The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 313

Stella didn’t even join the bidding!

Jasper sat there, momentarily at a loss.

Leaning over to Haynes, he whispered, “Haynie, Stella isn’t bidding at all. Should I try to raise the price, just to provoke her a bit?”

Haynes shot him a disinterested glance. “Childish.”

Jasper grinned, undeterred. “Come on, I just want to teach Stella a lesson! Haynie, help me out here—give me some advice!”

It was obvious that Jasper was no match for Stella when it came to wits.

Normally, Haynes couldn’t care less about Jasper’s petty antics. But tonight, his mind drifted back to Stella’s brilliant, self-assured smile from earlier. His eyes darkened for a fleeting second.

Ever since she’d left him, she didn’t seem to be suffering at all. In fact, she’d arrived at the auction with Neville, making quite the scene—like she was thriving.

Still…

A faint, cold smirk tugged at the corner of Haynes’s lips.

If she was truly doing so well, she wouldn’t need to go out of her way to make her presence known in front of him.

Haynes finally spoke, his tone measured. “You could try bidding once—not too high. Watch what Stella does after you place your bid. If she raises again, you’ll know whether she’s targeting you.”

Jasper’s eyes lit up.

Of course! Why hadn’t he thought of that?

He followed Haynes’s advice and placed a bid—not too aggressive, just enough that if Stella ignored it, someone else would likely outbid him anyway. No risk of being stuck with it.

Sure enough, as soon as he called out his price, Stella raised her paddle again.

So she really *was* targeting him!

Jasper’s eyes glinted with mischief.