Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 239

Quennel followed Stephanie’s gaze.

He immediately spotted the phone, its light still blinking.

His expression hardening, he strode over, snatched the phone from its stand, and glanced at the screen.

Thankfully, it wasn't a livestream, just a recording.

Quennel quickly deleted the file, then spoke in a soft, reassuring voice, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve erased everything it filmed. No one will ever see it.”

The woman on the bed looked at him with red-rimmed eyes, like a frightened rabbit. She huddled inside his jacket, her hair disheveled, her face pale, and her lips bearing the marks of where she’d bitten them. She looked utterly broken.

Quennel’s heart ached.

The last time he had seen her like this was when her father and two brothers had passed away…

She was clearly terrified. Quennel bent down, scooped her up into his arms, and held her close to his chest.

His expression was gentle. “Stephanie, I’m taking you away from here.”

He could see that her body was limp; she was having trouble even sitting up, let alone walking.

Stephanie didn’t refuse.

In her current state, she couldn’t have refused even if she wanted to.

Besides, she couldn’t bear to stay in this place a second longer.

Quennel carried Stephanie out of the room.

His black suit jacket enveloped her small frame, hiding everything but the top of her head.

His men cleared a path for them.

Stephanie was in a daze, her expression blank, as if she hadn’t fully recovered from the shock.

Soon, they were in the car. Quennel told the driver, “Back to the villa.”

Stephanie didn't react. She sat quietly, like a lost soul.

Quennel had also seen the figure outside.

His eyes were dark pools, but his voice was deceptively gentle. “Stephanie, you’ve had a terrible shock tonight. Why would you want to get out of the car?”

Stephanie blurted out, “Jonathan is out there…”

Quennel scoffed. “You’re seeing things. And besides, who is he to you? He’s not as close to you as I am.”

Stephanie turned to face him. “What are you talking about, Quennel? Jonathan is my husband. He came here looking for me! You are my ex. Who do you think I’m closer to?”

His words darkened Quennel’s face. “What kind of husband is he to you? Have you forgotten you were engaged to me? Stephanie, you can only be mine! Our marriage was arranged by Mr. Jackson himself before he passed away! We were just one step away from making it official! You think you can just end it because you say so?”

Stephanie looked Quennel straight in the eye. “But you betrayed me. Yes, I know we were one step away. But did you show up? I waited for you at City Hall from sunrise to sunset. Where were you? You were with Victoria, who called you away with a single phone call!”

“But I told you we could get married another day, didn’t I? As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter when we do it. Couldn’t you have just waited for me to get back from my trip?”

Stephanie laughed without humor. “Yes, you said to wait until you got back. And what did I get while waiting? I got kidnapped. If it weren’t for Jonathan, I would have died at the hands of those kidnappers that night. Do you still think I was just throwing a tantrum back then?”