Chapter 5

Stephanie returned to Cloudridge Valley, a place that still felt like home. Stepping into the elevator lobby, she saw Ella sitting on the couch, looking up from her phone. Upon seeing Stephanie, Ella jumped up, pulling her into a hug. "Girl, all men are pigs! Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to someone way better."

Stephanie gave a weary nod. "Sure."

Ella expected an outburst, but Stephanie remained strangely calm, as if Chris's actions hadn't fazed her. Ella pulled back, noticing bloodstains on Stephanie's clothes. Her eyes widened. "Wait, what? That's blood? Did you get hurt?" She rushed to examine the stains.

Stephanie glanced down at the few spots on her beige coat, offering a nonchalant smile and shrug. "Easy. They're not mine."

Ella blinked, confused. "Whose is it, then?" Her voice held concern.

Stephanie replied coolly, "Don't know. Maybe Olivia's or Chris's."

Ella's eyes widened. "What?"

Seeing her friend's worry, Stephanie casually explained, "Yeah. I taught Olivia and Chris a lesson."

Ella's eyebrows twitched at Stephanie's calm response, awestruck by her efficiency. Ella had just encountered Chris and Olivia at the hospital that morning and told Stephanie. Now, less than half a day later, Stephanie had already dealt with them. Ella gave her a thumbs-up.

A mischievous grin spread across her face. "I know a short fuse can get you in trouble, but when it comes to jerks like them, you need a temper like yours." What Olivia and Chris had done was outrageous—even Ella, who hadn't been betrayed, felt her anger flare. She'd expected tears and complaints from Stephanie, but instead, Stephanie had taken decisive action.

Ella didn't fully understand how Stephanie had managed it, but she was relieved to see her handling things so well. She knew Stephanie wasn't usually this fiery; Olivia simply had a knack for pushing her buttons.

Ella glanced at her phone, a playful gleam in her eyes. "Don't head upstairs just yet. Let's grab something to eat. It's past noon."

Stephanie nodded. "You took the afternoon off?"

Ella grinned. "Nope, I left early. Still gotta get back to work after lunch."

With Stephanie's wedding a week away, and everything else going on, Ella worried she might start overthinking things. They wandered the street before entering a nearby restaurant.

Stephanie struggled with her steak, poking at it and muttering, "Let's not get this next time. It doesn't taste that great." She disliked bland food—Ella knew that well. Ella, on the other hand, devoured her meal rapidly. She mumbled between bites, "I don't have time for that today, but I'll take you to a Mexican place next time." Lunch during the workday was usually quick and efficient.

Ella paused, swallowed, and asked, "So, what's the plan with Chris?"

At the mention of his name, Stephanie's steak suddenly tasted even worse. She put down her knife and fork with a sigh, wiping her mouth before turning to Ella. "Can you help me issue a statement? I want to announce we're canceling the wedding."

Ella froze, her fork suspended mid-air. After a moment, she asked, "Your families are okay with this?" She could hardly believe it. Hours ago, Stephanie was dealing with Olivia, and now she was already addressing family matters?

Stephanie shrugged, her casual tone belying the gravity of her words. "I don't need their approval."

Ella raised an eyebrow, surprised. But after a moment's thought, she realized it made sense. They didn't need anyone's approval. The engagement had never truly been Stephanie's choice.

The Ashford family knew Olivia wasn't the Harts' biological daughter—she was born to a maid, a secret kept hidden for years. The Ashfords had wanted to call off the engagement from the start, but the Harts, reliant on the Ashfords for crucial business deals, had quietly arranged everything with Stephanie.

Two years prior, when Stephanie and Olivia had fallen out, Chris had unexpectedly sided with Stephanie, a significant change from his usual behavior. He had pampered her, making her feel like the most important person in the world. Stephanie had believed he'd finally seen through Olivia.

But now, Chris's shift back to Olivia made it clear: two years ago, his kindness had been a tactic to keep her compliant. Stephanie had sworn to put Olivia behind bars, and possessed the evidence to do so.

Ella grasped the situation's complexity and muttered, "He's a total jerk." She paused, a confused frown creasing her forehead. "Wait, you knew exactly what kind of guy Chris was two years ago, right? So why the hell did you agree to get engaged to him? And today… you went and tried on wedding dresses? Were you really planning to marry him in a week?" Ella's voice was laced with disbelief and frustration.

Stephanie didn't answer immediately. When Ella asked why, her gaze dropped, and her eyes briefly darkened. Why? Stephanie didn't know. Perhaps mutual gain, or hidden agendas. Finally, she waved her hand dismissively. "Enough with this. Just make sure to include the pictures of him and Olivia at the hospital when you post the statement."

Ella, sensing Stephanie's unwillingness to elaborate, let it go. What mattered was Stephanie's feelings. Realizing Stephanie wasn't as in love with Chris as everyone thought, Ella's worry subsided.

She nodded resolutely. "Alright, I'll post it right now." She grabbed her phone. Ella, a former journalist for a major newspaper, still ran several accounts with millions of followers. The Ashford family's elite status in Long Harbor meant Chris's wedding had been under intense public scrutiny. Ella wouldn't let this slip through her fingers, carefully crafting the announcement. She knew mishandling this could leave Stephanie vulnerable.

Half an hour later, the internet exploded. The top local headlines screamed: "The Hart family's adopted daughter returns, spotted with the Ashford heir at a hospital," followed quickly by: "Miss Hart announces cancellation of wedding to Mr. Ashford!" These stories reignited the two-year-old scandal of the adopted daughter and the true heiress. People hadn't forgotten, and now the drama was thrust back into the public eye.