The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 119

Stella said coolly, "What kind of kid he is depends on what he has done."

Haynes's voice was thick with disapproval. "No matter what he's done, he's still your son. Stella, don’t you plan to acknowledge him?"

"It’s not me who doesn’t want to acknowledge him," Stella replied with a blank expression. "To him, I’m just an embarrassing mom. Maybe he’s better off without me."

"So, you’re just going to keep taking care of this scheming little kid?"

Stella’s face darkened, "Haynes, I won’t let you talk about Marvin like that. He’s only five years old; how could he be scheming? But you…"

A cold smile played on Stella’s lips. "You’d rather believe a five-year-old is cunning than think your beloved Rachel is anything less than perfect."

"Haynes, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year."

Haynes frowned, "We’re talking about Keen, why bring up Rachel?"

"Didn’t you say my relationship with Keen is strained because of Marvin? I think it’s because of Rachel. Is there a problem?"

"If just mentioning Rachel’s name sets you off, Mr. O'Brien, I don’t see a point in continuing this conversation."

Stella was really done wasting words on someone like him.

She turned to Marvin, "Marvin, let’s go."

With that, she ignored the others, turned on her heel, and left.

…

After all that drama, it was already lunchtime. Stella took Marvin to a well-reviewed nearby diner.

"Marvin, I’m sorry," she apologized to him. "I didn’t mean for you to get caught up in all this."