The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 1

It was one in the morning.

Stella Cameron suddenly stumbled upon Rachel Pearce's Facebook post.

"Thanks to Mr. O'Brien and little Keen for the gifts. Keen even handmade this mug himself!"

Stella clicked on the photo. A necklace and a DIY mug appeared on her screen. She could faintly see the words on the mug, "Happy Birthday, Mom."

Stella glanced at the dining table, the untouched dinner that had gone cold, and the birthday cake with candles still unlit. A wry smile crept onto her lips.

She recalled a news alert she received earlier that day: "Confirmed! The usually reserved Haynes O'Brien from elite circles is secretly married and has a five-year- old son!"

In the photo, a tall, handsome man and a slender, beautiful woman were walking hand in hand with a five-year-old boy at a theme park.

Rachel gently patted Keen O'Brien's head while Haynes gazed at her with an intensity and tenderness Stella had never seen.

family of three, with the little boy looking so

It was her birthday and her fifth wedding anniversary with Haynes. Yet, it seemed like Rachel

and son had spent the day with

was used to it

only a year left to live. Her dying wish was to

meaningful for Rachel in her final days, hoping that Stella would come to terms with it. Although Stella was reluctant to accept it, she realized she couldn't stop him, as it was the first time Haynes had ever spoken to her

empty, aching void. She sat in the dark for what seemed like an age when the front door opening

have forgotten the day, looking at Stella with

coldly, "I have something to discuss with

furrowed his brow and glanced down at Keen. "Keen,

rubbed his eyes, yawning as he passed by Stella.

his eyes remarkably similar to

didn't mean to forget your birthday. We