THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 419: Should I Be Flattered?

Lauren’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Speaking of Dolly and her ridiculous schemes, did you really not feel anything for her when she did all that thing with you?"

"No," Steffan answered without sparing the question a second’s thought.

Lauren raised an eyebrow as she leaned in with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Really? You mean to tell me that all those ... let’s say generous curves and seductive attempts did nothing to you ... didn’t stir even a flicker of interest?"

Steffan’s lips curled in a strong distaste. "How could I when all I felt for her was a trailer load of disgust? I never even allowed your image to cross my mind when she was trying to seduce me, less I taint your revered image."

The edges of Lauren’s lips quirked up as she chuckled softly. "Hmm!!! Dr Steffan Rosse! It’s hard to find a grown man with blood flowing through his veins living under the same roof as a full blown seductress like Dolly and not be tempted even if it is just for a split second."

She crossed her arms under her breasts and stared at Steffan still with that playful expression. "Should I be flattered that I am that perfect in your eyes or burn a candle to the gods that I have such a faithful dude as my fiancé?"

Steffan shrugged and replied with an equally captivating smile this time around. "If you ask me, I’d say both, my love. You’re indeed fortunate."

She laughed, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Fortunate, huh? So what do you plan to do with Dolly?"

Steffan’s grin faded slightly and his voice became more serious. "I’ll leave that up to you. Whatever punishment you think is right, is fine with me."

Lauren raised an eyebrow again. "What if I want her dead?"

"Perfect. That way we’ll be rid of her forever," Steffan said indulgently.

For a moment, Lauren’s smile froze, she was surprised by the coldness in his response. "I was only joking."

"I wasn’t."

The room fell into a quiet stillness with Lauren staring at Steffan, trying to gauge how serious he really was.

The playful banter had taken a sharp turn, and now there was something deeper, yet more unsettling, simmering beneath the surface.

After a long pause, Lauren chuckled softly, trying to break the tension. "You’ve really changed, you know that?"

Steffan’s expression also softened, though his eyes still held that intensity. "Maybe I have. But I meant what I said. After everything she’s done, I’d do anything to make sure she never harms us again. I don’t care the length I have to go to make sure you never have to deal with her ever again."

Although Steffan had told her most of what transpired between him and Dolly, she was still taken aback by the degree of hatred Steffan now has for Dolly... it was as if they were sworn enemies before this time and were never friends.

And all of this was because he wanted to protect her? Lauren’s gaze softened and she reached out to place her hand over his.

"I get it. But we don’t need to go down that road. The law will take care of Dolly."

Steffan gave her a lingering gaze before he finally nodded. "If that’s what you want. But if the law fails..." he let the words hang in the air.

He wasn’t going to tell her that it was already past that stage. Her brother Killian had been given unrestricted access to do whatever he wanted with Dolly. All he needed to do was notify them when he needed his boys to play with Dolly and she’d be sent over.

Lauren squeezed his hand, bringing his attention fully back to her. "Let’s leave it to them. We have better things to focus on now, don’t we?"

His expression softened even more, and he leaned in. "You’re right. We’ve got plenty of other things to think about... like our wedding and this time, I would want it to happen on that special island your grandfather promised you."

Lauren smiled, "You also remember that?"

"Everything, except how we made love," Steffan teased.

"That’s because we haven’t, dumbass."

"And what are we waiting for? Or are you still going to make me wait until after the wedding?"

"You’ve waited this long, what is a few more days?"

"How can you still be so heartless? I just told you how I was able to keep myself for you yet you insist in hoading what rightfully should have been mine a long time ago?

"We are not married until we are married," Lauren found herself repeating her brother’s words to Steffan. Although she hadn’t understood him when he said it then, now she did.

"What?"

Looking away from Steffan’s confused face, Lauren’s eyes darted around the empty restaurant. "I’m famished. Are we eating or not?"

Steffan released a helpless sigh and pressed a bell, not long after, one of the waiters arrived with a cart of dishes.

As the waiter uncovered the dishes, the tantalizing aroma of perfectly grilled lobster, succulent shrimp, and rich, buttery sauces filled the air. And even before tasting any of the dishes, she could already tell that they were divine.

This was the best seafood restaurant in the whole city and now that the surprise of Steffan’s revelation had worn off a bit, she couldn’t wait to dive in.

Steffan sat back, watching her with a soft smile as she eagerly eyed the spread.

"Go ahead," he said, gesturing to the feast before them. "I know you’re dying to do justice to them."

Lauren didn’t need any more encouragement. She picked up her fork and knife, cut into the tender lobster and her eyes lit up at the first bite. "Mmm," she hummed, closing her eyes briefly. "You need to try this... It’s incredible."

Steffan chuckled, watching her with amused eyes as he picked up his own fork. "Right away."

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes and only the sound of silverware clinking against plates and Lauren’s delighted moans filled the air.

After eating her feel, Lauren’s mind finally wandered back to their earlier conversation. The intensity in Steffan’s eyes when he talked about getting Dolly out of their way resurfaced in her thoughts.

She knew he hated Dolly for what she did, but the depth of his resentment still surprised her... they were once friends for Pete’s sake.

She wondered how he would react if he knew that Benita has been in jail since the accident.

She glanced at him and saw that his focus was entirely on his food, though he’d occasionally glance in her direction.

After a few minutes, Steffan set aside his fork and looked at her. "Why are you looking so serious? You even stopped eating."

Seeing he had made it easier for her, she also put down her cutlery.

"I was thinking about Benita," she began, tentatively testing the waters.

"What about her?" Steffan asked, a frown forming on his face. His brother had told him that the court case was rescheduled after his disappearance, but now that he was back, he intends for it to be done away with.

"She kept insisting that the gun was empty," Lauren’s voice came through.

He studied her closely. "Why are you bringing this up?"