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?”
If only it were that simple. She almost wished it were. Things would be so much easier.
Stephanie 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 I take control of the narrative.”
Chris froze. He immediately understood who “someone” was.
He couldn’t help himself. “You shouldn’t always think so badly of Olivia,” he said, his tone defensive.
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12:07 Mon, 3 Mar
Chapter 7
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Stephanie smirked and took a spoonful of cake, popping it into her mouth like she didn’t have a care in the world. “If she wasn’t so bad, why’d you have to kick her out of the country for protection two years ago?”
Chris immediately clamped his mouth shut. His face flushed red, like someone who had just swallowed a fly.
The events of two years ago were a sore spot for him–a part of his past he rarely mentioned. He had almost buried it completely.
But now, with Stephanie bringing it up again, his expression darkened.
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“That was different,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “You were relentless back then. If Olivia hadn’t left, I’m afraid you would’ve really sent her to prison.”
Stephanie took another leisurely bite of cake, barely looking at him. “Yeah, I would’ve”
Chris’s face turned darker with anger, but he was careful not to let it show too much. He couldn’t lose his temper now–not
yet.
Thinking back to everything that had happened, he couldn’t help feeling disgusted by Stephanie.
It was because of her constant outbursts that she was stuck in this mess with the Hart family.
But then he reminded himself–now wasn’t the time to press her. He still needed the wedding to happen.
Chris’s expression softened slightly, trying to regain some control over the situation. “Olivia’s just sick. Once she gets better, we’ll send her away.”
Stephanie gave him a cold, piercing glance but didn’t say a word.
Chris continued, pushing his point. “Your parents won’t let you keep causing a scene. If this keeps up, it’ll only make your life harder.”
He knew exactly how much leverage the Hart family had over her.
He could already predict it–if things had gone as expected, her card was probably frozen by now.
Looking around the house, Chris shifted the conversation. “How long’s the rent on this place been paid? When’s the next payment due?”
He remembered that this house was one Stephanie had rented after leaving the Hart family.
Cloudridge Valley wasn’t cheap. The unit she was living in probably cost at least ten thousand a month.
His point was clear: She didn’t have the luxury of acting on a whim.
Unexpectedly, Stephanie, still holding her spoon, leaned back in her chair and replied, “You should leave now.”
Chris’s eyes narrowed, his face darkening even further.
Before he could say anything else, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He glanced at the screen. It was Olivia calling.
Without moving away from Stephanie, he answered. “Olivia.”
Stephanie had more or less figured out Chris’s mindset. He probably believed that in a marriage, the person who needed help had no right to demand respect.
But she also thought Chris was incredibly dim–witted. He claimed not to want to break up with her, but here he was, shamelessly answering calls from a third party right in front of her.
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Chapter 7
3 Mar
This time, as she started to cause a scene, Chi
Chris’s true nature was exposed.
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For two years, he’d been wearing a facade, but now, in front of her, he had just ripped it off.
She didn’t catch what was said on the other end of the line, but Chris stood up, his face stiff. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon”
After hanging up, he finally turned to face her.
His eyes flicked over her face, which was neither a smile nor a sneer.
He sighed, his tone sharper. “What I said earlier–think it over. No matter how much of a scene you make, you can’t steal the spotlight. Everyone will be focused on Olivia’s illness right now.”
His attitude was clear: he was warning her that causing a spectacle was pointless.
Stephanie didn’t respond. Instead, she walked over to the entrance, casually picking up the shopping bags she’d gotten with Ella earlier.
The bags were all from high–end brands, the kind that screamed luxury.
Chris stared at them for a moment, his brow furrowing in confusion.
He double–checked, hesitated, then asked, “You still have money to go shopping?”
His tone was a mix of disbelief and curiosity. He’d assumed the Hart family would punish her for causing trouble, but these bags seemed to tell a very different story.
He knew all too well how the Hart family operated.
Every time Stephanie stepped out of line, they’d freeze her credit card for ten days–or even half a month–just to remind her that she depended on them. If they cut her off, she’d have nothing.
Stephanie shot him a look, her expression unfazed. “Yeah, I’ve got money to shop. What’s the problem? Call the police, arrest me if you want.”
Chris blinked, completely taken aback. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
He’d never realized before just how good Stephanie was at infuriating him.
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