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 didn’t need to think

a calculating bitch, and Chris

seemed calm, Ella was seething with anger.

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

years ago, Olivia begged for Stephanie’s

came back and threw herself on Chris, again.

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

you and Chris are about to get married. She’s clearly up

something.”

eyes sharpened, her grip on the phone tightening. I’m hanging up now, she

voice was frantic. “What are you going

a thin smile. “Someone’s made a bad calculation. I’m

the silence that followed settling in like a weight.

in the mirror, Stephanie reached up to touch the bust

tore the gown in half, throwing

echoed through the silent

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

glanced at the screen–Chris’s name.

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

the past two years, Chris had always been gentle and

he suddenly became

shift in tone made the already cold room

in Stephanie’s eyes. She couldn’t be bothered

hour later…

office. He was standing by the

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

something most people in Long Harbor City could only dream

into the phone, “Can’t join

walked over to the nearby leather couch, settling into it with

seemed to vanish in an

locked onto Stephanie, and his voice

an inch. The tension between

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

narrowed, and the