The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

For both of them, this was already an uncomfortably personal question.

Still, Stella answered honestly. "Not at the moment."

"And in the future?" Joshua pressed.

"The future?" Stella paused to consider. "Who can really say what's to come?"

Joshua's gaze was steady. "Would you ever get back together with Haynes for the

sake of your child?"

This time, Stella barely hesitated. She shook her head instinctively.

"No. I wouldn't."

Outside the door, Haynes had just raised his hand to knock. He froze at her

words.

Joshua's voice carried through the door again. "You were together for five years,

you have a child... Are you really able to let go?"

Stella's reply was immediate. "Forcing ourselves to stay together for our child's

sake would only be unfair—to him, to ourselves, and to the very idea of marriage.

I used to put up with so much in that relationship, all because of Keen.

I thought I was sacrificing a lot for our family, but the truth is, neither Keen nor

Haynes needed that from me.

And all the while, I felt indescribably wronged... I suppose that's just another form

of emotional blackmail.

Honestly, I'm happy with my life now. I may have been late to realize it, but at

least I didn't miss my chance."

Joshua's tone softened. "Do you still love Haynes?"

Stella didn't even take a moment to think. "No. I don't."

Inside the hospital room, Joshua glanced subtly toward the door. The faintest hint

of a smile touched the corners of his mouth.

Haynes didn't enter. Instead, he turned and walked away.

He wasn't sure why, but suddenly he didn't know how to face Stella anymore.

He'd always known, deep down, that Stella had moved on. But hearing her say it

out loud felt like a sledgehammer slamming into his chest.

Those three words—"I don't"—echoed in his mind.

A bitter smile flickered across his lips.

You brought this on yourself.

Suddenly, he understood Keen's inner conflict.

Part of him wished Stella could be

like she was before. But looking at

her now, he realized maybe this

life—free and unburdened—was

what she truly deserved.

If he had never seen this side of her, would he still be so hung up on her?

...

In the dim basement, Sellers huddled in the corner, barely conscious.

He looked gaunt, his entire body covered in gruesome wounds—whip marks,

burns, and neat, precise cuts from a blade.

Some of the injuries had begun to fester, oozing pus.

The whole basement was thick with the stench of rot and blood.

Sellers had never been so utterly broken in his life.

It was as if he had been consigned to the deepest circle of hell.

Foreman Richards didn't come every day, but whenever he did, he made sure to

try every imaginable method of torture.

Each time, he left Sellers wishing for death.

Still, Sellers clung to survival.

If he could just hold out until rescue

came, no matter how badly he was

hurt, his brother and the old man

would see him healed.

And once he got out...

A cold, vengeful light flickered beneath Sellers' matted hair.

He would make Foreman suffer a fate worse than death.

And Stella!

If it weren't for her, he would never have fallen so low.

He was already beginning to regret stopping Leonard from taking things further

with her.

He should have let Leonard ruin her face.

If Stella had been disfigured, would Foreman still care for her? Would any man?

As Sellers brooded over how he'dnoveldrama

repay Foreman and how he'd make

Stella suffer, a faint mechanical

beep sounded at the door.

Foreman was back.

Sellers closed his eyes, forcing down the seething hatred that threatened to

consume him.