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.

a picture-perfect family of three, with

was supposed to be Stella's day. It was her birthday and her fifth wedding anniversary with

with Rachel, even giving her gifts meant

was used

a terminal illness and only a year left to live. Her dying wish was

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

felt her heart dug out, leaving an empty, aching void. She sat in the dark for what seemed like an age when

Stella in the dining room, Haynes paused, surprised. He seemed to have forgotten the day, looking at Stella with bewilderment. "Why

"I have something

his brow and glanced down at

his eyes, yawning as he passed by Stella. Then, as if remembering something,

his eyes remarkably similar to

mean to forget your birthday. We have