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.

each word cutting and clear. "Haynes, why is it that anything of mine-you always give it to Rachel, without a second thought? Did I murder her entire family, desecrate

spoke, his

cured. She needs this chance more than

her fingers trembled so much that the

eyes never leaving his. "You want me to hand over

violin? Let's

you can gift

paused, her voice 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 worse, you can always blame me

eyes,

time. Ever

herself never to shed another tear for

should

deep eyes faltering as he saw

thinking, to wipe a tear from the corner of her

turned her head away, avoiding his

squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to

shuddering breaths, trying to steady