The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Her thoughts echoed Aurora's exactly.

Clearly, whoever was behind this was targeting Simone.

Stella frowned. "Does Rachel have some kind of grudge against Simone?"

She still didn't realize that the bad blood between the two women had everything

to do with Joshua-that their feud had become a fight to the death.

Haynes shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure, but Simone and Aurora once visited Rachel in prison. They even bailed her out. Maybe they struck some sort of deal-only to turn on each other later. Who knows?"

Stella glanced at Haynes. "Sellers said all the security cameras along the route were destroyed-there's nothing left to check. How did you get these videos?"

Haynes' eyes darkened with a hint of pride. "This is Neo-Vespera. If someone thinks they can hide something from me here, they're sorely mistaken. Besides, Jasper used my own network to wipe the footage. He might have fooled Sellers and his people, but not mine."

Understanding dawned on Stella. So, Jasper had helped cover their tracks. That explained a lot.

But still...

mocking smile tugged

his nose for so long-even setting Stella up in

trace of irony in Stella's eyes and seemed

"Star, I've thought about it carefully. Rachel's little act— pretending to be sick-she had help. Someone was pulling strings for her, and it must have been planned a long time ago. That's the only reason

yes, I admit I misjudged her. I put too

glass and took a sip of water. "It's rare for Mr. O'Brien to admit

Haynes really had no

is on me,

pressed, "Who? Jasper? He's not

knitted. "He doesn't have that kind of reach. But as for who's really behind her-I haven't figured

you're not just making excuses because

"Star, I already told you-Rachel was my mistake, but I have no reason to lie

was practically zero. She took

plan to do about it?" she

family, I can say found the culprit for