When Amber was busy sharing news about her bumping into Lariette and the mysterious man, Stephanie was waiting for her fiance, Matthias at an Italian restaurant near Silvera Logistics headquarters.
The hour was still early for lunch but, Stephanie had already arrived at the fine dining restaurant. She sat alone in one of the private dining rooms.
"What's wrong with him?!"
Hissing, Stephanie stared angrily at her phone, her blue eyes fired specks of fury. She ignored every new notification from anyone else as she tried to contact Damien.
"Urgh! Why must his company be in trouble now? I can't even talk to him!"
Stephanie tossed the phone to the dining table. The sleek metal landed on a spot near the flower vase. Puffing in anger, she crossed her arms over her chest.
Stephanie had been trying to contact Damien for a few days already. She wanted to push him to get Lariette to succumb to his seduction again.
Unfortunately, Damien was too busy in saving the company. Schuman Group suddenly received warnings from one of their crucial investors, Faulkner Investments.
Stephanie didn't know much detail about the incident but, it seemed like Faulkner Investments caught Schuman Group mishandling some funds.
The prime suspect was none other than Damien.
Chairman Schuman, Damien's father was desperate to regain the investors' and shareholders' trust. They couldn't afford to offend Faulkner Investment.
"At least send some flowers to that bitch! She'll surely forget what happened! They have to marry! I don't care how!"
That bitch had to marry Damien! She had to!
Tapping one finger on her arm, Stephanie anxiously recalled the previous family dinner. The argument still left a bad taste in her mouth.
Stephanie could tell that Declan and Rafael were unsatisfied with her and Alaric's excuses about getting Lariette back to Damien. Her eldest and third brothers also didn't listen to their parents' justifications.
"Lari chose to leave that cheater. Why force her to return to him? Shouldn't you respect her choice?"
Declan threw that question to Stephanie the next day. Disappointment was evident on his face. Rafael said nothing but, he obviously shared the same sentiment as the former.
"I'm worried about Lari! She loves Damien so much. She's just mad at him. I don't want her to make a rash decision that she'll regret."
Unable to find a better excuse, Stephanie could only come out with that attempt.
"Just leave her be. I don't need a cheater as my brother-in-law."
This time it was Rafael who told Stephanie off. He reminded her only to focus on her upcoming wedding instead of interfering with Lariette's issue.
Stephanie didn't know when Declan and Rafael started to care for Lariette. The signs slowly showed up over the past year, something she had never anticipated.
After all, her three elder brothers had solely doted on her for over two decades. They also didn't step forward when their returned biological sister tried to bond with them.
Then... why now?
What led to these changes?
Declan and Rafael still had a huge distance from Lariette, most likely because they didn't know how to approach her.
If this went on... she had to sabotage their relationship! Before they became even closer!
Stephanie hated Lariette from the moment the Elsher family knew about their missing daughter. She was terribly afraid of being kicked out of the family, also to be stripped of her wealth and reputation.
Stephanie was delighted when Samantha and Jonathan hesitated about looking for Lariette. She quietly celebrated her parents' decision.
Unfortunately, Chairman Delaney's interference shattered Stephanie's dream. The elderly man was adamant about finding the missing daughter.
After a few failed attempts, the Elsher family's bodyguards finally found where Lariette was. Her life changed from a country bumpkin to a wealthy young miss overnight.
"Urgh..."
Tilting her head backward, Stephanie pinched the space between her eyebrows. She was already stressed from her wedding preparations. This additional strain was bad for her mental well-being.
By now, the ceremony would take place in less than two weeks.
Creak...
"...Matt!"
Surprised by the sound of the door being opened, Stephanie abruptly looked up.
Matthias appeared at the door, taking measured and steady strides as he walked in. He cast a glance at Stephanie whose cheeks flushed red.
"It's good to see you, Matt. Quick, sit down. The waiters will bring our food soon."
"Sure."
Smiling shyly, Stephanie threw the infuriating issue regarding Lariette to the back of her mind. She better focus on Matthias now.
They hadn't seen each other for over one week because of his business trip.
Stephanie's blue eyes followed Matthias' movements. His measured and steady steps brought him closer to the dining table.
Stephanie had been head over heels for Matthias since she was a teenage girl. This man had everything a woman would dream of.
The icy reserve in Matthias' behavior didn't push Stephanie away. She was drawn to his immeasurable charisma and striking good looks.
Matthias' black hair was always styled impeccably. His piercing green eyes were the highlight of his perfectly sculpted face. His gaze was often indecipherable as he veiled his thoughts.
Even though Stephanie had known Matthias for over ten years, there was still a gap between them. Nevertheless, she was already content with their relationship.
After all, Matthias didn't discard her away even when his mother, Mrs. Silvera tried to replace Stephanie with Lariette. The renowned socialite despised the unknown blood flowing in Stephanie.
"How was your trip? Did you sleep well last night?"
Stephanie eagerly asked Matthias once the man sat opposite her. She tucked a strand behind her ear, still wearing a bashful look on her face.
"It was okay," replied Matthias curtly. He brought something out of his jacket pocket, "Your souvenir, take it."
"Aww~ Thank you, dear!"
Stephanie took the souvenir—a square box tied with a ribbon—from Matthias. Able to guess what was the content, her eyes sparkled with delight.
A diamond choker inlaid with pearls lay inside the box. The gems shimmered under the small chandeliers hanging above, reflecting their opulence in Stephanie's eyes.
"This choker is so pretty~" Stephanie smiled fondly at Matthias. Deliberately making her voice sound softer, she continued praising him "My dear, you really know my taste."
Matthias stared back at Stephanie, his expression remaining impassive, "Evan chose it. I'm glad you like it."
Stephanie froze. Unconsciously clenching the box, she forced herself to reply, "...yes. I like it."
Being content with their relationship?
No!
She wanted him to love her, to be affectionate with her but... he never did such a thing!
Lowering her chin, Stephanie tried to hide the disappointment and fury in her eyes. The coldness of the diamond seemed to mock her.
It's fine... it's alright.
Even though Matthias never showed any love or care to her, Stephanie knew where to seek them. She wasn't thinking of her parents, siblings or flocks of admirers.
Who came to her mind was...
The one man who had been showing devotion and worshipping her body as if she was his only goddess. Her heart tingled with excitement at the thought of meeting him again, most likely soon.
"Dear, please enjoy the meal," said Stephanie once she managed to swallow every disappointment down, "I know you're busy. I don't want to keep you away from your duty."
Matthias simply nodded. He feigned ignorance to the familiar treacherous glint in Stephanie's eyes.