The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

A flash of anger darkened Haynes' eyes as he strode purposefully toward Stella.

Stella's foot slipped, and she nearly lost her balance, but Neville reacted quickly, steadying her before she could fall.

"Thank you," Stella murmured.

She had barely straightened up when a powerful force wrenched her and Neville apart.

Caught off guard, Stella stumbled back two steps and nearly slipped again on the loose gravel beneath her feet.

"Star!" Neville instinctively reached out to catch her.

But before he could, another hand seized Stella's wrist, yanking her forward.

"Stella, Neville-just what do you think you're doing?" Haynes' voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.

Neville gripped Stella's other wrist. "Let go of her, Haynes."

Haynes' expression was icy, his lips pressed into a thin line. He spoke each word slowly, his tone like frost: "You're the one who should let go."

Stella's face paled when she saw who it was.

"Haynes, what are you doing? Let me go!" She struggled, trying to break free from his grasp.

she resisted, the tighter his grip became, until a dull ache

looked suddenly grim. "Haynes, Star is divorced from you. She has her

out a cold laugh. "I have no right?

pulling Stella

their way. "Let her go, Haynes. She doesn't want to go with

grip tightened even more. "If she doesn't want to come with me, does she want to go

let go, and the pain shooting through Stella's wrist made cold sweat bead on

go! That hurts..."

the sound of her distress. Seeing how pale she was, he

his hold

icily.

glanced down and

not gripping so hard anymore, but he still refused to

"Star,

eased slightly, but

already pulling her away.

unwilling to

could

go. He only watch in silence as the two disappeared

led Stella to a quiet, secluded corner. Only when he