The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 445

If it hadn’t been for Jasper’s meddling, she never would’ve had a fair shot at negotiating with Haynes. Haynes would’ve backed her into a corner long ago.

Funny how things work out—she almost owed Jasper a thank you.

Stella leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed, looking for all the world as if none of this had anything to do with her.

Haynes glanced at Lacey.

Lacey stepped forward, bent at the waist, and offered Stella a deep, formal apology.

“Ms. Cameron, I’m sorry.”

Stella didn’t react, still silent. Jasper seemed unbothered, but Lacey remained frozen in her awkward bow, trembling, her face flushed with humiliation.

Stella smirked inwardly. All this shame over a simple apology? Anyone watching would think she’d been forced to grovel for something far more degrading.

Haynes clearly didn’t expect a response from Stella. He cut in, voice cool and detached. “That’s enough. Let’s put this behind us.”

Lacey bit her lip, mortified.

Jasper rolled his eyes and flopped back onto the sofa.

Haynes turned to Stella. “Since everyone’s here, let’s talk business.”

“Business?” Rachel had been so distracted by the scene, she was caught off guard. “What kind of business?”

Haynes’s voice was low and measured. “You’ve been searching for Star, haven’t you? Well, you’ve found her.”

Rachel answered automatically, “I know you tracked down Star, but what does that have to do with Ms. Cameron—”

She stopped short. Her eyes flew open, disbelief written across her face as she turned to Stella.

Haynes’s gaze lingered on Stella, dark and unfathomable.

“Stella, you know exactly why I sought out Star.”

She met his eyes. “I do. You want Star’s name—the public recognition. But you’re a businessman, Mr. O’Brien. You should know that reputation is worth more than money. Some things can be spun for publicity, others can’t. Even if you offered me a hundred million, I wouldn’t agree.”

Jasper bristled. “If you’re not interested, why bother showing up at all?”

Stella’s voice was cool and clear. “Perhaps you should ask Mr. O’Brien what he’s done to the people around me for Ms. Pearce’s sake.”

Jasper and Rachel exchanged uneasy looks, suddenly recalling the recent trouble with Antoney.

Jasper remembered laughing at the news, saying karma had finally caught up with Stella. Now he realized—it had been Haynes pulling the strings all along, targeting Antoney.