The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 471

The moment Haynes spoke, all three women in the room instinctively turned to look at him.

Star.

Haynes almost never used such an intimate nickname for Stella.

Actually, to be precise, he never did.

He always called her by her full name. The closest he'd ever come to familiarity was a clipped "Mrs. O'Brien."

Now, hearing him say "Star," not only the others—even Stella herself-felt a chill run up her spine, goosebumps prickling her arms.

Rachel's smile was already strained, and now it barely held together.

Lauretta, for her part, looked genuinely surprised. Hadn't Star and Haynes gotten divorced? Why was he suddenly calling her so affectionately?

Trying to smooth things over, Lauretta replied, "Star and I were classmates in college."

"College?" Haynes's eyes widened, clearly taken aback. "You... you were classmates in college?"

Lauretta already knew from Abby that Haynes and his circle had always looked down on Stella, constantly making snide remarks about her supposedly only having a middle school education.

She arched a brow, challenging him. "Is there a problem with that?"

rattled today. She jumped in, "I heard Ms. Cameron only finished middle school. How

and I were classmates. Don't you, Ms. Pearce? Are you

off guard

which college

calm and composed. "You invited me here as a special guest. I would've thought you'd at least know a little about me... But it

that, Rachel's

continued, “Star and I both went to

"We were both inducted into the

Hall of Fame?"

expression changed entirely, heret

climbing in pitch, incredulous. "That's impossible! How

she

in the

pleasant as ever. "And

myself. I never heard of Stella, never even

me, Ms. Pearce-how many Hall of Fame

you actually met

Rachel's agitated expression froze.

the Hall of

their photos

faces. The rest