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.

department? Stephanie

calculating bitch, and Chris is an idiot.

Ella was

unfazed. “Every time she calculates, the trouble’s on ME. Why are YOU so

years ago, Olivia begged for Stephanie’s forgiveness

now, she came back and

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

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

something.”

her grip on the phone tightening. I’m hanging up now, she said flatly.

are

curled into a thin smile. “Someone’s made a bad calculation. I’m going to teach

the call, the silence that followed settling in like a weight.

at her reflection in the mirror, Stephanie reached

the gown in half, throwing the pieces

echoed through the silent room.

when they saw the cold fury in Stephanie’s expression, none of them dared to move or

back into her own clothes, her

glanced at the screen–Chris’s name.

voice came through immediately, firm and clipped. “Once you’re done with the fitting, come to the

the past two years, Chris had always been

Olivia is back, he suddenly

the already cold room feel even

Stephanie’s eyes. She couldn’t

an hour later…

standing by the floor–to–ceiling windows, speaking

every bit the image of refinement and gentleness. His perfectly sculpted profile was hard to ignore, the kind of face that made it impossible

and flawless, it seemed like something most people in

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

the nearby leather couch, settling into it with a soft creak of the

warmth from the phone call seemed to vanish in an instant, replaced by an icy coldness that darkened his

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

not moving an inch. The tension between

didn’t sit beside him. Instead, she chose to sit across from him, maintaining a distance that

and the coldness deepened.