The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Previously, to fulfill Rachel's wishes, Dad had given her the wedding ceremony he'd originally planned as a vow renewal for Mom.

Rachel had walked down the aisle, holding his hand, and someone in the crowd had mistaken her for his wife. Mom was furious.

In Keen's young mind, he thought this kind of misunderstanding must have made

Mom angry.

But now, Mom didn't really seem upset at all.

Keen, meanwhile, was fascinated by horseback riding.

In families like his, children usually started riding lessons by the age of four or five. Unfortunately, Keen's health hadn't been great, and his parents had postponed anything too strenuous for him. Horseback riding was one of those things that had to wait.

When they arrived at the country club, Stella, Rachel, Aurora, and Simone headed for the women's locker room to change.

Haynes took Keen, along with Foreman and Joshua, to the men's locker room to get into their riding gear.

Together, the group looked like something out of a magazine-elegant men and beautiful women, the kind who turned heads just by standing together.

Stella had just finished changing when her phone rang-it was Antoney.

She slipped away to a quiet corner to take the call.

Meanwhile, in the men's locker room, Joshua came out in his riding clothes to find Haynes waiting alone by the door.

Foreman and Keen had already gone on ahead.

Joshua only needed a glance to know Haynes was waiting for him on purpose.

"Is there something you need, Mr. O'Brien?"

Haynes' gaze was cool, assessing, as he looked Joshua up and down.

"Name your price."

Joshua smiled, amused. "I'm afraid if I named a price, you couldn't afford it."noveldrama

Haynes' dark eyes narrowed.

He'd expected Joshua to play dumb, but Joshua didn't bother.

“There's no such thing as a price I can't pay," Haynes replied quietly. “Only things I don't want to pay for."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "If you're so generous, Mr. O'Brien, I assume you want something in return? Why don't you tell me what you want, and I'll see what kind of price I should ask for?"

A flash of cold contempt passed through Haynes' eyes.

So smooth, he thought-clearly, this wasn't Joshua's first time running this kind of

game. He must have conned plenty of women for money before.

"Leave Stella," Haynes said flatly. "If it's money you want, or a house, a car- whatever it is, name it."

Joshua's interest was piqued. "Suppose I said I wanted ten million. Would you give it to me, Mr. O'Brien?"

Haynes' expression didn't change. "If you agree never to set foot in Novaris again and never appear in front of her, yes. I'll pay."

"And if I refuse?" Joshua asked.

"Then I think you really don't want to see what I'm capable of," Haynes replied.

Joshua gave a half-smile. "Oh? Your methods? I'm actually curious to see what you'll do."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Haynes could hear. "Haynes, don't waste your breath. Even if you offered me a hundred million, I wouldn't leave Star."

He paused, his tone almost

confessional "To be honest, I really like her. The only reason I took thez job as her assistant was to get close

to her So far it's working-Sta

trust me, and she's definitely fond of me.

She moved me into her neighborhood just so she could see me every day, and

she often cooks for me herself.

Abby told me Star has a thing for good-looking men. And as it turns out, I'm exactly her type."

Joshua gave Haynes a slow, deliberate once-over, then smiled.

said the only reason

"Ms. Cameron's

she married you was because you were handsome back then But five years in bed with the same man no matter how handsome-gets boring after a while. Maybe now Star just wants a taste of something new."