The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

There was no hope left for The Wilkinson Group now.

Jasper stood frozen in place, too intimidated to say another word.

Mr. Burton turned his gaze on Deanna. "You're Stella's former mother-in-law?"

Deanna immediately understood that Mr. Burton hadn't come here to make friends. He was here to settle old scores.

Her face fell. Forcing an awkward smile, she nudged Keen forward. "Yes. Mr. Burton, this is Stella's son, Keen."

Keen greeted him politely. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Burton."

Mr. Burton inclined his head in a noncommittal nod, barely sparing Keen a glance before turning his attention back to Deanna.

"You know, I actually have you to thank for meeting Stella."

Deanna blinked in surprise. "Thank me?"noveldrama

He nodded. "If it weren't for that chronic migraine problem of yours, Stella never would have gone to such lengths to find me. She begged me for medicine for half a year to help cure your stubborn illness."

He paused, his eyes cool. "So, Deanna, did the medicine work for you?"

Deanna's mind reeled. She'd never realized the medicine Stella delivered every month came from Mr. Burton himself. She'd taken that medicine for two years, and after a checkup, her doctor had told her that the ailment she'd suffered from for decades was finally almost gone. As long as she kept her spirits up and continued with some additional medication, it was unlikely to trouble her again.

She blurted out, almost on instinct, "Mr. Burton, your medicine... it worked wonders."

Mr. Burton's gaze shifted to where Keen stood quietly.

"Keen, right? Your mother once cut her hand picking medicinal herbs for me, trying to make a special spray for you. She still has the scar."

Everyone turned to look at Stella's hand. Sure enough, there was a faint, silvery scar on the back of her hand-one no one had ever really noticed before.

Haynes' eyes darkened. He remembered that time in the restaurant, when Keen had an allergic reaction and Stella had.

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pulled out a spray bottle to save him. So that's where it had come

from-the result of her months of

effort and Mr. Burton's help. His gaze toward Stella grew complicated.

But Stella stood there, expressionless, as if surrounded by strangers. Even when she looked at Keen, her face remained utterly calm, as though nothing could touch her.

Somehow, Haynes felt a sudden, inexplicable frustration. For the first time, he wondered if agreeing to the divorce had been a terrible mistake.

Mr. Burton's quiet voice broke the silence again.

"Stella would do anything for her family. I always wanted to meet her relatives. Unfortunately, despite everything she's done for all of you, not a single one of you ever visited my shop."

Deanna's eyes filled with tears. She rushed to defend herself. "Mr. Burton, it's not that we didn't want to visit. Stella never told us-"

Stella, who had been silent all this time, cut her off. "Deanna, when I first brought you the medicine, I asked if you wanted to meet Mr. Burton. You told me, 'Why bother meeting an ordinary doctor?""

Deanna opened her mouth, but no words came. She remembered saying exactly that.

Stella turned to Keen, her voice steady. "When your health improved, I offered to take you to meet the

man who helped you get better. You

said you'd rather go hang out with Rachel, and told me to go oromy own."

Keen lowered his head in shame.

Finally, Stella's gaze shifted to Haynes.

"Haynes, I asked you so many times

to come with me and thank Mr.

for

Burton for his care. You said if money was needed, I should have your assistant handle it, that you didn't have time for these kinds of social obligations."

Her words lingered in the air, stark and heavy.