The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella looked at him, her admiration genuine and heartfelt.

"Joshua, you're brilliant."

Joshua set the breakfast down on the table. "With Shawn missing, this really is the best solution for now."

Haynes, of course, wasn't a fool. He understood perfectly well that leveraging the situation for some benefit was the smartest way to handle things.

But if Stella simply couldn't swallow this injustice, he was more than willing to help her get what she deserved.

She'd already made too many concessions because of him, endured too many slights.

Haynes was done watching Stella compromise for anyone or anything.

...

When Skyler and Jonathan arrived at the hospital, they spotted Shawn's father leaving the building, his face lit with delight.

The two exchanged a wary glance.

What's going on?

yesterday, the Pearces had stormed over demanding Shawn's return, even threatening to cut ties if

change in

that Shawn had been

hardened. He strode

be in

father looked up and caught sight of

smile faded slightly from his face.

by Leonard, then it had to

likely suspect. After taking her medication, she'd fallen unconscious almost immediately. There was no way she'd had

played the part well—maybe

had crossed swords with Shawn's father more times than

smiles. "Pearce, were you just seeing Star at the

thin, polite smile. "Of course. After all, Ms. Cameron landed in the hospital because of my good-for-nothing son. It's only right

Shawn's father to be just as brash and unapologetic with Stella as he'd

change; his smile stayed in

for Shawn? Star's barely returned to the Williams family, and she nearly had something happen to her right under our noses. Put yourself in her

father scoffed. All these words—wasn't it just a fishing expedition

replied, "I've already