Chapter 38 When the rar reted in a stop . Beeplante finally tired where bastion had toh her ban And not just any banquet . She ringnized this pis ** This place belonged to the Hodge family . One of the most influential fandies in Long Harbor If she remembered correctly , this year marked Mr. Benjamin Hodges Roth Birthday Art patging by the lavish setup , theyd definitely gone all ou Mr. Giovanni , Mr. Hodge is waiting for you inside , Elliot opened the car door and remindest Sebastian nodded , then turned to Stephanie . You hungry ? Stephanie glanced at the time her phone . A little ? She was the type to eat on schedule , and right now , it was definitely mealtime . Alright , Sebastians voice was calm . Go in and grab something to eat . Ill be about half an hour meeting with Mr. Horize So this wasnt just about attending a banquet he was here for business ? Stephanie raised her eyebrow She eyed the crowd flowing into the venue men in tailored suits , women in dazzling evening gowns . Then she looked down at her own outfit . A loose , casual blazer and sneakers . You sure I should just walk in like this ? she asked . Sebastian casually shrugged . Is there a problem ? Isnt there ? Stephanie was still hesitated . Elliot chimed in , deadpan . No problem . Stephanie sighed . If they said so , then she would just follow . Sebastian turned to Macro , who was sitting in the front seat , still engrossed in his game . Go with her , he commanded . Macro barely looked up . You really that hungry ? Stéphanie nodded . The Hodge familys chef is amazing . Macro chuckled , Seriously ? He knew Stephanie had been eaten the best food all over Fiorenza , and she was hyped over the Hodge familys banquet menu ? Sebastian shot Macro a look . Macro sighed , locking his phone . Alright , alright , he turned to Sebastian . Your sister is my sister . I wont let her go hungry . Now go handle your business . Sebastians expression turned cold . Stefis my sister , not yours . Macros mouth twitched . Fine , I wont let your sister go hungry . Happy ? Seeing Sebastian walked off , Macro finally turned to Stephanie . Alright , lets go . Ill take you to get some food . Stephanie followed him inside , totally out of place among the extravagantly dressed guests . 1/3 Chapter 38 But Macro , unbothered , led her straight to the desert talde You can eat here . I need to finish this match said Macro He was sure the dessert spread was massive enough to keep Stephanie orrupted , to four found a seat bearing , padling phone Stephanie was genuinely hungry . She grabbed a mall cake , took a bite And right on cor a familiar voice called ou Stefi It was Ella . She looked up , meeting her gaze , Ella was draped in a black , low cut gown , shimmering under the lights . Meanwhile , Stephanie londont like shed just wandered in from a coffee shop . Whod you come with ? Did Chris bring you here ? And … why are you dressed like that ? Ella questioned , her eyes fickend over her outfit . Ella figured this was Chris way of handling the media circus surrounding their called off engagement She thought it was reasonable . It was no secret that the Ashford family was under fire , and by now , Olivia was probably taking most of the heat . Stephanie swallowed her cake . Before she could respond , a sharp , mocking voice cut through the air . Well , well , look who it is . Thought youd be hiding under a rock after Mr. Ashford dumped you . Stephanie and Ella turned to see Lilian approaching , flanked by two unfamiliar girls . Ellas face instantly darkened . She knew Lilian had always been close to Olivia , and Lilian was also interested in Tyler Ever since Olivia left , Lilian had taken every chance to make things difficult for Stephanie . And yet , Lilian always lost . Howd you even get in ? Lilian approached Stephanie and sneered . Got an invite ? Ella pulled Stephanie behind her . Since when do you call the shots around here ? Lilian let out a fake laugh . Maybe not , but I do know she wasnt invited . She wasnt wrong . The guest list had been carefully curated , and Lilian had personally made sure Stephanies name wasnt on it . No invite , huh ? You just snuck in for free food ? Lilian scoffed , her tone dripping with disdain . And what are you wearing ? Did the engagement cancellation leave you so broke you cant even afford a dress ? * The nearby guests , mostly young elites , turned to watch the scene unfold , clearly entertained . Ella clenched her fists . She shot a pointed glance at Lilians aggressively tight dress , which looked like it was one deep breath away from a wardrobe malfunction . What she wears is none of your business , Ella shot back . Maybe worry about your own outfit first . Lilians smile froze . Stay out of this , Ella . This is my house , my grandfathers birthday . If you wanna side with Stephanie , then you can leave too . Stephanie calmly set down her dessert plate . Then she met Lilians gaze . You sure about that ? 2/3 09.28 IVON , 3 Mar Chapter 38 Lilian scoffed . What , you threatening me now ? Sorry , but the Hodge family doesnt invite people like you . She had heard all about how Stephanie had stopped Dr. Pierce from treating Olivias illness , and she found Stephanie disgusted . The mere sight of Stephanie was irritating . Stephanie let out a slow , amused smile . Youre right . I wasnt invited . But how did I get in ? A murmur ran through the crowd . The Hodge familys security was strict tonight . No invite , no entry unless you were very important . Everyone was curious how Stephanie got in . Lilian smirked . Ella probably snuck you in , huh ? Either way , get out . Whats going on here ? A deep voice rang out . The crowd turned to see Tyler approaching , and Chris was beside him . The two of them together were an instant attention magnet , their cold , imposing presence pulling the gazes of nearly every socialite in the room . Lilian immediately switched gears , stepping toward Tyler . Tyler , why is Stephanie here ? She didnt bother hiding her reaction when mentioning Stephanie . Tyler turned his gaze to Stephanie . His expression darkened when he saw her outfit . Chris gaze landed on her too . Just one glance , and he looked away , his jaw tightening . He was still mad about the conflict back at Cloudridge Valley . How did you get in ? And why are you dressed like that ? Tyler stepped closer towards Stephanie , lowering his voice . Stephanie raised a brow . Whats wrong with what Im wearing ? Tyler exhaled sharply . You tell me . Standing next to him , in this setting , Stephanie suddenly looked like the rebellious , reckless girl he had thought shed grown out of . Clearly , some habits died hard . 弓 AD Comment In "Someone Loved is Never Lost" by CrushReel, readers are immersed in a captivating CEO drama that explores the intricacies of love, loss, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of corporate power struggles and personal relationships, this ongoing novel delves deep into the lives of its characters as they navigate the complexities of both the boardroom and the heart. Themes of ambition, betrayal, and resilience intertwine with complex character dynamics, making for a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. CrushReel's unique storytelling style brings a fresh perspective to the CEO genre, offering a blend of emotional depth and strategic intrigue that sets this novel apart from others in its category. What makes "Someone Loved is Never Lost" special is its ability to seamlessly blend high-stakes corporate drama with heartfelt human connections, creating a story that resonates on multiple levels. Available to read at CrushReel, this novel promises a literary experience that will leave readers eagerly anticipating each new chapter.