Chapter 14
After news of the canceled wedding spread like wildfire, Chad had been distraught all afternoon. Stephanie smiled, but her expression lacked warmth, revealing only biting sarcasm. “You can simply announce you made a mistake searching for your real daughter. Say I’m no longer your daughter. That should clear everything up, right?”
Chad’s jaw dropped. “How dare… that’s preposterous!” This wasn’t a solution; it was an even bigger absurdity. It seemed Stephanie wanted not only to call off the wedding with Chris but also to sever ties with the entire Hart family. Chad’s face darkened.
Stephanie’s tone remained firm. “Anyway, Chris and I are finished. It’s not happening.”
Chad’s chest tightened with frustration. He retorted, “Then who do you plan to marry? You’re supposed to be getting married in a week!”
“If you continue interfering with the Ashford family, no one in Long Harbor will ever want to marry you.” When he mentioned their impending wedding, Stephanie laughed bitterly, her smile mocking. She sneered, “You probably don’t know, do you? This morning, Chris told me Olivia’s returned, so our wedding has been postponed.”
Chad’s eyes widened in shock. “What?” He was clearly unaware.
Stephanie continued, “Just because the Hart family wants to appease the Ashfords, does that mean I have to sacrifice my dignity, too?”
Chad hesitated, stunned. The mention of “losing dignity” further darkened his expression. Stephanie wasn’t wrong. Over the years, the Hart family had grown increasingly dependent on the Ashfords.
Chad sighed. “You silly kid…”
Stephanie interrupted, her voice firm. “I’ve made my position clear. Chris and I are done. There’s no turning back.”
Chad was furious, but he knew he was powerless. His tone softened, but his firmness remained. “No turning back? That’s nonsense. I won’t let you cancel the wedding.” Angering the Ashfords would harm the entire Hart family. Even if Chris harbored feelings for Olivia, the Ashford family would never approve. The Ashford family included several conservative elders who were ruthless and unforgiving when faced with threats to their reputation. He’d learned that lesson two years prior, an incident that nearly cost the Hart family all their profits from the Ashfords.
Chad sighed heavily. “I’ll discuss this with the Ashford family. Don’t be so stubborn.”
Stephanie, uninterested, walked toward the door, silently signaling him to leave. Chad’s frustration surged. “You’ve already humiliated Chris, thrown a punch at them—isn’t that enough?” Then, as if offering a grand concession, he added, “By the way, I had your mother call to reinstate your card. She’ll contact the bank tomorrow.”
Stephanie, seemingly ignoring him, replied calmly, “I’m telling you now, I’m done with Chris.” No matter how much Chad tried to persuade or pressure her, the answer remained the same.
“Can’t you just…” Chad placed a hand over his chest, struggling to maintain his composure. Stephanie’s stubbornness was pushing him to the brink, and he could no longer contain his anger.