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.”

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

distant lately. I-I didn't know what else to do. After the concert, he said he wouldn't care about me anymore. I even

burning her own hand, desperate for Haynes' sympathy, hoping somehow to win back his

"Rachel, do you know why you keep

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

heiress.

not as clever as Stella. As for Jasper Wilkinson, the only person you rely on... he's an absolute

saying nothing. It was true—Jasper's attempts to help had only made things worse.

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

couldn't manipulate him, couldn't even predict

suddenly so

thing? If I'm near her,

too

unconcerned. "And what if she

right, What could Stella

the Gardner family-untouchable,

one outside the