Chapter 381
Sebastian glanced at his watch, then nodded and got up. He walked toward the lounge; his footsteps were quiet. Inside, Stephanie was still fast asleep, her face relaxed in slumber.
“Stefi,” Sebastian whispered softly, his voice gentle and low. She stirred a little, murmuring something incoherent, then turned over, burrowing deeper into the cushions.
With a sigh of resignation, he fetched her clothes and lifted her off the bed to wake her up. She groaned, her voice thick with sleep. “What’s going on? Are we there yet?”
“Your phone’s been ringing non-stop, and we need to get off the plane.” He picked up her clothes and began dressing her gently, aware of how different the weather would be between Long Harbor and Keris Isle.
Stephanie let him guide her, still half-asleep. It wasn’t until she was fully dressed that she finally felt more awake. She heard the persistent buzzing of her phone and answered without checking the number. “Hello?”
“Stefi, it’s me.” Allison’s voice came through the phone.
Stephanie’s eyes snapped open, her mind instantly alert. “Allison? How did you get this number?”
“You sent it to me,” Allison replied, her tone gentle but firm.
Ever since Sebastian had changed her phone, Stephanie had been trying to distance herself from the Hart family. Only a handful of people knew this number. “Oh, right. So, what’s up?”
Allison said, “I’ve been in Long Harbor for six hours now.”
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“Catlin Hart has been waiting outside my place, demanding to see me. She won’t leave.”
Stephanie sighed inwardly. Catlin went to wait for Allison after finding out she’s back? She’s relentless, especially when it comes to Olivia. Even after all the drama Amber caused, Catlin still has the nerve to show up at Allison’s door.
“Why don’t you go see her?” Stephanie suggested.
“Huh?” Allison sounded puzzled.
“Give her some hope,” Stephanie added.
Allison’s eyes widened in shock. ‘Give Olivia hope? Isn’t that just setting her up for more despair?’
She thought back to the medical reports she had seen before leaving Long Harbor. From her years of experience in medicine, she knew Olivia’s condition was dire. Without surgery and proper treatment, there was no way she would last six months. And now, with neither in place, there was nothing to hope for. To give her hope only to dash it later would be even crueler.
Allison suddenly understood Stephanie’s true intention, saying, “You want her to suffer both physically and emotionally.”
“When someone sees no hope, it’s easy to give up,” Stephanie replied.
Allison nodded slowly. “Okay, I get it. I’ll make sure Olivia doesn’t take the easy way out.”
Back then, when Olivia had tried to kill Stephanie, her methods had been ruthless. The car crash was just the beginning. She had even planned to tamper with Stephanie’s medical treatment at the hospital. If not for Allison and Tessa’s quick thinking, Stephanie might not have survived.
Allison shuddered at the thought. If anything had happened to Stephanie, given her identity as the Lucano family’s golden girl, Sebastian would have torn the entire city apart in his fury.
“I’m heading to the Hart residence now. How about we have dinner together tonight?” Allison suggested, her voice hopeful.
Stephanie glanced at Sebastian, feeling the lingering discomfort in her body. She really didn’t feel like going anywhere today. “Let’s make it tomorrow,” she said softly.
“Okay,” Allison agreed, her voice understanding.
After hanging up, Sebastian scooped Stephanie into his arms, his face softening into a tender smile. “Good girl, take care of yourself.”
“With how much this hurts, I definitely can’t go out,” Stephanie murmured, resting her head against his chest. She didn’t care about being praised or not; she just wanted to be comfortable.
And for once, she didn’t protest as Sebastian carried her off the plane. Instead, she nestled closer, finding solace in his embrace.