Chapter 425
Before she could land a slap across his face, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist in a vice.
In the dim light, Haynes' handsfeatures flickered in and out of shadow.
"You've hitenough times, Stella. That's enough."
His grasp on her wrist was unyielding there was no chance of escape.
Stella lifted her eyes, staring at Haynes with a hatred and disgust she'd never felt so sharply before.
"You stole what was mine and handed it to Rachel behind my back, didn't you?"
She didn't wait for him to answer. "If I'm not mistaken, you not only turned down Mr. Walden's offer for me, but
you brought Rachel to meet him instead, didn't you? Letguess you also told Mr. Walden that I'm just a
housewife, barely educated, that I've spent years running the O'Brien household, and it'd be a waste to give me
that opportunity. Much better to hand it over to Rachel, right? She's so hardworking, so resilient-battling a
terminal illness and never giving up. Givingthat chance would just be throwing it away, wouldn't it?"
Her voice was questioning, but her expression was utterly certain.
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What was left to doubt?
Her wedding had been like this. Her necklace, the same. And now, even the opportunity that should have been
hers had been stripped away.
Looking him straight in the eye, Stella spoke, each word cutting and clear. "Haynes, why is it that anything of
mine-you always give it to Rachel, without a second thought? Did | murder her entire family, desecrate her
ancestors' graves, or maybe | owed her in a past life? What gives you the right to decide for me?"
Haynes was silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and hoarse, swallowed by the
darkness.
"Rachel's illness might never be cured. She needs this chance more than you do." Her free hand lashed out,
slapping him across the face.
She was shaking with rage, and her fingers trembled so much that the blow barely stung, but it didn't matter. It
was all she had left.
"What's next?" Stella laughed bitterly, her eyes never leaving his. "You wantto hand over my studio? do |
My violin? Let's see, what y
have left that you can gift to her?"
She paused, her voice turning icy. "Oh, | know the only thing left is my life. After all, she's dying, and I'm
perfectly healthy. So why not hurry up and killwhile I'm not looking, take my life for her too? That way, if
your precious Rachel's condition gets worse, you can always blme for cursing her, right?"
Moonlight caught in her eyes, glimmering with unshed tears.
She hadn't cried in a long time. Ever since she'd decided to divorce Haynes,
she'd promised herself never to shed another tear for this man.
But now, as he once again took something that should have been hers, she couldn't hold it in anymore.
Haynes looked at her, his deep eyes faltering as he saw the tears brimming in hers.
He reached out, almost without thinking, to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.
Stella turned her head away, avoiding his touch.
She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let a single tear fall.
Then she drew several long, shuddering breaths, trying to steady herself.
When she opened her eyes again, the tears were gone, her gaze as clear and cold as ever.
She'd lost control-just for a moment. But why be angry? She knew exactly what kind of man he was. What was
the point?
But when she found out what he'd done, her fury had overwhelmed every ounce of reason.
She'd fought so hard for that single chance, clinging on with everything she had- only for him to toss it away and
hand it to Rachel like a favor.
She could still see, as plain as day, the smug, challenging look Rachel had given her before leaving.
Stella's
"Haynes, if there was a knife in front
ofright now, | wouldn't hesitate
e it straight into your t
it