Chapter 87
For three whole months, Sebastian had been running himself ragged trying to find Stephanie, terrified she might be suffering somewhere. But Sofia had hidden Stephanie away, putting her through an intense training regimen instead.
In the end, Stephanie hadn’t faced any real danger, and her stamina had improved significantly.
Now, Stephanie let Sebastian lean against her, carefully feeding him black coffee.
“Stefi,” Sebastian murmured softly. In his drunken state, he was unexpectedly tender.
“Yes? I’m here,” Stephanie responded.
“You are not allowed to run. If you do, I’ll break your legs.” Sebastian slurred.
Stephanie froze for a second. ‘Even drunk, he still doesn’t forget to threaten me, huh, she wondered.
After finally managing to get him to drink the coffee, Stephanie attempted to help him back to his room, but she simply didn’t have the strength.
It was already two in the morning, and most of the staff in the villa had turned in for the night.
With no other choice, Stephanie let him sleep on the couch in her room.
She grabbed a
blanket and covered him before turning to her bed.
Exhausted from everything that had happened that day, she fell into a deep sleep the moment she closed her eyes.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft glow on Sebastian’s face.
He blinked a few times, his gaze landing on the blanket covering him, momentarily dazed.
11
Once his mind cleared, he realized he was in Stephanie’s room. Memories from the night before rushed back in an instant.
A strange tightness gripped his chest. Instinctively, he glanced toward the bed, where Stephanie was still fast asleep.
His phone buzzed against the coffee table. He picked it up and saw Elliot’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hello?” Sebastian answered.
“Mr. Giovanni, Mr. Ashford has been trying to schedule a meeting with you.” Elliot informed him.
“Forget about him,” Sebastian said dismissively. Sebastian would never meet him.
His gaze softened as he looked at the sleeping girl on the bed. “He’s still trying to buy Whispering Bay?”
“Yes,” Elliot confirmed.
Sebastian let out a mocking chuckle. “He really is devoted to his first crush. Tell him we’re not interested in working with him.”
There was no need to toy with him slowly; crushing his hopes outright would be just as satisfying.
Sebastian knew exactly what kind of situation the Ashford family was in. If they couldn’t find a replacement deal, this single failed project would be enough to cripple a key sector of their business.
The consequences for them were obvious.
05 60 Thu 6 Mar Đà
Chapter 87
They could mock the Hart family all they wanted, but they weren’t faring much better themselves. They were all in the same sinking boat; none of them were getting out unscathed.
If he outright announced that Giovanni Group wouldn’t cooperate with Chris, the entire Ashford family would be thrown into complete turmoil.
The Hart family was already in chaos. The Ashfords wouldn’t be far behind.
Sebastian believed that the more chaotic, the better.
By the time Stephanie woke up, Sebastian was already gone.
As she went into the bathroom to brush her teeth, she suddenly noticed something, her lips were swollen.
Flashes of last night came flooding back, Sebastian biting her. She inhaled sharply. Damn, he was way too rough. People are definitely going to notice my lips are all puffy… she wondered.
It hadn’t even felt that painful at the time, but now her lips were completely swollen. There was no way she could go out without a mask.
After getting herself together, she made her way downstairs only to find Sebastian already sitting in the dining room.
His sharp gaze landed on her the moment she walked in, his brows knitting together. “Why are you wearing a mask inside the house?”
Stephanie let out an awkward chuckle. “I’m not hungry. I’m heading to the studio.”
She barely turned to leave when his voice, low and commanding, cut through the air behind her. “Stop right there.”
Stephanie turned around with teary eyes and murmured softly, “Sebastian, I…”
“Come here and eat,” Sebastian ordered.
He didn’t believe that she wasn’t hungry after the whole night.
Stephanie hesitated. If she sat down for breakfast, she’d have to take off her mask, and Sebastian would immediately notice her swollen lips.
武
AD
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