The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 425

Before she could land a slap across his face, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist in a vice.

In the dim light, Haynes’ handsome features flickered in and out of shadow.

“You’ve hit me enough times, Stella. That’s enough.”

His grasp on her wrist was unyielding—there was no chance of escape.

Stella lifted her eyes, staring at Haynes with a hatred and disgust she’d never felt so sharply before.

“You stole what was mine and handed it to Rachel behind my back, didn’t you?”

She didn’t wait for him to answer. “If I’m not mistaken, you not only turned down Mr. Walden’s offer for me, but you brought Rachel to meet him instead, didn’t you? Let me guess—you also told Mr. Walden that I’m just a housewife, barely educated, that I’ve spent years running the O’Brien household, and it’d be a waste to give me that opportunity. Much better to hand it over to Rachel, right? She’s so hardworking, so resilient—battling a terminal illness and never giving up. Giving me that chance would just be throwing it away, wouldn’t it?”

Her voice was questioning, but her expression was utterly certain.

What was left to doubt?

Her wedding had been like this. Her necklace, the same. And now, even the opportunity that should have been hers had been stripped away.

Looking him straight in the eye, Stella spoke, each word cutting and clear. “Haynes, why is it that anything of mine—you always give it to Rachel, without a second thought? Did I murder her entire family, desecrate her ancestors’ graves, or maybe I owed her in a past life? What gives you the right to decide for me?”

Haynes was silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and hoarse, swallowed by the darkness.

“Rachel’s illness might never be cured. She needs this chance more than you do.”

Her free hand lashed out, slapping him across the face.

She was shaking with rage, and her fingers trembled so much that the blow barely stung, but it didn’t matter. It was all she had left.