The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 53

Neville raised an eyebrow, ready to say more, but Stella cut him off. "Mr. Connolly, you can head home now. I need a word alone with Haynes."

Neville nodded lightly, acknowledging the situation. "Okay, call me if you need anything."

As Neville exited, Haynes' expression turned stormy, his chiseled features hardening into a mask of icy disdain. "Stella," he said, his voice dripping with venom, "we're not even divorced yet, and you're already throwing yourself at someone else?"

Of course. This man never missed an opportunity to twist the knife.

Stella responded indifferently, "Someone's phone was unreachable, and after I got rushed to the hospital, the doctors urged me to call my family over. I had no choice but to call someone I could rely on for help."

Abby was the first person she reached out to. But after Stella had a car accident the day before and couldn't pick up Marvin. So, when Stella woke up, she had no choice but to call Neville and explain the situation. Not long after, Neville showed up with Marvin to visit her. They didn't leave until Abby arrived later. Abby had stayed with Stella all night, and come morning, Stella insisted she head home for some rest.

Stella looked up at Haynes. "Or was I supposed to wait for the hospital to toss me out on the street?"

Haynes' Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, choosing to remain silent. When Stella had no one to turn to, he had been at the hospital, tirelessly attending to Rachel's needs.

Stella picked up the food Neville had brought her and ate slowly, deliberately. The hospital room fell into a brief silence.

It wasn't until Stella finished her meal that Haynes broke the quiet. "You and Rachel... how did you end up colliding?"

"You should ask Ms. Pearce that question, not me," Stella replied, steady and unflustered. "I've said it before. Her car came out of nowhere and hit me."

Haynes' gaze was as deep as the night. "But the eyewitnesses I spoke to claimed you darted into the road without slowing down."

As expected, it wasn't just a coincidence. Rachel had planned this.