The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 975

For both of them, this was already an uncomfortably personal question.

Still, Stella answered honestly. "Not at the moment."

"And in the future?" Joshua pressed.

"The future?" Stella paused to consider. "Who can really say what's to come?"

Joshua's gaze was steady. "Would you ever get back together with Haynes for the

sake of your child?"

This time, Stella barely hesitated. She shook her head instinctively.

"No. I wouldn't."

Outside the door, Haynes had just raised his hand to knock. He froze at her

words.

Joshua's voice carried through the door again. "You were together for five years,

you have a child... Are you really able to let go?"

Stella's reply was immediate. "Forcing ourselves to stay together for our child's

sake would only be unfair—to him, to ourselves, and to the very idea of marriage.

I used to put up with so much in that relationship, all because of Keen.

I thought I was sacrificing a lot for our family, but the truth is, neither Keen nor

Haynes needed that from me.

And all the while, I felt indescribably wronged... I suppose that's just another form

of emotional blackmail.

life now. I may have been late to realize it, but

I didn't

softened. "Do you still love

didn't even take a moment to think. "No.

Joshua glanced subtly toward the door. The

touched the

he

suddenly he didn't know

always known, deep down, that Stella had moved on. But hearing

loud felt like a sledgehammer slamming into his

three words—"I don't"—echoed in

smile flickered

this

understood

wished

she was before.

now, he

life—free and unburdened—was

what she truly deserved.

her, would he

...

basement, Sellers huddled in the corner,

entire body covered in gruesome

and neat, precise

the injuries had

with

so

was as if he had been

come every day, but whenever he did, he made sure

imaginable method of

he left Sellers wishing for

clung to

just hold