The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 421

If Stella Cameron spoke French, it made sense-Keen O'Brien had hired a private

tutor, and whenever he studied, Stella had simply joined in.

But her fluency in German? That was a different story.

After all, Keen had only ever studied English, French, and Spanish. German wasn't even on the list.

So how did she know it so well?

And it wasn't just a few phrases her grammar and pronunciation were flawless.

Even if he hated to admit it, Haynes O'Brien had to acknowledge: no one could speak a language that perfectly without real-life experience, without actually conversing with native speakers.

Haynes stared at Stella, but she didn't glance his way. She just pressed play on the recording.

It wasn't until Rachel Pearce finally spoke that Haynes shifted his attention to her. His dark eyes, fathomless as an ancient well, flicked over Rachel.

She stiffened, her expression uneasy.

Wait-hadn't Stella only recorded the conversation between Jasper Wilkinson and herself? How had she ended up on the tape, too?

When the recording finished, silence descended-so heavy, it felt almost funereal.

look, but most faces had turned a

they'd all had the gall to accuse Stella of

knew there was no ground for

around at

disparaged Ms. Cameron-apologize. Right now. Or

who refused would be blacklisted from Walden's highly-regarded

put up a front

around Stella recognized the shift in power and

so sorry. Earlier, we approached you because you're so beautiful, and we just wanted

after that... well, we

gossip,

Wovelet

apologize for

a cold

eyes when they first approached-she'd crossed paths with their kind far too often. The more you indulged

more brazen they became.

else who'd spoken ill of

magnanimous or stop the procession. She accepted their apologies

everyone-Haynes included-to know that she was not someone to be trifled

faint smile at his lips, admiration shining in his