The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 26

"Stella, for the hundredth time, I've explained it. Rachel and I aren't what you're imagining. Can we drop this constant suspicion?"

Stella responded with a cold detachment, "Whatever your relationship with Rachel is doesn't concern me anymore. I've signed the divorce papers. When can we finalize this?"

"Divorce?" Haynes let out a dry, sardonic chuckle. "Stella, you've been a stay-at- home mom for five years. Without our marriage, what will you do? You might not even make ends meet on your own."

"And as for Keen, you're not getting custody. Even if it goes to court, you stand no chance with no job or income. A clever woman knows when to quit while she's ahead. Push too hard, and it'll backfire."

Stella felt a chill settle in her bones. All her years of dedication had become her Achilles' heel, a bargaining chip for others to manipulate.

Even Keen, whom she had raised since he was a baby, seemed resentful toward her.

failure she had

Haynes straight in the eye, Stella said, "No job, no income? Before Keen was

I quit, saying you couldn't trust strangers to care

did that salary amount to? Better to focus

might not have Mr. O'Brien's knack for making a fortune. But I can earn

a parasite. Or your friends mocking me for being a housewife living

had sacrificed so much for her family and child, only to be

do you care so much about what people think? Besides, Jasper meant

was a serpent coiled beneath silk, subtle and venomous. Jasper's, on the other hand, was a blade unsheathed, glinting in the open. Yet Haynes dared to call him

you care what I say to Rachel? Besides, I meant

"Stella, do you