The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 651

Rachel flinched, the realization hitting her like a cold draft.

She'd burned her hand, hoping Haynes O'Brien would be moved to pity, but she'd forgotten-Joshua Gardner's kindness toward her had always been about her violin. Nothing more.

He was cold. Detached. Sometimes cruel.

That was why she'd chosen Haynes over Joshua, why she'd never let herself consider the alternative. She knew, deep down, that if she ever asked Joshua to marry her, he'd accept without hesitation. But the day her lies unraveled would destroy her—she'd rather die than live through that humiliation.

Joshua might be helping her now, but there was never any real affection between them. Not romantic. Not even friendly. To be precise, he seemed incapable of feeling anything at all. Every favor he did for her was measured, mechanical, utterly devoid of warmth.

She never doubted his words.

Today, he could give her everything she asked for. Tomorrow, he could just as easily turn his back and pretend she didn't exist.

To him, she was nothing. Her only value lay in the music she played, the fleeting emotions he experienced when she performed.

Rachel lowered her gaze. "I understand. It won't happen again.”

after a moment, she raised her head, her eyes shining with quiet

what else to do. After the concert, he said he wouldn't care about me anymore. I even pretended to be sick, but he hasn't bothered to

resorted to burning her own hand, desperate for

listened, expression blank. "Rachel, do

wasn't born a Cameron, and I don't have enough people on

officially returned to the Williams family, but she was already living like a true heiress. No wonder Lauretta Chapman refused to help her own

"You're simply not as clever as Stella. As for

together, saying nothing. It was true—Jasper's attempts to help had only made things worse. But he was all she

illness to get Haynes to check in on her, even feign vulnerability for a little attention. But getting him to take on Stella

beyond her control. She couldn't manipulate

are you suddenly so close to Stella?

an eyebrow. "Isn't it a good thing? If I'm near her,

caught. "It's too

what if she does? She's not going to

What could Stella possibly

the Gardner family-untouchable,

one outside the