Chapter 57
Stephanie’s voice was lazy, almost amused. “Yeah, and? You think I’d hesitate?”
She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. “With a mouth like yours, I should’ve slapped you ten more times.”
Tyler finally snapped back to his senses, his expression thunderous. Ile couldn’t believe Stephanie had actually hit someone at an event like this.
He stepped forward and shoved her back. “Are you out of your mind? You think this is the place for your tantrums?”
“I’ve thrown bigger tantrums than this,” Stephanie said flatly.
She glanced at her chipped nail. That manicure had barely lasted a few days. Her mood soured even further.
Tyler’s jaw clenched. “You-”
He couldn’t endure anymore. His hand shot up, his palm aimed straight for Stephanie’s face.
The anger boiling inside him had reached its peak. This woman–she was completely out of control. If she wanted a lesson, he’d be happy to give her one.
But just as his hand was about to strike, his wrist was caught in a
firm grip.
At the same time, Stephanie’s knee shot up right onto his stomach.
Tyler let out a strangled sound, his face twisting in sheer agony.
The one who had grabbed his wrist, Macro, blinked at the scene before him.
He had been about to stop Tyler himself, but before he even got the chance, Stephanie had already handled it.
He let go of Tyler’s wrist. Tyler curled in on himself, his breathing ragged.
“Tyler!” Lilian shrie
ing t
him. “What did you do to him? Someone call a damn ambulance!”
Tyler, still doubled
Over, felt a
an overwhelming sense of injustice. He couldn’t believe he was taken down by Stephanie in front of everyone at the banquet.
Seeing Tyler take a hit from Stephanie, Chris stormed toward her, fury written all over his face.
“What are you trying to pull here?” he barked. “You really think causing a scene here is going to change anything? Let me make it clear: I’m not marrying you, no matter what you do.”
Stephanie said nothing, her eyes as cold as ever. Even Macro couldn’t help but glance at her, eyebrow raised.
The tension in the room was suffocating. Some people, unable to hold their tongues, started gossiping right there on the spot.
One voice piped up, “Wasn’t that Stephanie the one who called off the engagement? Now she’s regretting it?”
Another added, “Even if she is, it doesn’t matter. Mr. Ashford’s made it pretty clear–there’s no way he’s marrying her.”
A third one snickered, “Some women just don’t get it. Look at her throwing a fit. No wonder both the Hodge family and Mr. Ashford want nothing to do with her. Who’d want to deal with that?”
Just as Chris opened his mouth to say something, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
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Chapter 57
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He pulled it out and froze. It was a message from Catlin, a picture of Olivia curled up in a hospital bed, drenched in cold sweat, her face contorted in pain.
His stomach dropped. Seeing Olivia like that wiped out all his anger. The heat in his chest went cold, replaced by a wave of guilt and concern.
He turned to Stephanie, grabbing her wrist with a force that was firm but not aggressive. “Enough already. Can we just stop this? Please?”
Stephanie shot him a look, her expression tight. “Let go.”
There was something in her eyes, a flash of disgust so quick it almost didn’t register. But Chris saw it–and it stung more than he expected.
