The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 212

"Keen told me he can't stand me and doesn't want you to be with me. He came to the amusement park just to reconcile with you. He said if he acted all apologetic and charming, you'd listen to him and stop paying attention to me. And then he said... he said..."

At this point, Marvin's eyes started to well up, his voice becoming choked with emotion.

Stella pressed gently, "What else did he say?"

"Keen said that I'm just his stand-in... Stella, am I really just Keen's stand-in?"

Marvin's big, beautiful eyes were glassy with unshed tears, resembling a forlorn puppy that's been left out in the rain.

Stella's heart ached at the sight.

Her disappointment in Keen deepened.

A stand-in? Just like his father, always playing the same game. The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.

"You are no one's stand-in, Marvin. You're just yourself," Stella said with conviction, looking him straight in the eyes. "I promise I'll stand up for you in this."

She paused for a moment, then added, "Besides getting him to apologize, is there anything else you want? I'll do my best to make it happen."

Stella with a fearful,

any other requests. I just want Stella to

a pang of

in a string of

never blamed her or

and turned to Neville, who had been silently standing

there's anything you'd like, please let me

"Stella, you need to understand, the child isn't just your responsibility. It's not

everything yourself, Haynes has never felt responsible for the family or the child. He thinks raising a

doesn't see your sacrifices, which is why

blinked, taken aback

she'd been managing everything related to

knew Haynes was busy running a

she never burdened him with trivial matters, wanting

he had free time, he didn't spend it on work or family. Instead, he spent it with

How ironic.

murmured, "I understand, Mr.