Chapter 583

Ella muttered, “Don’t even talk about it. I was totally shocked, just like that time in Shallow Bay Area. People who don’t know would think I’m just drooling over him. I truly can’t explain it.” Ella’s emotions were breaking down, and she ended up bursting into tears.

Stephanie said, “Are you sure you can actually explain this? You’ve done everything. Hey, just be honest with me, are you into Lorenzo? Did you do this on purpose?”

At that moment, Stephanie really suspected that Ella had a crush on Lorenzo and that everything she did was intentional. Stephanie’s words made Ella raise her voice over the phone. “I swear, it wasn’t on purpose!”

Stephanie fell silent. She was inclined to believe it wasn’t intentional. “Didn’t I tell you already? Don’t do anything, just take it easy.”

Stephanie felt at a loss. Back in Long Harbor, she never noticed Ella being this careless. Looking at her clumsiness now, it was unbelievable.

Ella insisted, “I really didn’t do anything.”

“Nothing? You pulled Lorenzo’s clothes off.”

“No, I ripped it.”

“Does it matter?” Stephanie snapped. To her, there was no difference at all.

Ella replied honestly, “There is a bit of a difference.”

Stephanie suddenly realized it was hard to communicate with Ella. “Just don’t meet him if you don’t like him. But if you do, that’s another story—”

“I don’t like him; I’m scared.” For Ella, Lorenzo was frightening.

Stephanie pleaded, “Then don’t see him, please. If you really upset him, I can’t guarantee I can protect you.”

Stephanie was genuinely worried. Lorenzo was important to Sebastian and held a position in Fiorenza too. She was afraid Ella might provoke him too much, and it would end badly. Even though Sebastian said Lorenzo probably liked Ella, Stephanie didn’t find it very convincing.

Feeling wronged, Ella said, “I didn’t even want to see him.”

Stephanie thought, ‘Doesn’t want to see him? But she met him and tore his shirt?’ She rubbed her temples, saying, “Alright, let’s drop this topic.” Dealing with Ella and Lorenzo’s situation always made Stephanie anxious.

Stephanie was about to ask whether she should send someone to pick Ella up right away, ready to do it if Ella said yes, even if it meant taking her by force. But Ella spoke first. “Let’s talk about Mom.”

Stephanie remained silent.

“So, have you confirmed it for me?” Ella asked, anxiously focusing on news about her mother.

Stephanie replied, “Still checking, I’ll make a call first.”

Chapter 588

“Alright, go ahead,” Ella said and hung up the phone.

Sofia glanced at Stephanie. “Your best friend?”

Stephanie nodded. “Yeah.” It was always the same—Ella sounded so scared on the phone, but when she went to pick Ella up, Ella didn’t leave with her.

Sofia said with a sour tone, “No wonder you haven’t been home much these years, out there making close friends.”

Stephanie responded, “You told me to make more friends outside so I can find help when I need it, right?”

Sofia replied, “I meant in school.”

“It’s all the same,” Stephanie said, quickly calling to check on Andrea’s situation.

As expected, things weren’t going smoothly, especially with ties to Dark Portal. It wasn’t that easy to figure everything out.

As they chatted, the wedding dresses arrived. Racks and racks of various styles filled the room. Sofia looked at the rows of dresses and couldn’t help but twitch her lips. “Is the dress I make not good enough?”

Stephanie said, “Lottie said girls only get married once, so I should choose the one I like best and look at as many as possible.”

“I used to believe that girls only get married once. Now, well, who knows!”

Stephanie was speechless.

“What do you mean by that?” Lottie and Richard came downstairs. Upon hearing Sofia’s words, they darkened their faces.

Sofia and Stephanie turned around, and Stephanie sweetly called out, “Lottie.”

Sofia pouted, “I’m just stating the truth. Just the other day, Richard’s cousin, Riley, got divorced.”

“You…” Lottie was so angry she didn’t even want to talk to her. Anyone with any sense would not say something like that, especially since Stephanie’s wedding was around the corner.

Not wanting to continue the topic, Lottie immediately said to Sofia, “You, go and get a marriage certificate with Richard right now.”

Stephanie and Sofia were caught off guard, their minds going completely blank. They looked at Lottie in disbelief, wondering if they had misunderstood.

Sofia thought, ‘Why did she agree? Even though the misunderstanding with Richard was cleared up, it doesn’t mean he’s a good person.’ She blurted out, “Mom, what do you mean?”

It seemed that Lottie thought getting a marriage certificate with Richard was something trivial. But after Richard’s strange behavior yesterday, Sofia couldn’t help but be suspicious. The stranger he acted, the less she wanted to get married to him. It could become a big problem.

Stephanie was taken aback by Lottie’s words and then snapped back to reality. “Mom, I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She believed that Sofia was just speaking impulsively when she said she’d marry Richard; she definitely didn’t mean it.

And yesterday, when Lottie heard about Sofia’s plan to marry Richard for revenge, she was quite upset. Lottie changed so quickly.

Chapter 584