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.

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

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

Stephanie seemed calm, Ella was seething

unfazed. “Every time she calculates, the trouble’s on

leaving two years ago, Olivia begged for Stephanie’s

she came back and threw herself on Chris, again.

a pushover? Or just too kind?‘ Stephanie

“She’s picking the perfect time–just before you and Chris are about

something.”

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

voice was frantic. “What are

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

call, the silence that

in the mirror, Stephanie reached

the gown in half, throwing the pieces to the floor.

fabric ripping echoed

the cold fury in Stephanie’s expression, none of them

into her own clothes, her phone vibrated again.

the screen–Chris’s

through immediately, firm and clipped. “Once you’re

had

back, he

tone made the already cold room feel

She couldn’t be bothered to

an hour later…

was standing by the

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

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

Chris quickly muttered into the phone, “Can’t

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

warmth from the phone call seemed to vanish in an

eyes locked onto Stephanie, and his voice became

an inch. The tension between them was thick, hanging heavy in the

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

and the coldness deepened.