Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Just as Vincent was leaning in, maybe for a quick peck on the lips, the door burst open.

“Mr. Fletcher-oh!” Zane stopped mid-sentence, staring at Vincent looking affectionately at Stephanie and slowly leaning forward to kiss her. “Is the ever- aloof Mr. Fletcher trying to kiss Stephanie while she’s asleep?’ Zane wondered.

Vincent cast a cold glance at Zane and the latter disappeared immediately.

Then, Vincent turned back to look at Stephanie’s sleeping face. Her face was tanned and delicate, and her lips were slightly open. Her sweet scent filled his nose. Just as he leaned in again, he paused, like he was checking for more interruptions

Sure nobody else was going to barge in, he moved closer once more, but then Stephanie’s eyes fluttered open.

Vincent did not expect that Stephanie would wake up. He wanted to get up, but she grabbed his dark blue tie. With a smile, she wrapped the tie around her finger and asked, “What were you doing?”

“I saw an eyelash on your face and wanted to blow it off, Vincent answered indifferently.

“You are a terrible liar, Mr. Fletcher.” Stephanie raised her head slightly. “Did you want to kiss me?

“No.” Then, Vincent added, “You misunderstood me.

“Really?” she asked while blinking.

He hummed in response.

“Okay, I must be overthinking.” Stephanie pouted.

Looking at her disappointed expression, Vincent felt funny. He felt sorry for her even though he knew she was merely pretending. He decided to give in. “Alright, I was lying.”

He pinched her chin and was about to kiss her.

He was just about to lean in closer when the door flew open, again,

“Zane, you’re seriously-“Vincent began, but cut off when he saw who it was.

“It’s me, Uncle Vincent.” Oliver, wearing a Chanel suit, came in. When she saw them, her smile froze but she quickly recovered. She beamed at them. Stephanie was slightly embarrassed and pushed Vincent away. Vincent sat up, his face turning serious. “When’d you get back?”

“I just got

off the plane and came straight here!” Olivia chirped. “I wanna go to Grandma’s birthday thing with you. And she is?” She looked at Stephanie.

Vincent looked at her briefly. Without answering Olivia, he turned toward Stephanie. “Stephie, this is Frederick’s eldest daughter, Olivia.”

With a faint smile, Stephanie greeted, “Nice to meet you, Olivia,”

“This is my wife, Stephanie,” said Vincent.

As Olivia and the film crew were in the mountains rushing to finish shooting, she did not attend the engagement party. However, she had heard what happened from Edith. She thought that Vincent’s marriage was just an act. After all, he had always been serious and indifferent to all Nevertheless, the previous scene completely overturned her perception of Vincent. Vincent smiled and tried to kiss Stephanie.

Looking at the bracelet on Stephanie’s wrist, Olivia subconsciously clenched her handbag. She hid her surprise and unwillingness well “Hello,

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Chapter 26

Stephanie.”

“Hello,” replied Stephanie. She knew that Olivia was Frederick’s adopted daughter.

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Olivia had a rough story. Her dad was a close friend of Frederick’s, once his driver. He had saved Frederick’s life in a crash but didn’t make it himself. With his last breath, he asked Frederick to take care of Olivia.

Moreover, Frederick knew that his friend had a hard life. The latter was an orphan. His wife, also an orphan, died during an obstructed labor. They only had Olivia. So, Frederick brought four-year-old Olivia into his home, gave her a new last name, and raised her alongside Christina.

But then, three years back, Christina had a bad fall and ended up in a coma. Slowly, Olivia became the one everyone thought of as the only Fletcher

daughter

Olivia had star quality. She went to college for acting and even scored a deal with Joseph’s big movie company before she tossed her graduation cap Although she was the adopted daughter, she was from the Fletcher family, so Joseph made sure she got plenty of commercials and lead roles in TV shows. Not just any lead roles, Olivia was nalling parts that made her the youngest actress to ever snag a “Best Actress” award.

Douglas, who started Fantasy Entertainment, was dying to have her work for him. He figured she’d say yes because they were kind of related. But Olivia wasn’t having it, she stuck with Quality Pictures.

