Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Stephanie felt like she could just die right there, her mind spinning into a total freakout.

She wished God would zap her with a lightning bolt already-turn her into a crispy mess and put her out of her misery.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his voice playful. "Stefi?" She let out a shaky giggle, her face turning bright red, a tangle of embarrassment twisting her up inside.

Macro, that clown, was the absolute worst...

She wasn't sure if Sebastian would rip him apart, but she sure wanted to do it herself.

When she didn't move, Sebastian's brow furrowed.

In one quick swoop, he pulled her into his arms. His long arms made it a breeze-he reached around her back and nabbed the box right out of her hands.

Stephanie wriggled, tugging at it like her life depended on it. "No, don't look!” Her face scrunched up, eyes wide with panic.

He let out a low chuckle, pulling it free with a grip that said no arguing.

Stephanie took a deep breath. Words were gone for good.

She shoved her face into his chest, ears glowing red.

A deep laugh vibrated above her. "Stefi, you dropping hints or what?" "No! I'm not- I didn't-" she sputtered, shaking her head hard.

Her arms locked around his waist, refusing to look up.

'Macro, that total moron-she cursed him in her head. 'Hope he stays single forever.

Sebastian tilted his head down to peek at her. "No? Then why'd you get this? Who gave it to you? Ella?" Stephanie rolled her eyes, not sure if she wanted to press this further.

Obviously, Sebastian hadn't seen the whole scene from the stairs.

She shook her head fast. "No, not Ella-Macro handed it to me." She thought with a smirk, 'Macro wanted to dig his own hole? Go for it.' She'd rat him out in a second-she was done caring.

Not that she could blherself. Sebastian's whole vibe was too much; she fell apart every time.

If she admitted to hinting at anything, he'd probably scoop her up and carry her straight to the bedroom.

Her injuries weren't even healed yet. Better let him take it out on Macro-let them slug it out and be done.

They were pressed tight now, the air crackling with something heavy.

She could feel the shift in him, small but real, and her pulse jumped.

Sure enough, when she said Macro's name, Sebastian's vibe went cold. "Macro?" "Yeah, him," she nodded quick, sealing the deal.

She wasn't about to spill all of Macro's dumb ramblings.

Selling him out was one thing-burying him? She wasn't that cold.

Hugging him tighter, she mumbled into his shirt, "Hey, I've got something else to tell you." "What's that?" He tilted his head, curious.

"I didn't take the pill," she whispered, so quiet it barely cout.

"What pill?" His brow creased. "Didn't the staff make sure you got your meds?" He'd either given her the injury stuff himself or had the help hovering to check.

Stephanie caught his confusion and winced. He wasn't catching on.

She squirmed, voice small and stumbling. "No, I mean... THAT pill." Her soft, flustered tone finally clicked for him.

"Birth control?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

She buried herself deeper into his chest, nodding faintly. “Yeah.” Sebastian's tone didn't waver. "You don't need it." She blinked, popping her head up. "Huh?" "I'll have someone grab the marriage license tomorrow. Wedding can wait 'til we're back in Fiorenza. That work?" His eyes locked on hers, dead serious.

No way was he letting her end up pregnant and unmarried-that was his hard limit.

Stephanie's face shot up from his chest, stunned. "You... What?" A marriage license. The words slammed into her like a shock, her heart pounding like crazy.

For years, Stephanie had pictured it-tying the knot with him, seeing his nnext to hers on that marriage license.

She'd kept those dreams locked up tight, never letting them slip out.

She had no clue- All that wishing, those secret hopes-it took just one line from Sebastian to turn them real.

A dream she'd hidden forever, and he'd cracked it open like it was no big deal.

"Are you proposing right now?" she muttered, peeking up at him.

Sebastian let out a low chuckle. "Not exactly. But we're grabbing the license first. After that, whatever you you've got it." Every tradition, every happy moment she could dream up-he'd make it happen. That was his word.

Stephanie's chest felt full. She wrapped her arms around his slim waist, pressing her cheek to his chest, snu close "Sebastian, I was so down before," she mumbled.

Those years of bottling up her feelings-man, they'd been rough, weighing her down. She'd never let it show. Now, with one sentence, he'd brushed it all away.

