Chapter 200 The Hensley Family's Invitation
Stefan stared at the incoming call from his mother, Dione Saunders, on his phone screen. The fury burning in his eyes suddenly extinguished, settling into an unfathomable abyss.
He didn't answer.
With a swipe of his finger, he muted the phone and tossed it onto the nightstand.
The phone hit the surface with a dull thud.
The atmosphere in the hospital room grew even more tense because of this rejected call.
Cecilia's gaze shifted from the phone back to Stefan's face.
His jaw was set in a hard line, forcibly suppressing his churning emotions. The ruthlessness from hunting down the assassin hadn't yet faded, and now frustration with the Hensley family was added to the mix. The two emotions intertwined, making him seem like a volcano about to erupt.
"Not going to answer?" Cecilia asked.
"Nothing important."
Stefan's reply was casual, but when he reached for his water glass, his fingertips trembled slightly from the force he was using.
Cecilia didn't ask further.
She knew that for someone like Stefan to show this kind of expression, whatever was on the other end of that call was far from trivial.
Less than ten seconds after the screen went dark, it stubbornly lit up again.
Still a call from Stefan's mother.
This time, Stefan frowned and finally picked up the phone, answering it.
He didn't hold it to his ear—he put it on speaker.
A cool, steady female voice came through, emotionless but carrying commanding authority in every word.
"Stefan."
"Mom." Stefan's voice sounded normal, still with that lazy tone, just a bit heavier than usual.
"You're at the hospital?" Dione knew his whereabouts perfectly. "I heard there's a little girl who got hurt, staying in your private room."
Dione's choice of words was quite subtle.
"Yes." Stefan didn't deny it, nor did he explain.
"I've arranged afternoon tea for you with Ms. Coleman, tomorrow at 3 PM, Mountainview Club. Ms. Coleman just got back from Zephyria—you young people should have things in common." Dione's tone was flat, like she was arranging a business deal.
"I'm not available."
Stefan's rejection was swift and final, leaving no room for negotiation.
"I'm very busy lately."
Dione on the other end fell silent.
That silence held no anger, only invisible pressure that spread through the phone line.
"I know you're busy." Dione finally spoke again, her voice revealing neither pleasure nor anger. "You're busy handling a group project with a designer named Amelia, and you even publicly confronted Rufus because of her."
"I know you put her in a special care room, and I know you're with her right now."
Dione's words were like a precise scalpel, peeling away all of Stefan's excuses and pretenses layer by layer, leaving only the bare facts.
"Since you like her so much and value her so highly, then just be straightforward about it."
Dione's tone suddenly turned cold.
"This weekend is the Hensley family dinner. Bring her home and let everyone meet her."
It was called a family dinner, but given the Hensley family's status, all of Harmony City's elite would be there.
Appearing at such an occasion as Stefan's companion would thrust Cecilia directly into the spotlight, subjecting her to everyone's scrutiny, suspicion, and judgment.
What made it worse was that Anna, as the Hensley family's acknowledged fiancée for Stefan, would definitely attend.
This wasn't just meeting the family.
This was clearly a banquet specifically organized with ill intent toward Cecilia.
Stefan's eyes narrowed dangerously. He was about to speak when his gaze inadvertently met Cecilia's.
She was leaning against the headboard, her face pale, her arm wrapped in thick bandages, looking fragile.
But her eyes were like deep, still water, calm and undisturbed.
She showed no panic, no fear.
She just quietly watched him, waiting for his decision.
Her gaze held no dependence.
No pleading.
Only pure, equal observation.
Stefan's heart caught. The words "she won't go" that had reached his lips were forcibly swallowed back.
He suddenly realized that refusing now, while seemingly protective, would actually be making the decision for her, excluding her from this power play.
And she had never needed him to hide her behind him.
So he changed his response.
"I'll ask for her opinion."
Dione on the other end seemed momentarily stunned too.
"Very good." After saying this, she hung up decisively.
The hospital room fell quiet again.
Stefan put down the phone and looked at Cecilia. "You heard."
"I heard." Cecilia nodded. "A banquet organized to target me."
"Scared?"
"If I were scared, I wouldn't have come." Cecilia pulled at the corner of her mouth, the movement tugging at her wound and making her draw a sharp breath. "More than that, I'm curious—your way of communicating with your mother is really quite unique."
Stefan laughed self-deprecatingly. "Sorry you had to see that. In a family where everything can be quantified and traded, family affection is the most worthless thing."
He pulled over a chair and sat by the bed, his expression returning to composure, though the darkness in his eyes hadn't dispersed.
"You don't need to worry. When the time comes, I'll handle everything."
"That's not what I'm worried about." Cecilia raised her bandaged hand. "What I'm worried about is whether I can still wear nice clothes like this."
Stefan froze, then laughed.
He hadn't expected her to have the mood to joke at a time like this.
How could she be so bold?
"Don't worry." He leaned forward, tucking in the blanket for her, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her cool skin.
"Even if you go wrapped in bandages, you'll still be the most beautiful one there."
His voice was very soft, carrying a tenderness he himself hadn't noticed.
Cecilia turned her head away, avoiding his too-intense gaze.
"I'm tired. I want to rest."
"Okay, sleep."
Cecilia closed her eyes, thinking he would leave.
But after waiting a long time, she only heard the faint sound of a chair scraping.
She quietly opened her eyes a crack.
Stefan had somehow gotten a slim laptop and was balancing it on his knee, handling business.
The soft screen light illuminated his sharply defined profile, his expression focused.
"You..." Cecilia was somewhat surprised.
"I can work from here just the same." Stefan didn't look up, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Garth will send the files over."
"Mr. Hensley, how's your company's stock price doing? If the chairman spends all his time at the hospital, the shareholders will panic." Cecilia couldn't help teasing.
Stefan finally stopped typing and looked up. In the screen's glow, his eyes were deep and dark.
"First, this hospital is a Hensley Group property. Me being here counts as a work inspection."
He paused, his gaze falling on her bandaged arm, his voice deepening.
"Second, until we catch everyone who wants to harm you, this is the safest place."
"I need to watch over you myself."
His reasoning was flawless.
Domineering, yet leaving no room for refusal.
Cecilia had nothing more to say. She simply closed her eyes and ignored him.
In the air, only the crisp sound of his keyboard typing and the faint dripping of the IV solution remained.
It was strange.
These two sounds interweaving somehow miraculously relaxed her nerves, which had been taut from the repeated assassination attempts.
She soon fell into a deep sleep.
This time, her dreams held no icy seawater, no scorching flames.