NovelEnglish"No."
Even with Keen standing there, Stella's answer was firm and unwavering.
Haynes tried to explain, "Star, nothing ever happened betweenand Rachel. | never cheated on you-I never
did anything to betray you. The only reason | was kind to her was because she's terminally ill. Can't you give me
just one more chance? If not for me, then at least for Keen?"
Stella met his gaze, her eyes cool and expression calm.
"Haynes, when you leftto be with Rachel, | forgave you. When you took Rachel's side and made me
apologize to her, | forgave you. When | was sick with a fever and then kidnapped, and you were still with Rachel,
| forgave you. Even when you gave our wedding to Rachel, | forgave you for that too. | gave you chance after
chance, and you never valued any of them. No one will wait forever. My feelings for you were worn out every
tyou askedto step back for Rachel. Haynes, there's no future for us."
Haynes clenched his fists without realizing it. "But what about Keen? Even if you don't care about me, can't you
at least think of Keen?"
Stella lowered her eyes and glanced at Keen.
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Keen stood quietly at her side, no longer the willful, spoiled child he once was. He looked mature beyond his
years, almost like a little adult.
Stella asked, "Keen, do you want Mom and Dad to get back together?"
Keen suddenly thought of Neville Connolly and something Mr. Joshua had said. He answered, “I do want Mom and
Dad to get back together—then | could see Mom every day again. But if living together again would make Mom
unhappy, then... | don't want you to be together, even if it means | can't have both of you at home. No matter
what, Mom will always be my mom, and Dad will always be my dad. | just want Mom to be happy, and to live the
life she really wants."
Stella's eyes stung with emotion.
Rachel's presence had wrecked her marriage and family, but she couldn't deny that it had also pulled her out of
a dead-end life that felt like a tomb. And Keen had grown up a lot because of it.
Stella wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Well said, Keen!"
A voice cfrom the doorway.
Joshua, just back from lunch, walked into the room.
Keen's eyes lit up. "Mr. Joshua!"
Joshua smiled and walked over. "Keen,
you have class this
you if not, how about el
out for starget practice?"
Keen's face brightened instantly. "Mr. Joshua, I'm free today!"
Haynes' expression darkened the moment he saw Joshua.
"What are you still doing here?"
Joshua turned to him, unfazed. "Mr. O'Brien, you look surprised to see me. Why? Did you think I shouldn't be
here?"
Haynes shot Joshua a look full of
disdain. He turned to Stella and said, "Star, he's just a gold-digger living
off women. You shouldn't keep someone like him around."
At that, Stella's eyes went cold.
“Haynes, those people online smearing Joshua—was that your doing?"
Haynes replied coldly, "I wouldn't waste my twith something like that."
Stella that
already found out
Scaen claiming.
d them all have bet
to the O'Brien Group."
Haynes frowned. "And what does that prove?"
Stella continued, "Did you know Joshua was in a car accident a few days ago?"
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