The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Haynes was actually going to choose her?

Stella felt a strange sense of surprise, but also inevitability. She could only chalk it up to Haynes being the same cold and calculating person he'd always been.

Suddenly, she felt a burning, resentful glare fixed on her.

Turning her head, Stella saw Rachel biting her lower lip until it almost bled, her eyes rimmed red.

Rachel had never imagined that, when forced to choose between the two of them, Haynes would actually pick Stella.

He'd divorced Stella for her sake, hadn't he? Why would he choose Stella now?

A cold, mocking smile tugged at the corner of Stella's mouth.

Rachel had always used her illness to win Haynes' sympathy and attention, carefully crafting her image as the sweet, selfless girl in front of everyone. Now, she was reaping what she'd sown.

Stella felt no joy at being chosen. She knew it was nothing more than a calculated decision—a matter of weighing pros and cons.

Lind watched the scene unfold with an air of amusement. "So, Mr. O'Brien, your choice... is your ex-wife, Stella?”

Haynes paused for a moment before answering. "Yes."

Jasper's eyes widened in disbelief. "Haynie!"

The metallic taste of blood filled Rachel's mouth as she bit through her lip.

Stella, that witch-she deserved to die!

Haynes ignored Jasper and fixed his gaze on Lind. "I've made my choice. Now, will you let them go?"

"Of course," Lind replied smoothly. "Ms. Cameron, you're free to leave."

Stella moved toward Keen, reaching out to take his hand-but in that instant, chaos erupted.

"Watch out!" Haynes suddenly shouted, his face twisting with alarm.

With her back to Lind, Stella couldn't see what was happening behind her. But the moment Haynes' warning rang out, a gunshot split the air.

Bang!

Stella's instincts kicked in. She threw her arms around Keen and rolled them both across the floor, shielding him with her body.

A moment later, Rachel's desperate scream sliced through the confusion.

"Keen, run! I'll hold him back!"

Rachel lunged out of nowhere,

clinging fiercely to Lind's arm andet

screaming at the top of her luet

her voice cracking with pan

Lind's eyes went cold. He slapped Rachel across the face, hard.

Smack!

Rachel's head snapped to the side, but she didn't loosen her grip. It was as if she couldn't feel the pain.

Annoyed by her defiance, Lind grabbed her and flung her to the ground with full force.

Ignoring her own injuries, Rachel scrambled to her feet and grabbed Lind's leg, clinging to him with everything she had.

Everyone in the room was stunned by Rachel's ferocity, frozen in shock.

Seeing Lind's attention fixed on Rachel, Stella seized the moment. She scooped Keen into her arms and bolted for the door.

Haynes reacted instantly, moving to shield Stella and Keen behind him.

The sound of gunfire had drawn Benson and his team, who burst onto the scene. Haynes spoke in a low, urgent voice. "Get them to safety. Now."

Lind's

Koonot had thrown

...

into chaos. As Stella hustled out, Stella

a deafening explosion

behinnoveldrama

let

her.

Hospital.

While Stella and Keen underwent a full medical exam, Rachel had already been rescued and was now

да

rushed to the emergency

Watching as Rachel, covered in blood, was wheeled past on a stretcher, Stella

frowned with concern.

"How is Rachel?"

Haynes and Jasper were too preoccupied to answer her.

It was Foreman, pausing beside her, who explained how everything had unfolded.