The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Haynes had once heard Stella mention that her relationship with the Williams family was strained, but seeing it firsthand was another matter entirely. The ugly truth of who they really were stood before him now, impossible to ignore.

No wonder Stella never wanted to come back. No wonder she barely spoke of them. The Williams family wasn't a safe haven—it was a den of vipers.

Haynes glanced toward the emergency room, then back at the Williams family members in the hallway. A dull ache settled in his chest. The Williams family was a snake pit—but truthfully, had the O'Briens been much better?

All these years, he'd grown used to Stella's quiet sacrifices, barely noticing how much he overlooked her, how often her needs went unspoken and unmet. Only now, standing in this corridor, did the realization finally hit him.

Stella never asked for much. All she wanted was a warm, normal family.

And yet, because of Rachel, he'd forced her to endure and compromise, time and time again.

Was he really any different from the Williams family?

Sensing the tension, Aurora quickly stepped in, hoping to diffuse the situation. "Mr. O'Brien, this was truly Jonathan's mistake. But he never meant to set Stella up. He only heard that Stella had been mistreated by Shawn and wanted to help her get justice. That's the only reason he vouched for this."

She sighed, shaking her head. "No one expected Shawn would dare take things so far. We'll make sure the Pearce family gives us an explanation. We won't let Star suffer for nothing."

his gaze,

probably had no idea what Shawn was planning. According to Foreman and Joshua, when Jonathan came to find Stella, the three of

meant Shawn likely

been close for generations. For all Shawn's vices, he's never dared target

his gaze across the room. "But this time, he lied to Mr. Williams and drugged Star. That's a huge departure from his

shifted as

continued, his voice low and measured." suspect someone put him up to it. And whoever

convince Shaw to risknet.

attack Star must

him enough to make

the group visibly

had Shawn drugged Stella, he'd tried to record the whole thing to use as leverage—and then planned to marry her, which would give him control

on. "There

injuries and has a mountain. of

s

plenty of motive- especially