The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 426

Haynes's dark eyes were unreadable. "Are you sure about this?"

"What, did you think I was joking?"

"There were steak knives at the party. You could've tried one."

Stella let out a laugh, but it was as cold as winter rain. "You want to provoke me into stabbing you in public, then have me thrown in jail?"

He met her gaze, resentment simmering in his eyes. "You're overthinking it. I just wanted to give you a chance to get even."

She gave a bitter, mocking smile. "And what-one stab would make up for everything you cost me? Since when is life that easy? Don't you think that's letting you off far too lightly?"

She hadn't slapped Haynes in front of Mr. Walden, not because she didn't want to, but because she refused to give anyone ammunition against her. In that kind of crowd, it wouldn't matter who was right or wrong; if she struck first, she'd be the one to blame in the end.

Throwing away her reputation over someone like him-utterly pointless.

Haynes seemed to realize he was in the wrong. He stood in silence for a long time before finally saying, “I'll make it up to you."

if she'd just heard the punchline to a bad joke. "With what? That so-called 'compensation'-your

even looking at

took a few steps back, turned, and walked

retreat until she disappeared from view, not

***

knock sounded at the

O'Brien, we've finally tracked down Star's location. Would you like to go

days investigating Star. After his last contact with Star's friend, the person immediately deactivated their phone number. When Benson traced the number, it turned out to be

communication. Once Star

had wasted precious time. In the end, Benson hired a hacker and finally

happened to be free at that moment. He nodded. "Take

***

Stella and Abby Murphy were compiling a list

in the

all trashed-we'll need to replace everything. The floor's been covered in paint, so that have to be redone. Curtains, windows,

renovated a studio knows how exhausting and complicated it can be. And thanks to Jasper's rampage,