The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Haynes's voice was low and hoarse. "That's not what I meant. You misunderstood. I just..."

He looked as if he wanted to explain, but in the end, he gave up.

He simply said, "I'm sorry. It's my fault."

Stella glared at him with undisguised contempt. "Haynes, when are you finally going to stop showing up just to bother me? Is divorce not enough to get rid of you? Or do I have to leave this world entirely before you'll let me go?"

A flicker of wounded disbelief crossed Haynes's eyes.

"Star, do you really hate me that much?"

Stella's lips curled in a cold, careless smile. "Haynes, is this the first time you're realizing it? This past year, you and Rachel haven't just disgusted me-you've made my skin crawl. The mere sight of you two makes me sick to my stomach."

Her words hit Haynes like a slap, and for a moment, anger flashed in his eyes. "So who is it you like? Neville? Is that why you'd rather walk out on your husband and your child just to get away from me?"noveldrama

Stella had no interest in rehashing the past. He'd never once believed he'd done anything wrong; never even questioned himself.

Her voice was cold and distant. "Whoever it is, it's not you."

A dangerous flush crept into Haynes's gaze. "So you admit it?"

Looking at the storm of anger twisting his features, Stella couldn't help but laugh.

"Haynes, why do you look like some poor guy who's just been betrayed? Are you really that angry? For what it's worth, at least I waited until we were divorced to let anyone else into my life. You, on the other hand, spent our entire marriage tangled up with Rachel."

Instinctively, Haynes protested, "There was nothing going on between me and her. I've explained this to you-I only ever..."

Stella cut him off, her patience worn thin. "You and Rachel were practically inseparable, always clinging to each other, and you want to claim you were innocent? So if I end up in Neville's arms, what's the big deal?"

Haynes opened his mouth. "I never-"

But Stella was already watching him with a mocking, knowing look.

Suddenly, Haynes remembered how not long ago, he'd carried Rachel in his arms when she'd fallen ill. At the time, it hadn't seemed wrong-he'd even snapped at Stella for

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complaining, accusing her of being petty toward someone terminally ill. Cóntent

But lately, the whispers and sideways glances from others had started to get under his skin. Had he really crossed a line?

His voice was rough. "If it bothers you, I'll be more careful from now on. But Star, you don't have to go running to Neville just to get back at me."

Stella stared at him in disbelief.

She was completely, utterly done.

"Haynes, are you really this dense? Whatever happens between Neville and me has nothing to do with you-and it's definitely not about revenge. I asked for a divorce because I wanted out. There's no going back."

She met his gaze, her voice clipped and precise. Marriage isn't a game. You can't just get divorced because you're mad and then take it all back when you regret it. If you're stil holding out hope I'll come back to you, let me save you the

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trouble-give it up."

She paused, her expression grave, eyes locked on his.

"Haynes, I don't love you anymore. The woman who once did-who loved you deeply-died the day you kept choosing Rachel over me, the day you abandoned me, and the day you tried to take everything from me. That Stella is gone, and you killed her."