Chapter 683
Rising from the Ashes
Harvey grew even more delighted, bursting into laughter. Whatâs wrong? Did I strike a nerve? Did I dig into that dark, shameful corner of your heart?â
He mocked âChristina, are you finally realizing what a complete fool youâve been? Do you feel like the pathetic woman who brought this all on herself? Andrew treated you well and gave the Stevens family respect, but you were too blind to appreciate itâyou pushed him away.
âAnd now, look at you. The Stevens family is struggling at every turn, surviving only because youâre clinging to the Bridgefieldsâ Stevens family for dear life. Thatâs why when Aspen was crushed the moment she stepped into Jayrodale, your family had to bite their tongue and endure â
His voice turned colder, eyes glinting with malice as he continued to tear into her.
âBut if Andrew were still around, things would be different. The Stevens family would have grown much stronger by now, and you wouldnât be in this mess. But too badâAndrew isnât yours anymore. He belongs to Lauren or maybe Francesca. Either way, heâs long gone.
âRemember how you trusted me? How you stood by my side and went after Andrew, hurting him again and again? I bet Andrew was devastated. He probably thinks youâre a hopeless idiotâjust a pretty face with nothing inside that head of yours.â
Harvey chuckled darkly. âIn fact, I should be thanking you, Christina. Without your stupidity, I never wouldâve won against Andrew, not even a couple of times.â
Christinaâs voice cracked as she roared, âYou liar! You filthy animal! I never wanted to hurt Andrew! Who the hell do you think you are? You never won against himâyou never could!â
Yet, her fury only fueled Harveyâs sick pleasure. The more she cursed him, the more he laughed.
He sneered. âGo ahead. Scream, curse me out. Let it all out. At the end of the day, it wasnât me who messed up. It was you, Christina. You claim you never tried to hurt Andrew, but your actions said otherwise. You hurt him more than anyone else ever could, and you know it.
âI almost feel sorry for Andrew. He wasted his time protecting a family as worthless as the Stevens. Your motherâs a coward, your brotherâs an incompetent fool, and you? Youâre just a selfârighteous, clueless woman who couldnât tell a friend from a snake.
âIf it werenât for your help, I never wouldâve had the chance to strut around and act like I was a match for Andrew. You practically handed me the victory yourself!â
Christinaâs tears poured down her face as she clutched her head, her mind unraveling beneath the weight of his words. She screamed, âStop it! Stop talking! I said stop!â
Her sobs turned into wild shrieks. âYou bastard! You disgusting piece of trash! I swear Iâll kill you!â
Blinded by rage, she lunged at Harvey, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
Aspen reacted just in time, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her away from the Weller residence.
âChristina, snap out of it!â Aspen shouted, holding her tightly as she thrashed in his arms. âGet a grip! None of this is your faultâyou didnât do anything wrong!â
However, Christina broke down completely. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. âAspen, really messed up. I blamed Andrew for everything⦠but he was the one saving us all along.â
I
She continued, âHeâs surpassed me, leaving me far behind. And all this time⦠I was the clown. I thought I was
capable and that I had built the Stevens Corporation with my own strength. But it was himâit was Andrew every single timeâ
Her voice cracked with selfâloathing. âI was so blind. Iâm such an idiot⦠such a pathetic, worthless woman.â
Lost in despair, Christina raised her hand and slapped herself across the face with brutal force.