The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 573

Stella stopped and turned to face Keen.

“Is something wrong?”

Her tone was calm, her expression unruffled. She wasn’t especially warm, but she wasn’t cold, either—just neutral.

Keen stood there, a little stunned.

Lately, Mom seemed different again.

A while back, her indifference had made him angry, left him feeling miserable and unwanted. Now, though, there was something else—something heavy and cold pressing on his chest, as if a stone were weighing him down.

Children are keenly perceptive. Keen could sense it: his mother didn’t love or care for him the way she used to.

He blurted out, voice anxious, “Mom, about just now—it wasn’t me who told Dad. I promise.”

Stella just nodded lightly. “I know.”

Her calmness washed over him like a bucket of cold water, dousing whatever hope or excitement he’d carried.

His eyes went red. “Mom, do you… not want me anymore?”

Stella looked at him and spoke, steady as ever. “No. Even if you live with your father, I’m still your mother. That won’t change. I’ll always have responsibilities toward you—nothing will take that away.”

But her words didn’t bring Keen any comfort.

He looked up at her, hesitated, then said softly, “Mom, I… I don’t want to live with Dad. I want to stay with you.”

Stella seemed surprised.

“You mean, you want to stay at my place for a while?”

He shook his head. “No, I want to live with you. I want to be with you all the time.”

There was a brief pause.

“Your father and your grandma won’t agree to that.”

Keen’s voice was earnest, hopeful. “But I talked to some other kids at school—they said when parents get divorced, we’re allowed to choose who we want to live with.”

He stared at Stella, searching her face for a sign of hope.

“I want to choose you, Mom…”

Stella looked down at him quietly. “But what about Rachel? If you live with me, you might not get to see her as often.”

Keen blinked, caught off guard. He hadn’t thought of that.