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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 Chris!”

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.

Stephane looked over at the shop manager, who immediately nodded in understanding.

With a silent gesture, the manager ushered the staff out of the room.

Crace 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.”

Stephane raised an eyebrow, a quiet laugh escaping her lips. “Quite a special place,” she muttered, her expression turning to one of thinly vetied sarcasm

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

Ella, still flustered, pressed on “That Olivia is a calculating bitch, and Chris is an idiot. You shouldn’t marry him!”

Whdie Stephane seemed calm. Ella was seething with anger.

time she calculates, the trouble’s on ME. Why are

ago Olivia begged for Stephanie’s

and threw herself on

just loo kind Stephanie thought to

it’s packing the perfect just before you and Chris are about to get married. She’s clearly up

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Chapter 1

something.”

tightening. “I’m hanging up now,” she said

“What are you going to do?”

calculation. I’m going to teach her how to do

the silence that followed settling

Stephanie reached up to touch the bust of the

rip, she tore the gown in half, throwing

echoed through the silent

gasped in shock, their eyes wide. But when they saw the cold fury in Stephanie’s expression, none of them

own clothes, her phone vibrated

the

and clipped. “Once you’re done with the fitting, come to the office.”

Chris had always been gentle and considerate.

Olivia is back, he suddenly became

in tone made the already cold

eyes.

feel

Why a

colder.

in Stephanie he couldn’t be bothered to respond.

***

an hour

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

sculpted profile was hard to ignore, the kind of face that made it impossible to

something most people in Long Harbor City could only dream

quickly muttered into the phone, “Can’t join you for lunch today. Sorry. Goodbye.”

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

in an instant, replaced by

voice

his gaze, not moving an inch. The tension between them was thick, hanging heavy

she chose to sit across from

narrowed, and the coldness deepened.

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Sun, 2

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