The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

She never expected him to come after her for revenge-let alone try to kill her.

Foreman's face stiffened. "Did Karl... say anything to you?"

Stella shook her head. "No. He wouldn't dare show his face, and besides, he's not even in Neo-Vespera right now."

Foreman lowered his gaze, watching the dark swirl of coffee in his cup.

The bitter aroma lingered in the air, masking the turmoil behind his eyes.

Suddenly, Foreman asked, "Star, have you heard about what happened to Karl a while ago—when he was left out in the street with nothing on?"

Stella nodded. "I heard a little about it."

But she hadn't given it much thought.

With someone like Karl, it was no surprise he had plenty of enemies. Whatever payback he got always seemed just a matter of time.

Foreman's eyes settled on her face, his expression unreadable. "Do you think... maybe that incident is why Karl's holding a grudge against you?"

Stella frowned. "What's that got to do with me?"

Then, the implication hit her. "Wait, you mean he's blaming me for it?"

Foreman hesitated, uncertainty flickering across his features.

After a long pause, he finally made up his mind.

"Star, the truth is... that was Haynes. He thought Karl was getting too full of himself and wanted to teach him a lesson. I figured if Karl went looking for trouble, he'd go after Haynes, not you. I didn't expect he'd take it out on you instead... Star, I'm sorry."

His last words were barely above a whisper.

But Stella, still reeling from the revelation, didn't hear him.

Haynes did it?

Stella's brow furrowed, frustration rising inside her.

Her issues with Karl had already been settled at least, she'd thought so. If Haynes wanted to put Karl in his place, that was his business, but dragging her into the mess was crossing the line.

And now, because of Karl's retaliation, she'd been forced to drop out of the competition, Joshua was in the hospital with serious injuries, and her own hand was hurt.

Karl clearly wanted her dead.

Was Haynes helping her, or just putting her in harm's way?

Her annoyance with Haynes grew even stronger.

Foreman watched her closely. "Star maybe Haynes just wanted to help Rachel Maybe he set you up to take

the fall, so you couldn't makake

the competition on time..."

Stella's eyes flickered.

Foreman went on, "I doubt Haynes ever imagined Karl would go this far. Maybenoveldrama

he didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Stella fell silent.

It wasn't impossible.

Still-

"I can believe Haynes would rough Karl up, but stripping him and dumping him in the street? That doesn't sound like him."

Haynes might be a jerk, but he was at least an open one. After five years of marriage, she knew exactly what kind of man he was.

She just couldn't picture Haynes stooping to something like that. Foreman's hand trembled almost imperceptibly as he held his coffee.

Stella continued, "Then again, people change. Before Rachel came back, I never would've thought he'd

.n

over backwards for her like this et

Maybe it was Jasper's idea,

Rachel talked him into it. That would explain why he's acting so out of character."

Foreman's tense posture eased a little. He studied the sharp lines of her face.

"Star, please keep what I've told you to yourself. Don't let this get out."

Stella nodded. "I understand."

They chatted a little longer before Stella's phone rang-Abby calling.

After hanging up, Stella stood. "Sorry, Foreman. Something's come up on my end.

I need to get going."