The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Aurora studied the look on Queenie's face, frowning. "Queenie, don't tell me you still have feelings for Haynes?"

Years ago, when Haynes had helped Aurora, Queenie couldn't help but develop a crush on him. But she'd been so young then, and her family had already arranged an engagement for her since childhood.

She couldn't just go chasing after Haynes while wearing the label of someone else's fiancée.

When she got home, she tried to break off the engagement, but her family wouldn't hear of it.

Her fiancé, someone who'd grown up with her and always adored her, refused to let her go as well.

It took Queenie years of effort to finally free herself from the arrangement and all the expectations that came with it.

She went to Novaris to find Haynes-only to be hit with the news that he was already married.

Queenie wasn't the type to be the other woman. She buried her feelings deep and left Haynes alone, quietly returning to the Burton family.

She didn't bother denying anything now. Instead, she said softly, "Over the years, I've tried dating a few times, but it never made my heart race. I know he's been married before, and he has a child. But honestly, I'd rather be with someone I care about than settle for a lifetime with a man I feel nothing for."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Aurora, you know as well as I do-being part of the Burton family, there's no way I'll be allowed to stay single forever. When the time comes, the family will arrange a marriage for me. The O'Brien Group is doing well these days, and Haynes is one of the most accomplished men of our generation. If I put in a little effort, I'm sure the family would approve." Aurora hesitated. "But Stella is Haynes's ex-wife. With the way she and Mr. Burton get along, I'm not even sure he would be on board with all this."

close he is to her, that doesn't compare to me. I've always been his favorite. I'll spend some more time with him in the coming weeks, and soon enough, he'll forget all about

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