Forsaken Daughter Pampered by Top Hier

Chapter 7

Chris walked over to the couch and sat down, pulling out a cigarette from the pack as though it was second nature,

But before he could light it, Stephanie stepped forward without hesitation, snatched it from his hand, and tossed it into the

trash.

Chris’s face darkened immediately. “What the hell are you doing?”

This was the first time anyone had dared treat him this rudely–especially a woman.

When he was with Olivia, no matter what he wanted, Olivia never questioned him. She just went along with whatever he said or did.

Stephanie clapped her hands together and shut the trash can lid with a soft thud. “Sorry, I just don’t like the smell.”

Chris stood frozen, his mouth hanging slightly open as if he hadn’t fully processed what had just happened.

Countless memories of Stephanie’s gentle side flashed through his mind, but they all shattered when he saw the cold, indifferent expression on her face.

In the end, Chris decided to let it go–for now.

His thoughts drifted to the two major news stories that had broken that morning. The Ashford family’s phone lines were probably about to get flooded.

His tone softened, almost as if he were trying a new approach. “The news today… was it Ella who sent it out?”

When Stephanie had first mentioned calling off the wedding, Chris hadn’t believed her at all. He’d just thought it was another tantrum. But this time? It seemed like she had actually gone too far.

Stephanie didn’t answer. She walked over to the fridge, pulled out a small piece of cake, and started eating it as if the conversation didn’t matter anymore.

Stephanie hadn’t eaten enough during her steak meal at lunch, and after two hours of shopping with Ella, her stomach was practically growling.

Chris watched her, his frustration bubbling up. She acted like he wasn’t even there, and it was pushing him to the edge.

He reached for the fridge door and shut it with a slight thud. “The wedding’s supposed to be between the two of us,” he said, his voice tight with annoyance. “Why do you have to make it a public spectacle?”

He could deal with her venting in private, but this drama she was stirring up in front of everyone? That was another story.

Chris paused for a moment, his mind spinning as he tried to find a reason to forgive her, something, anything, to make sense of it all.

Suddenly, Stephanie let out a small laugh, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Are you serious? Do you really think the wedding is just between the two of us?”

only it were that simple. She almost wished it were. Things would be so

shot him a cold, dismissive look and added, “Either way, even if I keep it quiet, someone else will spill the beans. It’s better if

He immediately understood

always think so badly of Olivia,” he said, his tone defensive.

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Chapter 7

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in the world. “If she wasn’t so bad, why’d you have to kick her out of the country for protection two

immediately clamped his mouth shut. His face flushed red, like someone who had just

part of his past he rarely mentioned. He had almost

now, with Stephanie bringing it up again, his expression darkened.

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different,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “You were relentless back then. If Olivia hadn’t

took another leisurely bite of cake, barely

with anger, but he was careful not to let it

yet.

he

because of her constant outbursts that she was stuck in

reminded himself–now wasn’t the time to press her. He still

to regain some control over the situation. “Olivia’s

gave him a cold, piercing glance but didn’t say

a scene. If this keeps

leverage the Hart

predict it–if things had gone as expected, her

the rent on

house was one Stephanie had rented after

was living in probably cost at least ten

have the luxury

in her chair and replied, “You should leave now.”

eyes narrowed, his face darkening

else, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He glanced at the screen. It was Olivia calling.

away from Stephanie, he answered. “Olivia.”

mindset. He probably believed that in a marriage, the person who needed help had

He claimed not to want to break up with her, but here he was, shamelessly

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