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.

happy with my life now. I may have been late to realize it,

I didn't miss

tone softened. "Do you still

a moment

subtly toward the door. The faintest

touched the

he turned

wasn't sure why, but suddenly he

down, that Stella had moved

like a sledgehammer slamming into his

three words—"I don't"—echoed

smile flickered across

this on

understood

of him wished

she was before. But looking

he realized

life—free and unburdened—was

what she truly deserved.

seen this side of her, would

...

basement, Sellers huddled in the corner,

gaunt, his entire body

and neat, precise cuts

had

thick with the stench of

been so utterly broken

as if he had been consigned to the

come every day, but whenever he

every imaginable method of

time, he left Sellers wishing

clung

could just hold out