Chapter 207

Chapter 207

Half an hour later, the private room door swung open. Madeline led the way, with Frederick’s family trailing behind her.

As Stephanie rose to her feet, Madeline hurried over and wrapped her in a warm embrace, overflowing with joy. “Stephie!”

“Madeline.”

Madeline let go and pinched Stephanie’s cheek playfully. “You’ve lost weight.”

Stephanie grinned. “That’s exactly what Mom said.”

“Well, it’s true!” Madeline turned to Vincent with a teasing frown. You haven’t been taking good care of my sister!”

Vincent smiled and said, “My bad, I’ll do better.”

“At least you up to it quickly Knowing there was more to the story, Madeline didn’t press Vincent further.

Christina stood to the side, rubbing his hands eagerly, “Can I also hug Stephanie?”

Madeline stepped aside, “Of course, you can.”

Christina lunged into Stephanie’s arms. “Mom told me about how you trounced those folks from Parasopolis, and even cured Vincent of his parasite. Youre like, seriously amazing!”

She looked at Vincent and said, “I admire Stephanie now!”

Vincent was speechless.

Christina pulled out two triangle red fabric talismans from his backpack, handing them to Stephanie, “These are for safety. may they keep you and Vincent both out of harm’s way!”

At this time, another red cloth bag fell to the ground.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, “Is this one for safety too!”

Christina quickly wiped the panic from his eyes. “No, this one’s for acing exams. It’s supposed to ensure I get into college. Stephanie smirked. “Oh, I thought it might have been a love talisman

“No way.” Christina’s cheeks blushed a fiery red as he stammered “Come on, Stephanie, let’s sit and eat. I’ll sit right next to

you

Stephanie smiled and said yes. After greeting Frederick and Edith, she sat down.

This was the first time both families had sat down together since the reunion party, their conversation eventually landed on Stephanie and Vincent’s wedding Vincent said he’d go with whatever Stephanie decided.

After thinking for a while, Stephanie thought that Vincent’s medicine could be taken for about three months. If the wedding date had been set in April if the antidote had not been developed. Vincent would fall ill and couldn’t hold the wedding ceremony, so she proposed to fix the wedding date at the beginning of March.

This rook Vincent by surprise, he hadn’t expected Stephanie to move up their wedding date. But he quickly grasped Stephanie’s intentions. Gazing at Stephanie with intense eyes, his heart was filled with emotion. Regarding Vincent’s mental illness, neither of them said a word, not wishing to trouble anyone else with their concerns.

While eating, Stephanie noticed that Christina always secretly looked at Malcolm.

1/4

10:31 Thu, Oct 10

Chapter 207

Stephanie sighed lightly. “Malcolm is so handsome. I don’t know what his wife will be like in the future.”

A trace of obscurity flashed across Christina’s eyes. She pursed her lips and said, “She should be a beautiful and talented woman. After all, Mr. Jimenez is handsome and I heard that many college girls like him.”

“But Malcolm has been single all the time. It means that he didn’t meet the girl he likes.”

Christina blinked. She bit her fork and asked. “He doesn’t have someone he’s into?”

“Nope. Stephanie replied. Looks like the girls who like Malcolm need to step up their game.”

Christina seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Suppressing her laughter, Stephanie thought how innocent Christina was, her feelings were practically spelled out across her

face.

At Annabelle’s grand birthday celebration, Stephanie had already begun to sense something brewing. But matters of the heart were beyond her control. She knew how bitter unrequited love could be, so she hoped that Christina wouldn’t end up with the regret of never having expressed her feelings. Regardless of the outcome, at least she would have had the courage to speak up.

Stephanie found an oil stain on her sweater and headed to the restroom to deal with it.

On her way back, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure vanishing around a corner. Surprised, she quickened her pace to follow. She found the man’s tall shouette on a terrace. Pushing open the glass door, the man turned around, and the silvery moonlight illuminated his sharp and stunning features

“Stephanie?”

“Sable Stephanie curled her lips and said, “What a coincidence. You came to Jacaster.”

Sable’s hazel eyes crinkled with laughter. I have friends here, so I came to hang out for a few days. I didn’t expect to run into you. Are you here with friends?”

Tm here with my family”

Family?

–

Stephanie nodded. “We have the Jimenez family and the Fletcher family together.”

Sable mused, “It must be nice to have family

Stephanie paused briefly, “Don’t you have a family?”

