Chapter 28
It seemed like, in exchange for Allison’s medical care, Chris was trying to buy her off with money.
Chris nudged the card closer, his tone low. “Your family’s too busy with Olivia’s health. They probably haven’t had time to handle your credit card issues. Take it.”
After all, she was still technically his fiancée, and if anyone found out she was dealing with money problems, it wouldn’t be good for either of them.
He’d offered her a card before, but she turned him down.
Now, though, he figured she might be desperate enough to take it.
Stephanie’s hand twitched toward the card—who could turn down cash when it was handed to them like that?
But before she could take it, Chris yanked it back, a smug look on his face.
She rolled her eyes, realizing she should’ve known it wouldn’t be that simple.
Chris leaned back, smirking. “The wedding. On schedule?”
Stephanie let out a cold laugh. Just as she expected. Nothing with Chris was ever easy.
As soon as she heard “on schedule,” Stephanie pulled her hand back, the card still hanging just out of reach.
If the money came with no strings attached, she’d take it in a heartbeat. But for Chris to use their wedding as a bargaining chip? That was a hard pass.
She curled her lip, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I thought you weren’t in the mood to plan a wedding right now.”
She’d watched him stress over Olivia for days–who would’ve thought he was still hung up on marriage?
It was obvious the Ashford family was really cranking up the pressure on him.
After all, with Chris‘ grandfather in the hospital and no chance of him being with Olivia anytime soon, it made no sense for him to still be pushing the wedding issue.
Chris sighed, trying to soften his approach. “Let Allison come back and join Olivia’s treatment team, and I’ll stop seeing her.”
He repeated himself, like it would change anything.
Stephanie just found it laughable. A credit card? Fine. But now he was adding conditions–first the wedding, then Allison?
Chris wasn’t just greedy; he was shameless.
“All this talk, and it’s all about doing favors for Olivia,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Chris, seeing she wasn’t budging, felt his temper flare. “What favors? Haven’t I given you everything you’ve asked for?”
Stephanie shot him a cold look.
He added, almost defensively, “Once she’s better, she’ll go abroad. Isn’t that what you want?”
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t buying his act. “Do you really think she’s gonna get better anytime soon?”
Her words hit home. Chris stiffened, the reality sinking in.
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2:21
Mon, 3 Mar
55%
Chapter 28
He kept saying he was doing this for her, “it’s what you want, but the truth was, Stephanie would be just fine never seeing Olivia again–Could Olivia really be whisked away that quickly?
Seeing Chris‘ face darken, Stephanie pressed on. “And what? Just because you say you won’t see her, it’s all over?
It was clear Chris thought he was making some grand sacrifice, but the only one benefiting here was him.
Stephanie started to wonder if he was just tossing out empty promises. By midnight, they’d probably be back in each other’s arms at the hospital.
She knew better than to hope for a man like him. No reason to give him another chance.
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