The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 282

Jasper opened his mouth to say something more, but the man cut him off with an icy command.

"Enough!"

Jasper fell silent, frustration written all over his face.

But Stella turned her head to address the nearby waiter. "Anything broken—whether by me or Ms. Pearce—just put it all on Mr. O'Brien's tab."

She glanced at Rachel, her tone light but pointed. "After all, Ms. Pearce is Mr. O'Brien's cherished one, his shining star. If she broke it, I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to pay. As for me..."

Stella shifted her gaze to Haynes, her eyes glinting. "As Mrs. O'Brien, I think I have the right to put it on my own husband's account, don't I?"

The moment the words left her lips, a ripple of shock swept through the room.

"My God, Mrs. O'Brien? She's actually married to Haynes?"

"I heard rumors about Haynes and some woman causing a stir lately... but I had no idea he was married!"

"He's been married for five years, just never had a public wedding. Kept it under wraps. But people in the business knew."

"So those two, talking so righteously about Mr. O'Brien's one true love and all that... what was that about?"

"What else could it be? Classic affair. Men are all the same..."

People began casting contemptuous glances at Haynes and Rachel, the gossip swirling to a fever pitch.

Seeing the situation spiraling, Rachel bit her lip and stepped forward.

"This is my fault. I failed to catch the bracelet Ms. Cameron handed me, so... I'll pay for it."

Jasper was stunned. "Rachel! That woman Stella did it on purpose! Why should we pay a cent?"

Haynes, clearly aware of Jasper's predicament, stepped in smoothly. "Jasper, why don't you and Rachel head home? I have a few things to take care of here."

...

After the crowd dispersed, Haynes turned to Stella, his gaze cold as steel.

"Stella, did you really think I didn't notice you dropped the bracelet on purpose?"

Stella's expression remained calm, even cheerful. She looked at him with a hint of a smile. "I always thought Mr. O'Brien had poor eyesight. Looks like I was wrong—you do have a keen eye after all."

Haynes heard the sarcasm in her voice loud and clear, but what surprised him was how openly Stella admitted it, as if she had nothing to fear.

His eyes narrowed, his tone frosty. "You still insist you're not targeting Rachel at every turn? What would you call what you just did?"

Stella's smile didn't waver. "Isn't that exactly what Ms. Pearce has been doing to me all along? Why, does it hurt now that the tables have turned?"