The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 46

"Don't worry. I won't let you get the short end of the stick on this," Haynes assured.

Rachel managed a small smile through her tears. She knew Haynes wasn't the kind to make promises lightly. If he promised something, he never failed to deliver.

A few minutes later, Benson stood outside another hospital room. He'd learned the driver of the car that collided with Rachel's was staying there. Naturally, Haynes wouldn't handle this sort of thing in person.

Benson knocked on the door and stepped inside.

Meanwhile, Haynes lingered in the hallway and called Stella again. Just like yesterday, he heard silence. An inexplicable frustration bubbled within him.

He was about to try calling again when Benson emerged, looking perplexed.

"What's with the quick exit? Did they refuse to admit fault?" Haynes asked, pausing his actions.

finally said, "Mr. O'Brien, you... you

of handling such matters with ease. It must be something significant if he suggested Haynes take

door. His gaze froze when he saw the woman sitting on

why Haynes was there. And his arrival didn't surprise her in the

bed, Stella looked pale with a few scabbed wounds on her forehead. She regarded him coldly. "Mr. O'Brien, you should already know why I'm here. The reason for your visit is probably clearer to you than

low and dangerous. "You're the one

her tone casual to the point of indifference.

pieces snapped into place for Haynes. His piercing gaze flickered, the certainty in his eyes wavering like

tightened, each

away. "When you rescued Ms. Pearce, my foot got trapped. I called you to help

have seen Stella if he had glanced in her direction. But he hadn't. His

the feeling of being left behind in a life-or- death situation was