The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella sat in silence, unsure of what to say.

Once upon a time, there was always something she couldn't wait to share with him. Now, all that remained was a heavy, awkward silence between them.

Without Rachel, they didn't even have arguments anymore.

Haynes didn't seem to notice her quietness. He spoke up, "Star, you've changed a lot.

I used to think that as long as we had a child between us, if I swallowed my pride and tried to make things right, we could go back to how things were.

I even tried using Keen, hoping it would soften your heart. But Keen told me that you're happier now than you ever were before.

I didn't get it back then. Isn't having your mom around supposed to be the best, happiest thing for a child?

But looking at it now, I'm not even as perceptive as a five-year-old."

He caught a glimmer in Stella's eyes, something he hadn't seen in years.

It reminded him of when they first got married her eyes had sparkled then, too.

He hadn't married her just for the child. He genuinely thought she'd make a good wife. He didn't dislike her; if anything, he'd felt a certain fondness. After all, no one would nearly break ties with their own mother just to marry someone they hated. But somewhere along the way, that light in her eyes had faded.

remember

She'd grown more and more withdrawn,

like a rose slowly withering, losing its color and life

however you care

and took Stella's hand. "I used to believe that loving someone meant passion—a

be fireworks? Maybe the quiet, steady kind is

the divorce, I've done a

that I didn't fight to

because you were

was because I

he could finish, the door swung

tall, sharply dressed

bet

he announced, but his voice trailed

lips curled into a half-smile, half-smirk. "Am

didn't look the least bit apologetic, nor did he make any move to

meeting Joshua's gaze with the flush of someone caught in an

expression hardened. "If you know you're