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.

the obstetrics and gynecology department? Stephanie didn’t

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

Stephanie seemed calm, Ella was seething with

from the water cup on the table, unfazed. “Every time she

ago, Olivia begged

came back and threw herself on

I a pushover? Or just too kind?‘

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

something.”

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

frantic. “What are

“Someone’s made a bad calculation. I’m going to teach her how

she ended the call, the silence that followed settling in

in the mirror, Stephanie reached up to touch the

tore the gown in half,

fabric ripping echoed through the silent

gasped in shock, their eyes wide. But when they saw the cold fury in Stephanie’s expression, none of them dared

back into her own clothes, her

at the

she answered, and his voice came through immediately, firm and clipped. “Once you’re done with

two years, Chris had always been

is back, he suddenly

shift in tone made the already cold room

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

hour

into Chris’s office. He was standing by the floor–to–ceiling windows, speaking

His perfectly sculpted profile was hard to ignore, the kind of face that made it impossible to look away.

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

Chris quickly muttered into the phone, “Can’t join you for

the nearby leather couch, settling into it

phone call seemed to vanish in an instant, replaced by an

and his voice became clipped as he ordered, “Come here.”

held his gaze, not moving an inch. The tension between them was thick,

Instead, she chose to sit across from him, maintaining a distance that mirrored the coldness between

eyes narrowed, and the