The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 88

"She knew perfectly well that Rachel didn't have much time left, yet she kept playing her little games. Remember how she faked being sick or even pretended she'd been kidnapped just to grab Keen's and my attention?"

"Over the years, she's gotten used to the high life, and now with Keen involved, there's no way she'd easily agree to a divorce. It's all just a strategic retreat on her part," Haynes remarked with a shake of his head.

Foreman watched Haynes intently, furrowing his brow, as if on the verge of saying something. Just then, the tightly shut door of the hospital room swung open.

The nurse, spotting Haynes still in the hallway, let out a sigh of relief. "Mr. O'Brien, thank goodness you're still here. Ms. Pearce had a nightmare and we can't wake her. Could you please come take a look?"

Haynes gave a quick nod and walked back into the room. Foreman watched him go, his figure fading into the distance.

...

out that Abby wasn't taken by Haynie," Foreman said, his voice giving nothing away. "I need a few more days to track her down, so

in relief but quickly tensed up again. "What on

of silence, Foreman responded, "Looks like she pissed off the wrong guy and is keeping her head down to stay out of trouble... Don't stress, once I track

getting under people's skin, Stella didn't question

after, her phone buzzed with a new message. "Stella, your friend has been missing for days. Aren't you worried

attempts to stir up trouble. Ignoring the message, she was about to delete it when a photo came through. It was Abby, tied to a chair

call was abruptly cut off. Immediately, another text arrived. "If you want to know where your friend is, meet me at this

in the city center, a place bustling enough to deter any immediate danger. Normally, hostage exchanges happened in secluded locations. Why meet at a popular café? And if Foreman had said Haynes wasn't involved in Abby's

the café. From the outside, the café appeared