The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Those words were blunt, almost cruel-Joshua hadn't spared Haynes even a shred of dignity.

Haynes' face darkened, his expression carved in stone, while Rachel lowered her gaze, hiding a quiet satisfaction. So that's why Joshua "ran into" them here- clearly, he'd come to stir the pot, to drive a wedge between Stella and Haynes. Trust Joshua to be this sharp; so much more useful than Jasper, who only ever managed to offend everyone in sight.

Haynes pressed his lips into a thin, unforgiving line, as if he wanted to say something but forced himself to stay silent.

Joshua, of course, wasn't finished. "Honestly, Mr. O'Brien, no wonder Ms. Cameron divorced you. She gets hurt, and you don't even ask if she's all right. All you ever do is accuse and criticize. With that kind of cold indifference, I doubt there's a woman alive-apart from the truly desperate-who would want you."

Rachel stood quietly off to the side, eyes fixed on the floor, saying nothing. A long time ago, when Joshua found out she had feelings for Haynes, he hadn't understood it at all. He'd even offered to set her up with someone else. Clearly, he'd never thought much of Haynes.

Haynes stiffened at Joshua's words, his gaze snapping to Stella. "You're hurt?"

Stella wore long sleeves today, and her injury was hidden beneath the fabric. Haynes hadn't noticed at first.

"It's nothing. Just a scratch," Stella replied, her voice steady and dismissive.

Joshua interjected, "If I'd arrived even a few minutes later, Ms. Cameron's hand might have been ruined."

Haynes' eyes immediately dropped to Stella's hands. Only then did he notice the faint traces of injury at her wrist. Without warning, he seized Stella's arm, pulling up her sleeve to reveal the crusted wound.

Stella was caught off guard. She never expected he'd do something like this in front of Rachel. For a second, she froze, then quickly yanked her hand away and stepped back, putting distance between them.

"Haynes, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

His face was thunderous, voice colder than ice. "Who did this?"noveldrama

"Does it matter?" Stella shot back, her tone sharp and defensive.

Haynes' gaze was fixed on her injury, his voice lowering to a dangerous rumble. "Stella. I'm asking you: Who did this to you?"

He didn't know the details, but from Joshua's words, it was clear this wasn't some accident-someone had meant to hurt her.

Stella looked at Haynes' face, so handsome yet now so hard and cold, and suddenly gave a bitter little laugh. "Why? Are you planning to avenge me?"

She didn't try to hide the truth. "It was Karl. His ex-girlfriend, Candida, works for me. He barged in looking for her, and when I tried to stop him, he tried to break my hand."

She glanced at Joshua. "Luckily, Joshua arrived just in time."

Haynes hadn't yet replied when Jasper piped up, barely able to hide his glee. "Karl? The Burtons again? Stella, you really are something

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seems like that whole family can't stand you."

Aside from Mr. Burton him

He clicked his tongue, grinning. "You've got a real talent for making enemies, don't you?"

Stella ignored Jasper, but Joshua turned to him. "Or maybe, Jasper, the Burtons resent Ms. Cameron because of her connection to Mr. Burton."

Haynes' eyes harrowed, darkening with understanding-he caught the subtext immediately. Jasper, on the other hand, just looked baffled. "But Stella and Mr. Burton are so close. You'd think the Burtons would be happy about that. Instead, every single one of them seems to hate her..."

He shrugged. "Maybe someone should consider if the problem is with themselves."

Joshua just looked at Jasper with exasperated pity. "Mr. Burton has done nothing but support Ms. Cameron he stands up for her every chance he gets, introduced her to the family's future heir, even offered her shares in the company as a wedding gift. It's obvious he sees her as one of his own."