Chapter 628

Chris was in Florence because he wanted to see Stephanie; he couldn't stand the thought of her marrying Sebastian. He had also tried to escape the troubles in Long Harbor, where everything was falling apart. The Ashford family was in chaos, with Fred focusing all his attention on Steven and barely visiting Grace in the hospital. Things changed quickly when Steven showed up, breaking the family's peace.

“Is this how you want to punish me?” Chris asked, his voice tight with emotion.

Stephanie responded, “I don’t have time for that. Your problems are because you focused too much on love without thinking of the big picture.”

Chris was shocked into silence as she continued, “You’re so full of yourself. That is why you’re losing.”

Chris used to be respected in Long Harbor; people thought he made the Ashford Group successful. But in a bigger world outside Long Harbor, he felt lost.

Stephanie’s words hit him hard. He said, “Do you really have to insult me now?”

“Insult? Is that what you think?” she mocked, feeling his complete lack of understanding.

Stephanie scoffed and continued, “If you had given even a fraction of the attention you showed to Olivia to the Ashford Group, you wouldn’t be so easily replaced by Steven.”

Chris fell silent, her words hitting him like a hammer. His mind buzzed, leaving him momentarily speechless. “Easily replaced?”

Chris thought, “While in Long Harbor, Stephanie was constantly bullied, and her sharp tongue could be somewhat excused. But now she’s in Florence. Why does she still act this way?”

Sitting on the bed, Stephanie took a sip from her glass of water; a sardonic smile played on her lips. “Sure.”

Chris thought, “Why can’t I seem to forget her? Is it because of her sharp tongue?”

Just as Stephanie was about to deliver more words, there was a knock at the door, and Sofia’s voice called out, “Stefi, it’s time to get up; we’re going to be late.”

“Alright, I’m coming.” After she responded, Stephanie ended the call with Chris.

When Sofia stepped inside, she asked, “Who were you talking to?”

“Chris,” Stephanie said as she blocked his number. She wondered why people from Long Harbor were so eager to stay in touch with her, even going so far as to use Florence numbers.

Sofia’s expression darkened at the mention of Chris. “Why are you still in contact with him? I’ll make a firewall against Long Harbor’s numbers for you.” To Sofia, the Ashford family was the enemy.

Stephanie replied, “It’s useless. Today, both Tyler and Chris have contacted me using Florence numbers.”

“Even the Hart family is reaching out to you? What do they want?” Sofia was clearly displeased.

She could brush off Chris as unimportant since he was just Stephanie’s former fiancé. But if the Hart family kept pushing, that could become a real problem.

Stephanie said, “They probably just want to apologize, I guess.”

Though the sincerity of that apology was questionable. An apology with hidden motives could turn ugly quickly if their wishes weren’t met. That had always been the Hart family’s way.

Sofia said, “They rejected you before; what good would an apology do now?”

Sofia thought, “They preferred the adopted daughter before, but now they want their biological daughter back after finding out the truth about the adopted one? How fickle!”

Stephanie said, “I’m going to eat something before I leave.” She didn’t want to talk about either the Hart family or Chris.