He teased her on purpose, his voice warm and playful. "Oh yeah? Down about what?" He knew exactly what, but he grinned down at her, waiting for her to fidget.

Tears rolled down Stephanie's cheeks, quick and hot. She gave his waist a sharp twist, not holding back.

"You're still screwing with me!" she huffed, her voice breaking with a sob.

First acting like he didn't notice when she played drunk, now pretending he didn't get her feelings-she felt totally called out.

"You knew the whole time, didn't you? Tell me-did you know how I felt all along?" She stared up at him, pushing hard He'd known she was into him, and he'd felt the same-she was more sure of it every second.

Sebastian grabbed her flailing little hand mid-attack, his tone soft but stuck. "You were just a kid back then, you know that?" A teenage girl, all crushy and dreamy-who'd have thought it'd stick around this long? Stephanie's face went red. She dropped her eyes, too shy to look at him.

He cupped her cheeks, tilting her face up, and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. "What, you're barely grown and now you're quizzingabout old times?" She mumbled under her breath, wiggling defiantly in his hold.

Mid-squirm, the box slipped from Sebastian's hand, hitting the floor with a quiet thud.

Stephanie glanced at it, muttering, "Hello? THAT THING dropped." Sebastian's laugh was easy, one eyebrow raised. "Wantto use it on you?" Stephanie choked on his words.

"Is it chill to just ask that?" Her head spun, totally thrown.

She babbled something random, too flustered to reply, and just clung to his waist, hiding in his chest again.

Elliot walked in from outside, crossing the foyer, and stopped dead-Sebastian holding Stephanie close.

And there, right by their feet, that box sat on the floor, screaming without a sound.

Elliot's brain shorted out.

Fast as lightning, he turned and bolted down another hall, shoes scraping in his rush.

Stephanie caught it, though. She pinched Sebastian's side and hissed, "Elliot!" Sebastian glanced back, but Elliot was already a ghost, disappearing around the corner. He shrugged, voice calm. "Told you, no need to hide anything." "It's not hiding," she whispered back, "but not everyone needs to see this-it's embarrassing!" All those people staring? She'd rather sink through the floor.

Sebastian's laugh rolled out again. In one smooth move, he scooped her up into his arms and turned, carrying her straight back to their room. As Sebastian leaned in, the room's soft glow washed over them, throwing warm shadows across the walls.

Stephanie pushed at his chest, her voice all jittery. "That thing's still out in the hall!" 'What if someone spots it?' Her stomach twisted into a tight knot.

Sebastian waved it off like it was nothing. "Doesn't matter-it's useless anyway." She blinked, thrown. "Huh?" He dropped his voice, all casual. "Size's pathetic." Stephanie's eyes went huge.

Her face lit up red again, and she dove for the blanket ket to Ride, butm Sebastian wasn't letting her off that easy. He grabbed her cheeks gently, his tone softening. “Still hurting?" "Not as much today," she mumbled.

Macro's meds weren't half bad, she thought, giving him a grudging nod in her head.

Sebastian's lips quirked into a little smile, catching her reply.

She saw that grin and backtracked quick. "But it's still an injury, you know!" He raised an eyebrow, teasing. "You're saying no?" Stephanie locked up, no words coming out.

'Seriously-is it normal to just throw that out there?' Her brain spun into a flustered mess.

"Did Macro's caveman energy rub off on you?” she whined, half-pointing the finger.

Her eyes got watery, red around the edges as she stared at him.

Sebastian's laugh turned light and playful. He kissed her forehead softly. "Chill, not right now." She shot him a pouty glare, relief sneaking in even though she didn't want it to.

She wanted to pinch him again, but his phone buzzed, cutting through the vibe and breaking the silence.

"Phone," she said, nodding at the nightstand.

He shrugged, all lazy. "Let it ring." "Pick it up already," she nudged, giving him a little shove.

She needed a break-let him take the call so she could catch her breath.

Sebastian sat up, snagged the phone, and glanced at the screen.

The second he answered, his mother, Mrs. Luca's voice plasted through, sharp and pissed. "You little brat!" Sebastian's brow twitched.

Stephanie's jaw dropped, stunned.

Mrs. Luca was on fire, practically snarling. "TellStefi's okay with this. Did you push her into it?" mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1