Forsaken Daughter Pampered by Top Hier

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Stephanie made her way back to Cloudridge Valley, the place that still felt like home.

As soon as she stepped into the elevator lobby, she spotted Ella sitting on the couch, looking up from her phone,

When Ella saw her, she shot up and rushed over, pulling her into a hug. “Girl, all men are pigs. Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to someone way better.”

Stephanie gave a tired nod. “Sure.”

Ella expected Stephanie to lash out, but instead, she seemed strangely calm–like the whole thing with Chris hadn’t even

fazed her.

Ella pulled back, giving her a quick once–over. When she noticed bloodstains on Stephanie’s clothes, her eyes widened.

“Wait, what? That’s blood? Did you get hurt?” She rushed over to check.

Stephanie glanced down and saw a few spots of blood on her beige coat.

With a nonchalant smile, she shrugged. “Easy. They’re not mine.”

Ella blinked, confused. “Whose is it, then?” Her voice was laced with concern.

Stephanie replied coolly, “Don’t know. Maybe Olivia’s or Chris’s.”

Ella’s eyes went wide. “What?”

Stephanie, noticing the worry in her friend’s face, casually explained, “Yeah. I taught Olivia and Chris a lesson.”

Ella’s eyebrows twitched when she heard Stephanie’s calm response. She was in awe of how efficiently Stephanie had handled everything.

Ella had just run into Chris and Olivia at the hospital that morning and told Stephanie about it. Now, not even half a day had passed, and Stephanie had already dealt with them.

She couldn’t help giving her a thumbs–up.

A mischievous grin spread across her face as she teased, “I know a short fuse can get you in trouble, but when it comes to

jerks like them, you need a temper like yours.”

What those two had done was outrageous–so much so that even Ella couldn’t hold back her anger. And she wasn’t the one who’d been betrayed.

Ella had thought Stephanie would cry and whine abo handled things herself.

didn’t shed a tear.

but she was glad to see her handling it so well.

this fiery–it was just that Olivia had a way of pushing

at her phone, a playful gleam in her eyes. “Don’t head upstairs just yet. Let’s grab something

“You took

flashed a grin. “Nuh, I left early. Still gotta to get back to work

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week, and everything going on, Ella worried

for a while

steak, poking at it as she muttered, Let’s not get

of bland food–Ella knew

She mumbled between bites, “I don’t have time for that today, but I’ll take

was usually quick

a second, swallowed, then asked, “So what’s the plan with Chris?”

name, Stephanie’s steak suddenly

wiping her mouth before turning to Ella. “Can you help me issue a statement? I want

Her fork hovered in mid–air as she processed the request.

a beat, she asked, “Your families are

with Olivia, and

her voice at odds with the weight of what she was

eyebrow, surprised

made sense. That was the

Chris had

been Stephanie’s choice in the first place.

Ashford family knew Olivia wasn’t really the Hart family’s biological daughter–she was born to a maid, a secret they’d kept hidden for years. The Ashfords

the Hart family

that connection could be disastrous. So, Catlin and Chad Hart had quietly arranged everything with

had unexpectedly stood by Stephanie’s side—a major shift from his

sent away, Chris had pampered Stephanie, treating her

Stephanie thought he’d finally

back toward Olivia

been kind to her

sworn to put Olivia behind bars, and she had the evidence to make that

complexity of the situation and muttered under her breath, “He’s a total jerk.”

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Chapter 5

confused frown creasing her forehead. “Wait, you knew exactly what kind of guy Chris was two years ago, right? So

you went and tried on wedding dresses? Were you really planning to marry him in