Sable said, his gaze dimming, “My parents died in an accident when I was very young. So I don’t remember them and haven’t experienced what it’s like to have a mother’s or a father’s love.”

Im sorry to hear that.”

Sable’s lips twitched into a small smile. “It’s okay. But if you’re sorry, you could make it up to me with a meal.”

On Mount Silverlake. Sable not only saved Stephanie’s life but also Vincent After that, Stephanie and his friends went to Parasópolis, where they parted from Sable.

After that ordeal, Stephanie and her group had traveled to the southern border, parting ways with Sable. She hadn’t expected to encounter him now. His casual invitation to dinner could be seen as Stephanie repaying a favor or simply as acting the gracious host,

“Sure, when are you free?”

2/4

10:31 Thu, Oct 10 B.

Chapter 207

I’m free twenty–four–seven.“.

“How about this Saturday night?”

Il contact you then.

Stephanie nodded. Tll contact you

At that moment, the door swung open, and a man with dyed blue hair peeked in. “Sable, everyone’s looking for you. Oh, hanging out with a beautiful lady, no wonder you didn’t come back.”

Sable chuckled, “James, stop teasing. This is Stephanie, my friend”

“Stephanie? No wonder she looked so familiar! She’s your friend huh? Why not introduce her to everyone?” James grinned, “If she’s a friend of Sable’s, she’s a friend of ours. Why not come on over and say hi?”

A warning look shot from Sable’s eyes, but James seemed blissfully ignorant of it.

Oblivious to the tension, and too polite to refuse, Stephanie followed James and Sable into their private party room.

The crowd paused when a newcomer entered, surprised. James introduced Stephanie to everyone with a stream of over- the–top compliments, causing Stephanie to blush and awkwardly greet everyone.

Just as the group was about to raise their glasses for a toast, Sable intervened, excusing Stephanie and escorting her back. They love to tease, don’t take it personally” He said afterward.

Stephanie shook her head, “No, they’re pretty warm”

Sable’s lips curled into a smile. “Get back in there, and send my regards to Vincent for me.

Stephanie nodded lightly, “Sure thing”

Watching the girl go, Sable’s smile vanished the moment she was out of sight. He strode back to his party room.

As soon as the door shut behind him, Sable asked. “James, do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

James met Sable’s stare, his lips pressed tightly together. He knew all too well the consequences of angering Sable. But the frustration was just too much for him to hold back.

James blurted out, “Sable, it’s all because of that girl! Our lab in Mount Silverlake was destroyed, and all our data was wiped out. That was our life’s work! And after what the voodoo practitioner did in Parasopolis, blowing herself up, how much time do you think Stephanie and the rest have before they uncover the truth?”

A heavy silence filled the room, the dozen or so people seated around the dining table all turned to Sable. In truth, James had voiced everyone’s concern.

Sable’s mouth broke into a straight line. “Do you even remember what you are?”

James clenched his teeth, his words coming out steeped in annoyance, “I am Sable’s most loyal subordinate!”

“Get your head straight. If any one of you dares to lay a finger on Stephanie, don’t blame me for throwing away years of camaraderiel” With that said, Sable turned to leave.

Still defiant, James questioned, “Sable, have you fallen for that woman?”

Gripping the doorknob, Sable’s knuckles whitened as he glanced sideways, “She is my most important piece, and nobody’s allowed to screw up my plans!”

After Sable left, James smashed a bottle on the table into pieces, his eyes bloodshot with rage and resentment. Someone by his side grabbed his arm. James threw them off, furious, “I was the one with Sable during his toughest times! It was me! Only

10:31 Thu, Oct 10

Chapter 207

G

1879%

me! I won’t let this woman get off easy!”

“James, you know Sable isn’t into guys‘ Remarked someone. James shot a cold glare their way, prompting a swift silence.

Back at his five–star hotel, Sable took a shower, his mind flooded with Stephanie’s smiles and frowns. He remembered James’s words, furrowing his brow. No, it couldn’t be. It was only ever about using Stephanie.

He turned the knob to the cold side, the chilling water seeming even colder than the icy grip of winter. Still agitated, he shut off the water, draped on a bathrobe, and stepped out. Grabbing bottle of red wine from the table, he poured it hastily into a goblet, watching the crimson liquid swirl. He lifted the glass, downing it in one go.

Snatching up his phone, he barked, “Find me a girl.”