The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella said, "A witness statement alone isn't enough to count as evidence. As long as Haynes denies everything, there's nothing anyone can do to him.

Sure, someone tampered with your brakes, Joshua, but the only person who's gone missing is that store clerk. There's no way to tie any of it directly back to Haynes."

She glanced at Joshua, her eyes full of regret. "I'm sorry, Joshua. I don't think there's any way for me to get justice for you this time.”

It wasn't that she didn't want to help-there simply wasn't any hard evidence linking Haynes to the crime.

Joshua gave a weary smile. "Mr. O'Brien has more power than we can imagine. He covers his tracks too well. People like us, we're just no match for someone like him."

He shrugged, trying to play it off. “It's all right. I'll just have to be more careful from now on."

The more gracious Joshua tried to be, the more guilty Stella felt.

"I promised you before that I'd get justice for you, and now I've gone back on my word so soon."

At that moment, Stella felt the full weight of how powerless justice could be in the face of wealth and influence.

Antoney, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "Star, when I return to my family, I promise I'll do everything I can to make things right for you."

Stella managed a smile and nodded.

little longer before Antoney took his

after, Stella saw a headline on the news-Rachel had been arrested. Her expression remained

Rachel, Stella realized, didn't even have the

enough to want revenge. Letting the police and the law handle her was the best ending she

her side of things, Stella got a

your competition is over now, so you should have a little more free time, right?

but she'd always told him she was too busy

was

out to a daughter they'd disowned. But when she

company's original shares,

everything made sense.

been so generous with Keen,

Stella agreed.

face these things-and

knew? Maybe one day she'd join The

"My father and I will

up, Stella told Abby she was

if this is Neo-Vespera, and it's unlikely they'll try anything, it's better to be safe. Why don't you take Joshua with you? That way,

Stella nodded. "Good idea."