The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 157

As soon as Stella got into the car, Haynes noticed she was staring off into space, not bothering to buckle her seatbelt. He asked quietly, "What's up?"

Stella didn't respond, her gaze fixed intently on something.

Following her line of sight, Haynes saw the little reserved parking sign right in front of Stella and his eyes darkened slightly.

Suddenly, he leaned over, his tall frame casting a shadow. Stella instinctively backed away, frowning, but Haynes simply reached over to buckle her seatbelt.

"Always buckle up," he said in his low, clear voice, close to her ear.

Rachel, sitting in the backseat, watched the scene with a fleeting expression of irritation but quickly forced a smile. "Even in the front seat, you've got to wear your seatbelt, Ms. Cameron. Look how attentive Haynie is."

Stella felt a cynical laugh bubble up inside her.

Sure, Haynes was attentive—attentive enough to let another woman's things be in plain sight right in front of her.

"Buckling a seatbelt counts as attentive?" Stella retorted. "Ms. Pearce, your standards are a bit low, aren't they?"

Rachel, trying to play the part of a good friend, continued chatting with Stella. "So, Ms. Cameron, what would you consider attentive?"

Stella replied coolly, "Someone who drops everything to be there when I call, no matter what they're doing. Someone who'd automatically have my back if I messed up, and if someone else won't forgive me, they'd make them feel bad for being unsympathetic and petty. Someone who, if I wanted something—didn't matter whose it was—would make sure I got it, even if it belonged to someone else. And if I shed a few tears, looking all helpless, they'd be so heartbroken they'd lose all reason and completely take my side. And one more thing..." Stella turned to Rachel with a slight smile. "If I got sick, he'd insist that his close family cook me nourishing soup everyday... Otherwise, how would he show he really cared?"

Rachel's smile froze, turning a bit strained. Even if she played dumb, she couldn't miss Stella's loaded words.