The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 546

"Does Haynes know about your connection to the Williams family?"

Stella shook her head. "No, he doesn't."

She began to recount how Haynes and Aurora had first met.

Neville couldn't help but chuckle at her story. "Well, if there's any real friendship between Haynes and Aurora, it wouldn't be surprising if the guest list gets shaken up. Given Jonathan's relationship with the Chapmans, changing the special guests would be as easy as snapping his fingers. And even though Lauretta's a Chapman, she still has to follow the family's decisions."

Stella smiled faintly. "If Haynes is willing to trade in a favor just for Rachel, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Being a special guest isn't all that important, anyway. But if they use their connections to sabotage me at the concert, now that would be a real problem."

Neville tried to reassure her. "You have Mr. Burton in your corner. I doubt they'd dare go too far."

But Stella's optimism had its limits. "The Burton family has Sherman, and he's been circling, waiting for me to slip up. According to Florrie, Sherman's uncle is also quite taken with Aurora. The enemy of my enemy is my friend-they might even help Rachel just to spite me."

really. Yet simply being accepted into the Williams family-being recognized

voice softened. "Star, Rachel has Haynes, and Aurora has Sherman and his

startled for a moment, then

firmly. "Yes. I still have

...

estate was ablaze

anguished cries echoed

"Stop! Dad, please, stop!"

"Oh, it hurts?

he raised the belt in his hand and brought it down hard

streaming down her face as she watched Jasper writhe on the floor in agony. She grabbed Galen's arm, desperate. "Please, that's enough! He didn't mean to cause trouble. How could he have known the man was

her aside. "It's your fault-your coddling turned him into this! Because of him, the entire

is any of this my fault? You always said Jasper was good-natured, that he'd made strong friends in Haynes and Foreman. And besides, wasn't it Haynes' first love, Rachel, that dragged Jasper into trouble with Mr. Burton in the first place? If anyone's to