Chapter 320

Sebastian’s phone buzzed again, the screen glowing as he lounged on the couch. He checked the number, dropped the teasing vibe, and headed to the study.

Stephanie’s phone rang right after—Ella, practically buzzing with excitement. “Oh my God, Stefi, you won’t believe this—huge news!”

Stephanie flopped deeper into the couch, all chill. “What’s so huge?”

To her, nothing could beat Chad strolling through Rose Luxe with a lady and a stroller. That was already wild enough. Ella had a nose for drama—gossip was basically her sixth sense. She could walk into any room and catch something juicy. Those ears? Like radar on steroids.

Ella’s voice crackled through. “Three scoops: one’s Chris, one’s Chad, one’s Caitlin. Pick your flavor!”

Stephanie paused, fingers tapping the armrest lightly. “Whatever, just spill it,” she said, dragging the words out. To her, those three were all the same kind of train wreck.

Ella paused for a second, then jumped in. “Mrs. Hart’s hunting a match for Chris. Word’s already spreading.”

Stephanie’s brow lifted. “Olivia’s gonna flip when she hears that.”

Olivia and Chris? Obvious sparks—love? Eh, she’d bounced through a bunch of guys overseas, then came back acting like the loyal ex. Not love? Maybe, but in Long Harbor, she stuck to him like a shadow.

Before Ella could chime in, Stephanie cut in. “Everyone knows about him and Olivia. Who’d still sign up to marry him now?”

Between Olivia and that engagement she’d tanked herself, Chris was a hot mess. After Stephanie had blown everything up, no solid Long Harbor family with any pull would throw their daughter at him.

Ella laughed. “Oh, please—it’s still the biggest name in Long Harbor. Tons of people are dying for a crack at it.”

Stephanie went quiet, staring at the ceiling, letting it sink in. Okay, yeah—she’d slept on the Ashford family’s pull in Long Harbor. That kind of weight didn’t just vanish. Sure, they’d stumbled after missing Sebastian’s deal—stocks crashing for a bit—but even a beat-up giant’s still bigger than most. The Ashfords had deep roots and side hustles keeping them afloat. Roughed up, not ruined—their foundation was solid. And that ore fiasco? They’d buried it good. Barely anyone knew the real story; to most, it was just chatter. People probably thought the Ashfords were rushing Chris into a wedding to shake off the Hart family’s “sick daughter” baggage. So, pushing Chris to tie the knot fast and ditch the mess? It tracked.

Stephanie squinted, a sly grin sneaking in. “Should we clue Olivia in? End her suspense early?”

“Already slipped it to Mayra,” Ella said, sounding smug as hell, like she was grinning ear to ear over the phone. Mayra—Olivia’s supposed bestie. Once she got wind, Olivia was next. That fuse was lit. They plotted like a couple of troublemakers, cracking up over the line.

Stephanie twirled her hair, rolling her eyes. “If Mayra blabs, that’s peak fake-friend vibes.”

“Fake as they come,” Ella snorted. “Olivia thinks she’s got a loyal one? Yeah, right.”

Mayra’s envy wasn’t a secret—except to Olivia, who still didn’t see it, calling her a sister.

Stephanie nodded, wandering to the window. “Yup.”

Ella’s voice kicked up. “That kid? Ninety percent Chad’s. I’d bet on it.”

Stephanie leaned on the sill, mouth agape. “How you figure?”

“She’s the Hart Group’s CFO,” Ella said, puffed up with pride—she’d done her homework. Digging that up so fast? Stephanie had to give it to her—Ella’s detective skills were unreal.

Stephanie’s brow jumped. “Keeping it in-house, huh?”

Ella kept going. “When she had the kid, Chad parked himself at the hospital for a week.”

A whole week? That baby had to be his—no one’s buying a different tale.

“Oh, and hold up—not just one kid. Twins. Boy and a girl,” Ella tossed in, her voice full of wow.

Stephanie blinked, then cracked up. “At his age? He’s still got game?”

Ella laughed. “Oh yeah, your old man’s crushing it.”

Stephanie wrinkled her nose. “Ew, stop. If Caitlin finds out, she’ll drop dead right there.”

A CFO side piece, popping out twins—one a boy? That was a powder keg. The CFO held the cash reins at Hart Group—serious clout, right in her grip. Caitlin had always counted on Chad staying loyal, betting Tyler was his only shot, her place in the Hart family rock-solid. Now, with twins in the picture, Caitlin’s seat was shaking. Stephanie could already see her losing it, flipping tables left and right.

Ella’s voice hummed through the phone. “Oh, it’s a sure thing. Caitlin’s going to bite their heads off.”

Stephanie flopped onto the couch, drumming her fingers on the armrest. “What’s Caitlin doing now? She already knows and lost it?”

Ella jumped in fast. “Nah, Amber just tore into her.”

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, glancing at the tree shadows swaying outside. “You hit up the hospital again?”

“Nope, got it from a doctor pal. Said it was a total shitshow—Caitlin wouldn’t let Amber near Tyler,” Ella said, laying it out like a pro.

Stephanie went still, the faint buzz of the phone filling the quiet.