The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 414

The man’s dark gaze fell on Stella, its intensity almost suffocating.

“You really had no idea?”

“Of course I didn’t,” Stella replied, her expression calm and unflinching. “What, do you think I’m some kind of psychic?”

Haynes studied her face, searching for the slightest sign of guilt, but found nothing.

If she truly didn’t know, then she was one hell of an actress.

He spoke quietly, his tone even. “According to my investigation, the people who trashed Rachel’s studio were your fans.”

“And?” Stella met his stare, unbothered.

Haynes’s lips barely parted. “Are you going to tell me you didn’t put them up to it?”

Stella actually laughed. “If I’d done something like that, I wouldn’t bother denying it. If I did it, I’d say so. If I didn’t, I didn’t. Honestly, I have a concert to prepare for. I hardly have time to waste on people who don’t matter.”

Haynes’s reply was frosty. “Whether you did it or not, this two-million-dollar compensation isn’t a loss for you.”

“Not a loss?” Stella lifted her eyes, meeting the sharp lines of his face. “The concert’s right around the corner. I have to find a new studio, redo the setup, start all over again. Your time matters, but mine doesn’t?”

Haynes’s voice was cold and distant. “Blame your fans for wrecking Rachel’s studio.”

Haynes’s gaze lingered on her tense face, his eyes colder than ever.

He didn’t know why, but in that moment, something clicked. Stella had always ticked every box—she’d been the perfect wife in every way—yet somehow, she’d grown so dull and distant. Now, as she stood up for Antoney, Haynes suddenly understood why.

“You’ve never defended me the way you’re defending Antoney right now,” he said, voice unexpectedly soft.

Stella stared at him, not quite following his train of thought. “You have plenty of people to defend you. Do you really need me, too?”

A derisive smirk tugged at Haynes’s lips. “I always thought you were like some robot—programmed to never get angry, never show any emotion. Turns out you do have feelings, just not for me.”

To him, Stella had always been the perfect wife: gentle, considerate, endlessly understanding. Whether she was giving birth or juggling everything on her own, it didn’t matter if he was there. Even if she needed him and he didn’t answer, she’d just tell him, “It’s fine, you go take care of your work.” She never seemed to need him at all.