The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Haynes's tone was cold and dismissive. "Even if I needed someone's help, it certainly wouldn't be any of you. You're not even in the running."

The three women, each from an influential family, bristled at the insult, their pride flaring.

One of them, the heiress, spoke up. "Mr. O'Brien, we know you're powerful and way out of our league. We're hardly worthy of your attention, and we'd never presume to reach so high. But let's not forget-if you hadn't used our families as leverage in the first place, did you really think we'd stoop to something so despicable? Now that we've been exposed, you want to wash your hands of us and let us take the fall alone. If we're so beneath you, maybe you shouldn't have come looking for us in the first place."

Another woman, the CEO, turned to Stella. "Not long ago, Mr. O'Brien came to us himself, saying there'd been some misunderstanding that led to your divorce, Ms. Cameron. He said you shared a child and wanted to give the kid a proper family. But there was some slick young man always hanging around you, trying to stir up trouble and drive a wedge between you and Mr. O'Brien. So, he asked us to spread rumors online and plant fake stories. Every single photo was doctored by someone Mr. O'Brien hired. The videos? All staged, with a lookalike actor who resembled Mr. Joshua from behind and in profile."

The socialite chimed in. "When Mr. O'Brien first approached me, I turned him down. But then he offered my family a lucrative business deal if I'd help out. At the time, we were in a serious financial bind and facing bankruptcy. I didn't have a choice. Now that everything's blown up and he's pretending like he had nothing to do with it, I doubt he'll honor his promise. Since that's how it is, I have nothing left to lose."

All three women glared at Haynes, united in their outrage.

a bitter laugh. "So who put you up to framing me? Was it him—" He

Stella's brow furrowed. "Haynes,

orders, and now you're trying to pin it on someone else? Neville's

this

do with

wonder, if you ever had to choose between Neville and Joshua, who would it

"Haynes, with your status at Neo-Vespera, do you really think anyone would dare plot against you

Even if we didn't care

mouth to respond, but for a moment, no words came. He had the infuriating feeling of being wrongly accused,