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.

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

a calculating bitch, and Chris is an idiot. You shouldn’t

Ella was seething with anger.

sipped from the water cup on the table, unfazed. “Every time she calculates, the trouble’s on ME. Why are YOU so worked up?”

years ago, Olivia

and threw herself on Chris, again.

just too kind?‘ Stephanie thought to

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

something.”

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

are you going to

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

ended the call, the silence that followed settling in

mirror, Stephanie reached up to touch

she tore the gown in half, throwing the pieces to the

of fabric ripping echoed through the silent room.

cold fury in Stephanie’s expression, none of them dared to move or

changed back into her own

the screen–Chris’s

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

the past two years, Chris had always been gentle and

is back, he suddenly

abrupt shift in tone made the

of sarcasm flashed in Stephanie’s eyes. She couldn’t

hour

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

sunlight, he looked every bit the image of refinement and gentleness. His perfectly sculpted profile was

rare and flawless, it seemed like something most people in Long

presence, Chris quickly muttered into the phone, “Can’t

couch,

phone call seemed to vanish in an

locked onto Stephanie, and his voice

moving an inch. The tension between them

sit beside him. Instead, she chose to sit across from him, maintaining a

and the coldness