The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 146

The line went dead, leaving Haynes staring at his phone in disbelief. He tried calling Stella a few more times, but she still wasn't picking up.

Haynes' grip tightened around his phone, knuckles bleaching white. This was his own damn fault—he'd gone too easy on Stella, let her push boundaries when he should've crushed them under his heel. Fine. If she wanted to play games, he'd teach her a lesson she wouldn't forget.When Stella finally arrived at the kindergarten, it was no surprise to see Haynes and Rachel already there. Rachel was cradling Keen, whispering softly to him, while Marvin stood alone, looking pitiful.

"Sorry, I'm late," Stella said as she walked in. She had been practicing violin with Antoney Watson and the studio was quite a distance away, making her the last to arrive.

Haynes' expression darkened as he saw her. "Stella, why didn't you pick up your phone?"

Stella's face was a mask of indifference. "I didn't want to talk, so I didn't. Does there always have to be a reason?"

His gaze turned icy. "Stella, you're Keen's mother. If something happened and you didn't answer your phone, how do you think that looks?"

Rachel chimed in, adding fuel to the fire. "Exactly, Ms. Cameron. What if Keen had an emergency? Your refusal to answer could put him at risk."

A frosty glint flashed in Stella's eyes. “Tell me, Father of the Year—how many times did you actually answer when the hospital called? If missing one call makes me a monster, your negligence should've buried Keen months ago.”

Haynes' eyes narrowed, a dangerous edge creeping into his voice. "Are you seriously cursing your own child, Stella?"

"Oh, Haynes," Stella retorted, "not only are you blind, but you're deaf too? It was your oh-so-pure Ms. Pearce who suggested something so ridiculous, and you're trying to pin it on me. Truly, your ability to pass the buck is unmatched."