The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 403

Stella’s hand trembled, and the water in her glass splashed onto her fingertips.

Foreman seemed not to notice her reaction and went on, “Jasper told me that, from what Mrs. O'Brien said, it looks like she wants Haynes to marry Rachel.”

“Lately, it’s been Rachel taking care of Keen, and Deanna O'Brien seems to be encouraging Rachel and Keen to bond.”

Seeing Stella keeping her head down in silence, Foreman quickly apologized.

“Sorry, I’m talking too much.”

Stella shook her head and looked up, her voice calm. “It’s fine. Their fondness for Rachel isn’t anything new—I’ve gotten used to it by now. It’s just Deanna’s change in attitude that caught me off guard. I always thought she’d pick a wife for Haynes who came from the ‘right’ family.”

Foreman replied, “It seems Mrs. O'Brien’s opinion of Rachel has changed. She’s realized how exceptional Rachel is. And she’s worried that a woman who marries Haynes might not treat Keen well, or that Keen wouldn’t like her. That’s why she’s considering Rachel. Jasper told me Mrs. O'Brien has already started pushing Haynes to set a date and marry Rachel.”

Even though Stella was already divorced from Haynes, hearing this still left her with a strange sense of absurdity.

Back then, Deanna hadn’t tried to break up Haynes and Rachel—so what did it have to do with her now? Yet now she was playing matchmaker. The whole thing felt like some kind of twisted joke.

A server arrived and began setting their meals on the table.

It wasn’t until all the dishes were served that Foreman finally spoke again. “Star, the real reason I asked you out today is actually something else.”

Stella glanced at him. “What is it?”

Whenever Foreman reached out or called, he always brought her valuable information.

He looked at her, his dark eyes deep and unreadable.

“Star, do you know about ‘Star’?”

As she met Foreman’s gaze, Stella understood immediately.

Haynes, as always, was thinking of Rachel first.

…

At the O'Brien Group, Benson knocked on the CEO’s door, looking troubled.

“Mr. O'Brien, no matter what we offer, Star keeps turning us down. Today, she wouldn’t even take my calls…”

Haynes looked up at him. “Reason?”

“She keeps saying… she’s not comfortable composing for violin, and I said we’d go with whatever genre Star preferred, but she still wouldn’t budge. I even told her she could name any terms she wanted, but it was pointless…”

Haynes’s expression was cool. “Those are just excuses. She simply doesn’t want the job.”

“Mr. O'Brien, should I start looking for other composers?”