The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 118

Keen’s voice, dripping with disdain, still hung in the air.

"She’s just some housewife—can’t even do anything besides cook. Why are you defending her like she’s somebody important? Everything she does, my nanny does it too. If you think she's so great, you can have her as your mom. Rachel's a hundred times better anyway, and I wouldn't want such an embarrassing mom."

The teachers, who initially thought Keen was polite, began to see him differently. Their gazes carried a subtle shift as they looked at him.

Keen opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but faced with the undeniable truth, he found no words. His face flushed red, he could only stare blankly at Stella.

Stella's long lashes cast a shadow over her eyes, making it impossible to read her emotions. The video jostled a bit before it ended abruptly.

Silence fell over the room like a heavy blanket.

But Rachel's eyes gleamed with barely-contained excitement. Perfect. This was exactly what she'd hoped for—every bitter exchange between Stella and Keen, every crack in their relationship, created another opening for her.

Stella turned off the screen share and said calmly, "Since there's nothing on Marvin's phone, we'll be on our way." With that, she took Marvin's hand and headed for the door.

Marvin followed close to Stella, not uttering a word, his quiet compliance tugging at the heartstrings.

The kindergarten teachers watched them leave with eyes full of sympathy and pity. Here were two people—one without a mother, the other spurned by her husband and child. What a sad sight.

Just as Stella and Marvin reached the door, a deep, cool voice called out from behind. "Wait."

Stella stopped and turned to face him. "Do you need something?"

Her face was calm as still water, showing neither anger nor sorrow. She looked like an outsider, completely detached from everything happening around her.

Haynes' voice was steady, "Don't you find these two videos a bit too coincidental?"