The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 528

Her demeanor was lukewarm, as though she were speaking to a stranger-calm, without a hint of emotion.

Haynes felt his throat tighten inexplicably.

"It's been ages since Keen saw you. Don't you want to visit him?" he asked.

Stella replied, “I'm still busy here."

The implication was clear-she was turning him down.

Haynes' voice grew heavier. "No matter how busy you are, don't you have even a few minutes to see your child?"

Stella's lips curved in a faint, noncommittal smile. “I'm not the person he wants to see. Ms. Pearce is here, isn't she? With her around, that's enough."

A faint furrow appeared between Haynes' brows.

"You're Keen's mother. Even if he's close to Rachel, she can never take your place."

Stella remained unmoved.

Haynes looked as if he wanted to say more, but Neville approached briskly and stopped by Stella's side.

Leaning close, he murmured, "Sherman's awake."

Stella's brows shifted almost imperceptibly.

She'd

spray in

Stella had let Sherman take her to a storage room. His

brick, and

debating what to do with the unconscious Sherman when Neville found her. With her performance about

breath, "What's his situation

exactly make him disappear. I

for

Say I had a score to settle with Sherman. Mr. Burton won't make things hard for

Sherman and me. He won't let this

an eyebrow. "You two

had just been hitting on Stella because she was pretty, and that she'd knocked him out in a fit of annoyance before her

about to explain when

He wore a polite smile, but his eyes were

think much

see you. There's something

of her own. Candida had mentioned he was her ex-boyfriend-handsome enough, but a complete jerk, nothing like

way,

instinctively

"Mr. O'Brien, you'll have to stay here.

Haynes halted mid-step.

but Karl blocked him with

"If you need to