Forsaken Daughter Pampered by Top Hier

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Standing in front of the mirror, Stephanie Giovanni studied her reflection, her lips curling into a soft smile.

“Stunning,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

The gown hugged her slender waist, flowing into a skirt that reminded her of something straight out of a fairytale.

Her face, still free of makeup, looked just as delicate and enchanting in the natural light.

The shop manager was adjusting the pleats on the gown.

She couldn’t resist commenting, “Why isn’t Mr. Ashford here with you? Men and women, they’ve got different tastes, you

know.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Stephanie’s lips. She glanced at the manager with a shrug. “You know men. Busy with work. Can’t get away.”

Just then, her phone vibrated on the nearby counter. Stephanie glanced at the caller ID before answering, “Ella”

On the other end, Ella Turner’s voice came through quickly, almost breathless. “Stefi, I saw Olivia and Christ

The moment she heard those names, Stephanie’s fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles going white.

The smile that had lingered on her face slowly faded, replaced by a chill in her eyes.

Chris Ashford–her fiancé–was just a week away from marrying her.

And Olivia Hart, just hearing her name disgusted Stephanie.

Stephanie looked over at the shop manager, who immediately nodded in understanding.

With a silent gesture, the manager ushered the staff out of the room.

Once the room was empty, Stephanie lowered her gaze to her perfectly manicured nails. “Where did you see them?” she asked casually.

Ella’s voice cracked with urgency. “At the hospital. In the obstetrics and gynecology department

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, a quiet laugh escaping her lips. “Quite a special place,” she muttered, her expression turning to one of thinly veiled sarcasm.

and a woman in the obstetrics and gynecology department? Stephanie didn’t need to think twice to know

still flustered, pressed on. “That Olivia is a calculating bitch, and Chris is an

calm, Ella was seething with

“Every time she calculates, the trouble’s on ME. Why are YOU so worked up?”

ago, Olivia begged for Stephanie’s forgiveness

back and threw herself on

I a pushover? Or just too kind?‘ Stephanie thought

the perfect time–just before you and Chris are about to get married. She’s clearly

something.”

grip on the phone tightening. I’m hanging up now,

was frantic. “What are you

bad calculation. I’m going to teach her how to do the math.

ended the call, the silence that followed

reached up to touch the bust

gown in

echoed through

But when they saw the cold fury in Stephanie’s

changed back into her own clothes, her phone vibrated again.

the screen–Chris’s

she answered, and his voice came through immediately, firm and clipped. “Once

the past two years, Chris had always been gentle and considerate.

Olivia is back, he

in tone made the already cold room feel

Stephanie’s eyes. She couldn’t be bothered to respond. Without hesitation, she hung up.

an hour later…

standing by the floor–to–ceiling

perfectly sculpted profile was hard to ignore, the kind of face that made

appearance was so rare and flawless, it seemed like something most people in Long Harbor City could only dream

presence, Chris quickly muttered into the phone, “Can’t join you for lunch today.

the nearby leather couch, settling into it with

in an instant, replaced by an

locked onto Stephanie, and his voice became clipped as

The tension between them was

beside him. Instead, she chose to sit across from

narrowed, and the coldness deepened.