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.

shed a tear. She’d taken action and

off, but she was

this fiery–it was just that Olivia had a way of pushing her buttons, making her

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

“You took the afternoon off?”

grin. “Nuh, I left early. Still gotta

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Stephanie’s wedding coming up in just a week, and everything going on, Ella worried

a while before

muttered, Let’s not get this next time.

wasn’t a fan of bland food–Ella knew

down to chew properly. She mumbled between bites, “I don’t have time for that today, but I’ll take you

usually quick and no–nonsense for most people.

paused for a second, swallowed, then asked, “So what’s the plan with

name, Stephanie’s steak suddenly

to Ella. “Can you help me issue a statement? I want to announce that we’re canceling the wedding.”

hovered in mid–air as she processed the request.

asked, “Your

hours ago, Stephanie was dealing with Olivia, and now she

her voice at odds with the weight of what she was saying. “I don’t need their

an eyebrow, surprised by the response.

of thought, she realized it made sense. That was the truth. They didn’t need

Chris had neve

been Stephanie’s choice in

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 had wanted to call off the engagement from the

family had been desperate.

relied on the Ashfords for several major business deals, and losing that connection could be disastrous. So, Catlin and Chad Hart had quietly arranged everything with

ago, when Stephanie and Olivia had fallen out, Chris had unexpectedly stood by Stephanie’s

had pampered Stephanie, treating her like she was

thought he’d finally seen through

shift back toward Olivia

her only to keep her close,

Olivia behind bars, and she had the evidence to make that happen.

of the situation and muttered under her

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Chapter 5

of guy Chris was two years ago, right? So why the hell did you agree to get engaged to him?

Were you really planning to marry him in a