The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Haynes was still in a daze long after Stella had left.

In the past, he could always tell himself that this was just one of Stella's moods. Once Rachel's concert was over, he'd smooth things over, apologize, and she'd come back-she always did.

After all, they had a child together. He knew better than anyone how much Stella cared about Keen.

He simply couldn't believe that, as a mother, she'd ever truly be able to leave Keen behind.

And he, well, he owed her so much because of Rachel.

He used to think of Stella as his wife, a part of himself. Whatever troubles she had to endure didn't seem to matter much.

Rachel was, after all, just an outsider. He'd rather owe Stella a little than be in Rachel's debt again.

He thought, once Rachel's situation was settled, he'd make it up to Stella. He'd convinced himself it was only six months-surely Stella would bear it.

But the more he took Stella's patience for granted, the more he began to see her forbearance as something owed to him-just the way things were.

It wasn't until much later, when Haynes finally snapped out of it and went looking for Stella, that he found Neville examining her wrist.

hadn't noticed him

guilt. "Star, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you just now. Maybe we should have a doctor take a look-your competition's coming up soon, and you can't afford anything to go wrong with

your wrist,"

surface bruise, and besides, it wasn't you who did

something was off and quickly let go. He hadn't pulled her that

still happened because of me.

“Honestly, I almost fell just now. If you hadn't caught me in time, I might have really hit the

a

Had he misunderstood everything?

vivid bruise circling Stella's right wrist the very spot where he'd

and gripped

just

moments ago.

someone who obsessed over the health of her hands. Haynes knew that

yet, without thinking, he'd been hurting Stella's

forward, but suddenly found himself rooted to the spot, unable

Neville managed to convince Stella

the checkup, the doctor confirmed that her hands were