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.

three, with the little boy looking so much

be Stella's day. It was her birthday and her fifth wedding anniversary with Haynes. Yet,

son had spent the day with Rachel,

surprised. She was used to it by

love, diagnosed with a terminal illness and only a year left to live. Her dying wish was to see

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 with such

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

surprised. He seemed to have forgotten the day, looking at Stella with bewilderment. "Why aren't you

replied coldly, "I have something to

glanced down at Keen.

passed by Stella. Then, as

his eyes remarkably similar to

didn't mean to forget your birthday. We have plenty