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.

know Chris went with her to the hospital, and I get why that upset you. I’ve already talked to your mom; she’s responsible for this. She’ll make sure

down and looked at him, her face flat.

“Why do you think I would care? And you don’t have to come here in the middle of the night to

me this.

do you mean, you don’t care?

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Chapter 11

no turning back

backed out now, it would be a disaster. The Hart family would be the laughingstock of

it’s sacred, and that’s why I made this decision. Now

aback. Maybe what she

he grumbled, “But you and Chris…”

You’re worried about the family’s reputation, aren’t you?

in surprise. She’d caught on quicker than he’d expected. “How do you

day, his priority was the family’s

about the canceled wedding had spread like wildfire,

in it–only biting sarcasm. “You can just announce that you made a mistake when you were looking for your

“How dare….. that’s

a solution; it was an even bigger

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

Chad’s face darkened.

Chris and I

you plan to marry? You’re supposed to be getting married

messing with the Ashford family, no one in

being just a week

know, do you? This morning. Chris

in

he was unaware of

Hart family wants to suck up to the Ashfords, does that mean I

stunned by

dignity” made

the years, the Hart family had become more and

out a long sigh. “You silly kid…”

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Chapter 11

clear. Chris and I are

was resolute on

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