Back when Stephanie was Vincent’s secretary in her previous life, Olivia would pop by to catch up with him if she wasn’t on set somewhere. Then, outta nowhere, Olivia went overseas and basically vanished.

Snapping back to now, Olivia glanced at Vincent. “Have you eaten yet, Uncle Vincent?”

Vincent didn’t say anything. Stephanie shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Me neither. Let’s grab something to eat,” Olivia suggested.

They were all headed to Ellen’s birthday party anyway.

Vincent looked at Stephanie again and hinted at her to decline, but she ignored him and agreed. They

Zane booked a table at a high-end restaurant and drove the three of them there.

Olivia tried to chat with Vincent from the front seat, but she frowned when a divider went up

er went up out of the blue. “What’s the deal, Mr. Quinlan?” she asked.

Zane smiled and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves. It’s a torture for singletons like us.”

Olivia’s eyelashes fluttered and her nails dug into her handbag. The divider made two s

separate worlds in the car.

In the back, Stephanie was holding o

zonto

Vincent’s arm. “What do you think they’re imagining we’re up to?”

Vincent raised his eyebrow and said, “We’re already married. Whatever we’re doing is nobody’s business.”

Stephanie’s heart s** a beat and her long eyelashes fluttered. Looking at her blushing, Vincent raised her chin with his fingertips and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing” replied Stephanie, pursing her lips.

“Why’d you ignore-my look earlier?” He wasn’t mad, just curious.

“I didn’t. I gotta be nice, right?” Stephanie smiled as she added, “And hey, as your wife, we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together. That means sharing a meal with your family, too.”

Her soft voice stirred his heart. “The rest of our lives, he repeated to himself. He remembered some nasty gossip and looked at her, searching. “So what do you say about those rumors that I’m… well, impotent.”

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Chapter 26

Shaking her head, Stephanie answered, “I chose you. We’ll handle whatever comes. Plus, there’s something sweet about a love that’s just… love.”

Vincent studied her face-no lies there. Just pure honesty. Vincent swallowed and said seriously, “Remember what you said, Stephie.”

“I won’t forget,” she promised.

The car stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. Zane got out of the car, opened the door, and brought out a wheelchair. Vincent moved to the wheelchair and Stephanie wheeled him. Olivia watched them and noticed Stephanie’s smeared lipstick. It was obvious that they were kissing.

Olivia’s expression darkened instantly.

After they entered the restaurant, the three of them sat by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Stephanie received a photo sent by Julianna when she went to the restroom.

Julianna: [Your husband is on a date with a woman. Do you know that? There’s a photo as proof!]

Stephanie: [How do you know?]

Julianna: I’m on the second floor. The sexually impotent s**g still flirts with other women!]

With a smile, Stephanie walked out of the restroom and returned to the table. She sat next to Vincent and winked at Julianna on the second floor.

Julianna: [So you’re here too! But after you left, that woman has been chatting with your husband. Although your husband doesn’t even look at her, you should be careful. The way she looks at your husband is unusuall]

Stephanie: [Got it.]

When she was in Vincent’s office just now, she noticed the surprised and unwilling expression on Olivia’s face when the latter looked at her bracelet. Although the expression disappeared quickly, her intuition told her that Olivia’s feelings for Vincent might not just be as simple as treating him as her

uncle.

“What are you looking at?” Vincent put his arm around her waist.

With a smile, Stephanie switched off her phone. “Nothing, I saw some interesting news.”

“Tell me,” he said.

“You’re not interested in the show biz” Stephanie made an excuse,

Vincent did not ask more after noticing she did not want to talk about it.

A waiter served their order.

Vincent and Stephanie began to cut the steak. They smiled after they handed the steak to each other.

Olivia, picking up on the vibe, tried to jump in. “Steph, can I tag along to the salon later?”

“Okay,” Stephanie smiled faintly.

Vincent’s gaze was filled with impatience upon noticing that Stephanie had her attention on Olivia again. Stephanie saw it and held his hand to comfort him. Then, she joked, “You should’ve said something. I could’ve had the stylist come to our place. Christie’s there and she’d probably love to glam up for the party”.

“Christie?” Ovia was stunned. “Stephanie, you’re saying?”