The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 130

"Rachel, there's no need to feel wronged about apologizing," Stella said calmly.

But Rachel ignored Stella and turned her attention to Haynes, desperation in her voice. "Haynie, I didn't, I really didn't push him..."

Haynes was about to say something when Marvin's young voice cut through the tension first.

"Stella, let it go. Don't let this affect your relationship with Ms. Pearce or Mr. O'Brien," Marvin said, his tone wise beyond his years. "I chose to help Keen. No matter how badly I got hurt, it's nobody else's fault."Dad says helping people isn't a transaction," Marvin added, wiping dirt from his scraped palms. "If I get hurt doing it, that's my choice. Doesn't mean they owe me anything."

"Rachel is an adult. It's not common for adults to apologize to kids, is it?"

Coming from an innocent five-year-old, Marvin's words had a sharp irony to them. Everyone in the room, apart from Marvin, was someone deeply connected to Keen. Rachel, especially, always acted like she had Keen's best interests at heart. Yet, as Keen's savior, Marvin was neither thanked nor apologized to by Rachel or Haynes, who seemed to side with her.

It was utterly absurd.

Even if Haynes wanted to take Rachel's side, he couldn't bully a child. After a brief silence, he finally spoke, "Rachel, just apologize to him."

Rachel's eyes widened in disbelief. If she chose to apologize on her own, that was one thing. But Haynes asking her to do it was entirely different.

Her eyes welled up with tears. "Haynie, I really didn't..."

Haynes interrupted her, "Rachel, Marvin saved Keen's life. For Keen's sake, thanking him or apologizing is the least we can do."

He looked at Rachel intently. "Are you really unwilling to say even a single word for Keen?"