Chapter 11

Chapter 11

While Chad and Catlin were arguing downstairs, Olivia was upstairs, watching them.

She stood at the top of the stairs, her swollen ankle propped up.

When she heard Chad defending Stephanie, a flicker of disappointment crossed Olivia’s face.

She knew how Chad was–Stephanie was his biological daughter, after all.

89%

The drive from the Hart family to Stephanie’s was about an hour.

When he arrived at Cloudridge Valley, Chad stepped into Stephanie’s home

He took a seat on the couch and looked at her, but didn’t bring up why she hadn’t answered his calls earlier. Stephanie didn’t offer much of a reaction either. She just poured him a glass of water.

Chad waved it off. “Don’t bother with that. Come sit here.”

Chad never quite knew how to act with Stephanie.

She hadn’t grown up with him, so he didn’t know her personality, what she liked, or even what she wanted. Stephanie sat across from him.

Chad straightened up, hands folded in his lap. “Had another argument with Olivia?”

Stephanie didn’t back down. “So, you came here to lecture me, too?”

Lecturing–Stephanie had gotten used to that since returning to the Hart family.

She didn’t soften when she spoke, her voice as cold as ever.

Chad sighed, his tone frustrated. “You canceled the wedding with Chris because of her?

Stephanie didn’t answer. She picked up her water and took a sip instead.

The Hart family wasn’t a place she wanted to open up to, and she wasn’t interested in sharing anything.

Seeing that she wasn’t responding, Chad felt a little helpless.

Now he understood why Catlin always got upset with Stephanie–maybe it was because Stephanie kept everyone at arm’s length, never letting anyone in.

Chad tried again, hoping to calm her down. “Don’t be mad at her. She’s just there for a check–up.

her to the hospital, and I get why that upset you. I’ve already

looked

think I would care? And you don’t have to come here in

me this.

show. “What do you mean, you don’t care? Stefi, marriage is sacred. You and Chris

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Chapter 11

it. There’s no turning back now.”

they backed out now, it would be a disaster. The Hart

that’s why I made this decision. Now that I’ve

little taken aback. Maybe what she was saying made sense.

“But you and Chris…”

say. You’re worried about the family’s reputation, aren’t you? It’s easy

caught on quicker than he’d

of the day, his priority was the family’s reputation.

spread like wildfire, Chad had been a wreck all afternoon.

no warmth in it–only biting sarcasm. “You can just announce that you made a mistake when you were looking for your real daughter. Say I’m not your daughter anymore. That should clear

dropped. “How dare….. that’s

it was an even bigger

like Stephanie not only wanted to call off the wedding with Chris, but also wanted to

Chad’s face darkened.

and I are

tightened with frustration. He shot back, “Then who do you plan to marry? You’re supposed to be getting married in a

keep messing with the Ashford family, no one in Long Harbor will ever want to marry

their wedding being just a week away,

don’t know, do you? This morning. Chris told me Olivia’s

widened in shock. “What?”

he was unaware

continued, “Just because the Hart family wants to suck up to the Ashfords, does that mean I have to lose all my dignity,

clearly stunned by her

made his face go

the Hart family had become more and

out a long sigh. “You

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Chapter 11

“I’ve made myself clear. Chris and I are done. There’s no

resolute

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