The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 148

Stella's gaze flickered between Haynes' stormy expression and Rachel's pinched lips, her mouth curling into a razor-edged smile. "Pity I can't perform miracles-I'd love to demonstrate how easily truth gets rewritten around here."

"That's alright," Marvin said, tilting his head towards Rachel. "Didn't Stella mention that Ms. Pearce has some sort of magical power like that? Watching her perform is just as entertaining."

With Stella and Marvin bantering back and forth, even five-year-old Keen picked up on the sarcasm. Stella was subtly mocking him and his dad for being naive, for believing everything Rachel said.

Stella knew trying to explain things to them was pointless. They wouldn't believe her anyway, and she didn't want to waste her breath.

"Marvin," she said reassuringly, "don't worry. Aunt Stella promised to go with you to the competition, and I will keep that promise."

Marvin looked up cautiously. "But Keen might get upset..."

"Is that so?" Stella turned to Keen. "Are you upset?"

He thought she was backing down, so he

going to

then, do you want me to go with you

fingers clenched reflexively around Stella's, his knuckles whitening. Stella gently patted his shoulder

would guarantee dead-last humiliation, and he'd

chimed in with a smile. "Ms. Cameron, there's no need to pressure the child. This competition is

"I'll talk to Keen about it for the next

this, Keen visibly relaxed. He nodded quickly, "Yes, next time. I've already promised Rachel, and I need to

"What if

said nothing. Instinctively, he

coldly, "Stella, is it really amusing to put a

choose between his mom and an aunt is putting