Chapter 13
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
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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.
“I 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 it won’t happen again.”
Stephanie set her water down and looked at him, her face flat.
“That’s it?” she scoffed, “Why do you think I would care? And you don’t have to come here in the middle of the night to tell me this.”
Chad’s frustration started to show. “What do you mean, ‘you don’t care‘? Stefi, marriage is sacred. You and Chris are this far
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Chapter 13
into it. There’s no turning back then
If they backed out now, it would be a disaster. The Hart family would be the laughingstock of the entire town
Stephanie met his gaze coolly, “Kight, it’s sacred, and that’s why I made this decision. Now that I’ve seen things clearly, I don’t see any reason to go any further
Chad paused, a little taken aback. Maybe what she was saying made sense.
Still he grumbled, “But you and Chris…”
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Stephanie cut him off, already knowing what he was about to say, “You’re worried about the family’s reputation, aren’t you? It’s easy to fiz
Chad blinked in surprise. She’d caught on quicker than he’d expected. “How do you plan on fixing it?
At the end of the day, his priority was the family’s reputation.
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