allison and Macro take Olivia to the hospital."

Stephanie froze.

"If anyone's to blame, it's me! It's all my fault! Please, don't hate Olivia… I just wanted to teach you properly, but you were so stubborn, so…" Catlin's voice cracked, trailing off in desperation.

Stephanie's voice was eerily calm. "You think I was stubborn? I was the difficult one?"

"I…" Catlin stammered, struggling to continue. She clearly wanted to say more, but needed Allison and Macro's help. Ultimately, this was for Olivia. Catlin was willing to swallow everything, as long as it was for Olivia.

Stephanie's tone remained razor-sharp. "Mrs. Hart, when you found me, I spent two months in the hospital. Afterward, I lived in the Hart residence for less than a month. During that time, you and Mr. Hart were barely home, always at social events. So tell me: how exactly did you determine I had a bad temper and was difficult?"

Her words were cold and precise, each a cutting blade.

Catlin faltered. "I…" Speechlessness followed. She didn't actually know.

Stephanie pressed on. "Do you remember the first time you gave me trouble? Do you remember why?"

Catlin frowned, trying to recall.

"It was because Olivia cut her wrist. Do you remember what she said to you?" Stephanie asked.

Catlin's breath hitched.

Stephanie's voice was unwavering. "She told you, 'It has nothing to do with Stefi. Don't blame her.' And what did you do? You immediately lashed out at me."

Even after all these years, Catlin's chest tightened hearing Stephanie's clear account. The details were accurate, yet hearing them from Stephanie felt unsettling, suffocating.

Stephanie continued, her tone devoid of warmth, "Did you see me push her?"

Catlin's breathing stilled. She hadn't.

Stephanie's tone sharpened, utterly devoid of warmth. "You didn't see me push her. You had no proof I was responsible. So why were you so sure?"

For the first time, Catlin questioned her own actions. She hadn't seen Stephanie push Olivia; she had no proof. Yet, she'd believed it was Stephanie's fault.

"How many times, after that, did Olivia tell you, 'It wasn't Stefi's fault; it was mine'?" Stephanie asked. "Do you remember how many times?"

Catlin's breathing grew erratic.

Stephanie's voice remained steady. "You probably don't even know the exact number. But it doesn't matter. As long as you remember what you did to me every single time after she said those words."

Her final sentence, though lightly spoken, landed on Catlin like a thousand pounds. Catlin might be unsure about some things, but she remembered what she'd done to Stephanie. Every time, accusations; every time, the same cycle, blaming Stephanie for her inability to tolerate Olivia.