The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Rachel glanced at Haynes and noticed his expression had darkened, his gaze toward her turning icy cold.

Stella, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the growing tension and kept pressing on, her tone light and relentless. "So, when was the first time you two held hands? Who made the first move? Where did you go on your first official date after you became a couple? Ever planned any romantic surprises for each other?"

She had transformed into an inquisitive journalist, firing off questions one after another.

With every question Stella asked, Rachel could feel the atmosphere around Haynes grow colder and more forbidding. A thin sheen of sweat began to form on her forehead.

Stella was doing this on purpose-wasn't she?

If Stella had chosen to lash out, it would have been easy to dismiss her as petty and jealous. But instead, she was taking the opposite approach: prying into their past with a sweet smile, making herself the target of Haynes's displeasure.

It was a calculated move-Stella was deliberately making Haynes dislike her.

Rachel tried to dodge, her voice faltering. "Honestly... I don't really remember all those details from back then."

Stella tilted her head, feigning surprise. "But Ms. Pearce, you remember exactly how you first met Haynes. How could you forget something as important and meaningful as your first date or who held whose hand?"

She shot Haynes a sly, ambiguous look.

"I always thought Ms. Pearce was hopelessly devoted to Mr. O'Brien," Stella went on with a faint, mocking smile. "But if you can't even remember such special moments, maybe all that talk about unforgettable love is just empty words."

Rachel's expression flickered, caught between embarrassment and anger.

If she claimed to remember, Stella would just dig for more details. If she said she didn't, Stella would throw her sincerity into question. No matter what she said, she'd be wrong.

Instead of making things difficult for Stella, Rachel realized she was only making a mess for herself.

Her jaw tightened, and she forced a smile. "Excuse me, I'm going to say hi to Keen. I'll catch up with you both later."

She decided to retreat before things got any worse.

Stella lounged back, her tone breezy. "Of course. I'll be waiting to hear more of your sweet memories, Ms. Pearce."

With Haynes out of reach for now, Rachel reluctantly shifted her attention to Keen. She spotted Joshua nearby and offered him a polite nod before turning to Keen. "Keen, you must be tired after all that archery practice. Want to take a break?" Keen was drawing his bow, aiming at the target. At Rachel's words, he lost focus -the arrow sailed wide, missing the mark entirely.

Trying to be supportive, Rachel said gently, "Don't worry, Keen. You're just starting out. Take your time-there's no rush."

Keen picked up another arrow and prepared to shoot again, concentrating hard. But as he was about to release, Rachel piped up once more.

"You've got this, Keen! I know you can do it!"

His hand jerked, and the arrow veered off again.

Rachel hovered, offering him water, dabbing his forehead with a towel-fussing over him more than any doting parent.

But instead of feeling cared for,

rachel constantly interrupting, was starting to get annoyed et

With

he couldn't land a single shot.

He finally put down the bow and looked at her seriously.

"Rachel, could you please stop talking for a bit? I need to concentrate."

Rachel stared at him, taken aback. "Am I... distracting you?"noveldrama

In the past Keen would have set the bow aside and reassured her. But now, after watching his dad and Mr. Joshya show off their skills, he was determined to be just as good as they were.

He nodded, honest and earnest.

why don't you go relax

6. Mom for a while? I

with

join you as soon as I'm de come

Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed his bow and arrow, focused entirely on his practice.

Rachel's face flushed with embarrassment.

She couldn't go back to Haynes right now, either.