The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Keen, how about I make your favorite dessert for you later?"

As soon as Rachel appeared, Keen politely greeted her.

"Hi, Rachel."

Then, glancing at Stella standing beside him, he lowered his voice and said, "Rachel, I have to go home with my mom in a bit."

Only then did Rachel seem to notice Stella, her eyes flickering with surprise.

"Oh, Ms. Cameron, you're here too? Keen, what brings you two here today?"

Keen replied, "We came to visit my grandpa."

"Your grandpa?" Rachel's eyes widened slightly in surprise as she glanced at Stella. "You mean Ms. Cameron's father?"

Stella's face remained impassive, offering no response.

Haynes, meanwhile, showed no interest in prolonging the conversation.

"Rachel, I have something to take care of. Let's catch up another time."

Before Rachel could say anything more, Haynes was already striding toward his car.

Keen quickly said goodbye and followed him.

Stella didn't even spare Rachel a glance.

Rachel stood rooted to the spot, watching as the car disappeared down the drive, a chill flickering in her eyes.

She pulled out her phone and made a call.

The line was picked up almost immediately, and a man's crisp, clear voice came through.

"Rachel, you know, you've called me more times in the past few weeks than in the last several years combined."

Rachel didn't bother with small talk. "I just saw Stella here, and Keen said they came to visit his grandfather. Joshua, can you find out who's living in that house?"

Stella's mother, Nora, had passed away years ago, not someone Rachel worried about. But now Stella's father had resurfaced...

Rachel eyed the grand, imposing mansion across the street, her heart pounding.

This place had a better location than her own house-anyone who could buy a home like this was far from ordinary.

She'd never given much thought to Stella's background before, always assuming she came from a regular family. But ever since she'd learned Stella was Nora's daughter, @sense of unease had crept in.

Joshua didn't hesitate. He just laughed lightly and said, "Sure," before hanging up.

About ten minutes later, Stella received a call back from Joshua.

"The people living there are the Williams family."

Rachel's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's impossible!"

Joshua offered a suggestion, "If you don't believe me, why not keep an eye on the place and see for yourself if it's really the Williams family living there?"noveldrama

But Rachel knew Joshua's information was always reliable.

She drew a shaky breath, trying to reassure herself, "Maybe Keen was just making things up..."

If Keen's grandfather was Skyler, then that would mean... Stella was Skyler's daughter?

Rachel felt a wave of nausea.

Joshua accepted the truth more easily than she did. "Stella said she once studied at Solmaris, but there are a few missing years in her records. The Williams family is based in Solmaris-I'm guessing those missing years were when she lived with them. Someone probably erased all traces of her time there."

Raised among scheming socialites, Joshua knew exactly why the Williams family would want to erase Stella's past—it was all about reputation, avoiding any hint of scandal.

Aurora, after all, was the Williams

family's shining star, celebrated far and wide. Even the slightest whiff

bad pres

would tarnish her

OF

1.n

reputation, and plenty of people

were just waiting for the chance to

see the Williams family fall from

grace.

The higher the pedestal, the harder the fall.

Rachel's voice trembled, her breathing heavy and ragged over the phone.