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?"

address him directly. He thought she was backing down, so he lifted his chin a bit higher, his expression tinged with

don't want you going to

then, do you want me to

his knuckles whitening. Stella gently patted his shoulder

eyes. His mom's presence would guarantee dead-last humiliation, and he'd promised his

"Ms. Cameron, there's no need to pressure the child. This competition is

Cameron," she added, "I'll talk to Keen about it for the

He nodded quickly, "Yes, next time. I've

straight in the eye. "What if I insisted you choose between me

twitched, but he said nothing. Instinctively, he

"Stella, is it really amusing to put a

and an aunt is putting him in a