The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 425

Before she could land a slap across his face, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist in a vice.

In the dim light, Haynes' handsome features flickered in and out of shadow.

"You've hit me enough times, Stella. That's enough."

His grasp on her wrist was unyielding there was no chance of escape.

Stella lifted her eyes, staring at Haynes with a hatred and disgust she'd never felt so sharply before.

"You stole what was mine and handed it to Rachel behind my back, didn't you?"

She didn't wait for him to answer. "If I'm not mistaken, you not only turned down Mr. Walden's offer for me, but you brought Rachel to meet him instead, didn't you? Let me guess you also told Mr. Walden that I'm just a housewife, barely educated, that I've spent years running the O'Brien household, and it'd be a waste to give me that opportunity. Much better to hand it over to Rachel, right? She's so hardworking, so resilient-battling a terminal illness and never giving up. Giving me that chance would just be throwing it away, wouldn't it?"

Her voice was questioning, but her expression was utterly certain.

What was left to doubt?

Her wedding had been like this. Her necklace, the same. And now, even the opportunity that should have been hers had been stripped away.

second thought? Did I murder her entire family, desecrate her ancestors' graves, or maybe I owed her in a past life? What gives you the right to decide for

was silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his

chance more than you do." Her free hand lashed out, slapping him across

with rage, and her fingers trembled so much that the blow barely stung, but it didn't matter. It

leaving his. "You want me to hand over my

violin? Let's see, what

you

turning icy. "Oh, I know the only thing left is my life. After all, she's dying, and I'm perfectly healthy. So why not hurry up and kill me while I'm not looking, take my life for her too? That way, if your precious Rachel's condition gets

eyes, glimmering

long time. Ever since she'd decided to

promised herself never to shed another tear for

something that should have been hers, she couldn't hold it

her, his deep eyes faltering as he saw

out, almost without thinking, to wipe

turned her head away, avoiding

shut, refusing to let

she drew several long, shuddering breaths, trying to steady