The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 843

Haynes's tone was cold and dismissive. "Even if | needed someone's help, it certainly wouldn't be any of you.

You're not even in the running."

The three women, each from an influential family, bristled at the insult, their pride flaring.

One of them, the heiress, spoke up. "Mr. O'Brien, we know you're powerful and way out of our league. We're

hardly worthy of your attention, and we'd never presto reach so high. But let's not forget-if you hadn't used

our families as leverage in the first place, did you really think we'd stoop to something so despicable? Now that

we've been exposed, you want to wash your hands of us and let us take the fall alone. If we're so beneath you,

maybe you shouldn't have clooking for us in the first place."

Another woman, the CEO, turned to Stella. "Not long ago, Mr. O'Brien cto us himself, saying there'd been

smisunderstanding that led to your divorce, Ms. Cameron. He said you shared a child and wanted to give

the kid a proper family. But there was sslick young man always hanging around you, trying to stir up trouble

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

and drive a wedge between you and Mr. O'Brien. So, he asked us to spread rumors online and plant fake stories.

Every single photo was doctored by someone Mr. O'Brien hired. The videos? All staged, with a lookalike actor

who resembled Mr. Joshua from behind and in profile."

The socialite chimed in. "When Mr. O'Brien first approached me, | turned him down. But then he offered my

family a lucrative business deal if I'd help out. At the time, we were in a serious financial bind and facing

bankruptcy. | didn't have a choice. Now that everything's blown up and he's pretending like he had nothing to do

with it, | doubt he'll honor his promise. Since that's how it is, | have nothing left to lose."

All three women glared at Haynes, united in their outrage.

Haynes let out a bitter laugh. "So who put you up to framing me? Was it him—" He glanced in Joshua's direction

—"or was it Neville?"

Stella's brow furrowed. "Haynes,

these three say you gave the orders, and now you're trying to pin it on someone else? Neville's been out of town

on business for ages. What's

this

got to do with him?"

Haynes sneered. "You sure are loyal, Stella. | just wonder, if you ever had to choose between Neville and Joshua,

who would it be?"

Stella stared at him, incredulous. "Haynes, with your status at Neo-Vespera, do you really think anyone would

dare plot against you without your say-so?"

The three women nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Even if we didn't care about our own reputations, our families

sure do."

Haynes opened his mouth to respond, but for a moment, no words came. He had the infuriating feeling of being

wrongly accused, yet unable to defend himself.

Instead of launching into a string of denials, he turned to the women, his expression.icy. "Since you're all so sure

I was behind this, letask you a few questions. Where exactly did give these instructions? How did get in

touch with you? When did you receive these fake documents? Do you have call logs or messages to prove it?

And if | promised you any benefits, is there a record of those transactions?"

The female CEO was the first to

respond, her expression calm andet

ed. "Mr. O'Brien never met in person. He sent his

assistant to handle everything."