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

eye, Stella said, "No job, no income? Before Keen was born, I had a respectable

you couldn't trust

frowned. "And what did that salary amount to? Better

clenched her fists. "True. I might not have Mr. O'Brien's knack for making a fortune. But I

to endure your family's jabs about being a parasite. Or your

for her family and child,

do you care so

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 harmless. Was he blind-or

do you care what I say to Rachel? Besides, I meant no harm to Ms. Pearce, Mr. O'Brien. I was

faded. "Stella, do you have to