The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Jonathan's lips pressed into a thin, icy line, his expression as unyielding as frost. Even when she walked in, he barely spared her a glance-certainly not a smile.

Skyler, at least, managed a strained smile. "Ah, Star's here... Wait, Haynes, you came too?"

Haynes offered a brief explanation. "Yeah, Keen hasn't seen Star in quite a while. When I heard she was coming back today, I picked her up from the airport so we could all have dinner together tonight."

Skyler's eyes lingered on Haynes, his tone carrying an unreadable undertone. "It's been ages since I last saw Keen too. I've missed him terribly these days. Haynes, you haven't brought Keen by to visit me in a long time. What's this, the Williams family suddenly so terrifying?"

Haynes's smile was calm, almost placating. "You misunderstand, Mr. Williams. It's just that an old enemy of mine seems to have arrived in Novaris recently. I've been extra cautious, worried he might target the kids. I'm sure you wouldn't want anything to happen to Keen-after all, he's your only grandson."

an eyebrow, his hand pausing ever so slightly as he

Williams estate, and right after that, Aurora's scandal

passed over Haynes's face. "Given Keen's connection, even if we're not family, at the very least we're friends. Why would you suspect people so close

"It's obvious- right after Stella was exposed as an illegitimate child, Aurora's secrets were aired for everyone to see. It's hard not to think someone was trying to stir up

of shouldering the blame or confessing anything to the Williams family. The more he defended Stella, the more they'd believe he was covering for her. And with Keen's long absence from the family as added fuel,

back on them. "Mr. Williams, the news about Star being illegitimate-it wasn't leaked by

before they could act, the news had already

self-righteously, "Of course it wasn't