The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 25

As Stella waited, she chatted with her captor about family, kids, and marriage.

Surprisingly, the kidnapper had a happy family—a loving wife and a bright daughter. He had invested in a project to provide a better life for them but ended up losing everything.

He confided in Stella, admitting even if he managed to pay off his debts, he would still end up behind bars. But he wanted to ensure his wife and daughter wouldn't be harassed by debt collectors, hoping to give them a peaceful future.

Stella listened, her emotions a whirlwind of sympathy and confusion.

Outside, negotiators and police officers' voices echoed without pause. The kidnapper's initial frenzy gradually gave way to a calmer demeanor.

"You know," he said, "the lives of wealthy folks aren't that happy, either. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead today. What I lost was just money, but you, you could have lost your life."

He glanced at the clock, realizing how much time had passed. His gaze softened with a hint of pity. "Miss, thanks for talking with me. Compared to you, my situation doesn't seem as bad. You can go..."

The police watching must have misunderstood his gesture to let her go. A sudden, terrifying gunshot rang out, and the kidnapper collapsed to the ground.

Warm blood splattered on Stella's face, and her mind went blank. It was the first time she had seen someone die before her eyes.

After the kidnapper was down, police and medics rushed in to rescue her. Yet, Haynes never returned her call.

At the hospital, as she underwent a series of check-ups, she ran into Rachel, who had just come out of surgery.