The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 162

Haynes's voice dropped to an arctic whisper. "And if I refuse?"

"Whether Ms. Pearce gets her happy ending... who knows?" The shrug was audible in their voice.

Haynes's stare turned deadly serious, the kind that makes your skin prickle. "Stella, you're pushing your luck."

Stella's eyelashes fluttered as she met Haynes's intense stare. Her eyes were unwavering.

"Oh, so you can threaten those I care about, and that's just fine, but if I use your beloved Rachel as leverage, suddenly I'm crossing a line?"

"Haynes, I've never wanted to drag others into our mess. If Rachel hadn't repeatedly shoved her way into my life, I wouldn't have bothered with her."

"If you have grievances with me, bring them to me directly. But if you so much as lay a finger on my friends..."

Stella leaned in, her voice steady and biting, each word deliberate.

ends up in

In that instant, he realized the woman he thought he could easily control

he swallowed, and after a few tense seconds,

you want a divorce, fine. But I won't agree to split my

"What are your

into the nearby couch, his voice cool. "You

Leave with nothing? Funny.

Haynes had given Rachel everything, no strings attached. But with Stella?

time to think it

"If that's all,

Haynes didn't respond.

out without waiting-no hesitation, no backward look. Then came that telltale hitch in

to meet hers. "Is there

picking up a nearby glass of water. "Oh, just one

he could fully process the thought, the icy water splashed across his face, dripping down his perfectly