The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Haynes's voice was low and hoarse. "That's not what I meant. You misunderstood. I just..."

He looked as if he wanted to explain, but in the end, he gave up.

He simply said, "I'm sorry. It's my fault."

Stella glared at him with undisguised contempt. "Haynes, when are you finally going to stop showing up just to bother me? Is divorce not enough to get rid of you? Or do I have to leave this world entirely before you'll let me go?"

A flicker of wounded disbelief crossed Haynes's eyes.

"Star, do you really hate me that much?"

Stella's lips curled in a cold, careless smile. "Haynes, is this the first time you're realizing it? This past year, you and Rachel haven't just disgusted me-you've made my skin crawl. The mere sight of you two makes me sick to my stomach."

Her words hit Haynes like a slap, and for a moment, anger flashed in his eyes. "So who is it you like? Neville? Is that why you'd rather walk out on your husband and your child just to get away from me?"

had no interest in rehashing the past. He'd never once believed he'd done anything wrong; never even questioned

and distant. "Whoever it is, it's not

dangerous flush crept into Haynes's gaze. "So you admit

of anger twisting his features, Stella couldn't help but

just been betrayed? Are you really that angry? For what it's worth, at least I waited until we were divorced to let anyone else into my life. You, on the other hand, spent our entire marriage tangled up

Haynes protested, "There was nothing going on between me and her. I've explained this

and Rachel were practically inseparable, always clinging to each other, and you want to claim you were innocent? So if I end up in Neville's arms, what's the

his

watching him with a mocking,

in his arms when she'd fallen ill. At the time, it

ver

petty toward someone terminally

lately, the whispers and sideways glances from others had started to get under his skin. Had

I'll be more careful from now on. But Star, you don't have to go running to Neville just to

stared at him in