The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 553

Stella glanced at Haynes without betraying any emotion, then lowered her gaze.

She climbed into the vehicle without another word.

Benson had brought around an oversized SUV, its cavernous trunk stacked high with nineteen suitcases.

As Stella was about to start the engine, Joshua-who had been silent until now- finally spoke up.

"Ms. Cameron."

She looked over at him.

Joshua offered her a gentle smile. "Take care."

Stella nodded, her hesitation gone. She started the car.

Haynes, Foreman, and Joshua stood in place, watching as she drove away. In the rearview mirror, their figures shrank smaller and smaller until they vanished from sight.

Stella's hand slipped into her pocket, brushing against something cold. Her pupils flinched.

A pistol.

She steadied her nerves and focused on the road ahead.

About twenty minutes later, Stella reached a secluded spot on the outskirts of town. An abandoned warehouse loomed before her, surrounded by dense brush and tangled undergrowth-a place perfect for hiding, but a nightmare for anyone hoping to stage a rescue.

Whoever chose this place for a handoff was clever-maybe too clever.

parked, her

will check the

the suitcases in the back. "Fine. But

inside the warehouse. Someone will bring

her pocket

"All right."

and made her way toward the

knew Haynes' team would be tailing her,

device

she

pushed it open, the hinges groaning under years of

Inside, a

hall. They'd clearly

burly

she

purpose. The guards simply stepped aside,

caught off guard by how cooperative they were. Was it a trap? Her

as she entered the room, her

searching for anything out

moment Keen spotted her, his eyes lit

"Mom!"

the small knife she always

threw himself into her

gently rubbed his back, her voice soft and soothing. "Keen, did they hurt

head. "No. They