The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 24

Jasper shot Stella a piercing glare. "Lay a finger on Rachel," he hissed, "and you're over. Just wait till Haynie gets a hold of you!"

Stella finally looked up at him with a hint of amusement. "Jasper," she said earnestly, "have you outgrown being just a simp? Are you now aspiring to be a full-blown lapdog?"

Jasper's face turned crimson with fury.

He pointed an accusatory finger at Stella. "Haynie, Foreman, did you hear that? She called me a lapdog! And earlier, she said I was a simp!"

Foreman cleared his throat gently. "Jasper, maybe it's best to leave this to Haynie."

"No!" Jasper raised his voice, "I'm not leaving until Haynie gives me a fair explanation!"

"Then stay here all you want. I've got things to do." She tried to brush past them, rubbing her sore

wrist again, though this time with a gentler grip. Stella still

icy demeanor silenced him. Seeing this,

roughly pushed Stella into an empty room, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Stella, is this your new game of playing hard

frowned. "What nonsense are you talking

being in danger to lure me in, and it turned out to be nothing. Stella, when did you start resorting to

stone. An invisible blade twisted in her chest, each breath a struggle against the weight of

tightly that her nails broke against her palms. The sting was a welcome distraction from the

accusation echoed in her mind, a taunt she couldn't silence.

when she stepped out

the vegetables, barely touching them. Stella suspected Rachel had ensured to mention Maisie was in