The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 430

The negotiation ended in a stalemate-neither side got what they wanted.

Afterwards, when Stella uncovered the truth about Mr. Walden, any hope of a constructive conversation between the two vanished completely.

And now...

It turned out star was Stella all along.

The revelation didn't just leave Haynes reeling-even Benson, who prided himself on keeping his cool, felt a headache coming on.

Driving down the avenue, Benson glanced at Haynes and broke the silence. "Since Ms. Cameron is star, I doubt she'll be willing to compose for Ms. Pearce anymore. Should we start looking for someone else?"

Haynes's lips parted slightly. "Star..."

He repeated the name, his dark eyes distant, lost in thoughts Benson couldn't guess.

Benson waited, but no reply came. After a long pause, he cleared his throat and tried again.

"Mr. O'Brien, do you think we should find a new composer for Ms. Pearce?"

snapped out of his reverie, voice steady and certain. "She'll

***

just dropped Marvin Connolly off at preschool when her

you see the news?

hands tight on the wheel. She hadn't had time to

"What happened to Antoney?"

some nasty stuff about him. I'm handling PR, but it's not working-whoever's behind this has real evidence.

bona fide celebrity by

not have been at the absolute top of

Antoney now?" Stella

him to stay put in his apartment. Canceled

turned the car around.

***

gathered out front- neighbors and strangers alike, all murmuring

a woman pregnant, refused to take responsibility, then just

say the woman's been a wreck ever since

Antoney recently-and now they've come looking

others' gaze, Stella spotted the commotion at the center of the crowd: a middle-aged couple, faces red with anger, had

a small child. Her voice trembled as she pleaded,