The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1000

Stella’s gaze sharpened for a brief second before she turned to Joshua.

“Joshua, you’re not lying to me, are you?”

He shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. “Come on, Stella. Why would I lie about something like this?”

She was about to press him further when Abby came running up, breathless and worried.

“Star, are you okay?”

Stella shook her head. “I’m fine, really.”

Trailing behind Abby were Antoney, Neville, and Haynes. Stella had barely begun to rest when she was called over; the group hardly had time to greet her before Neville flashed her a grin.

“Star, you look stunning tonight.”

Stella smiled back. “Thank you.”

Antoney chimed in, his tone earnest. “Star, if anything comes up, you have to tell me. Whatever I can do to help, I will.”

She nodded, her voice soft. “I know, Antoney.”

Haynes stood quietly, looking at the woman he thought he knew—now both familiar and somehow distant. A thousand words crowded his mind, but he couldn’t seem to say any of them.

Stella met his eyes, nodded politely, and then looked away. Her attitude was neither warm nor cold—just the casual courtesy one might show an ordinary acquaintance.

But Haynes felt a sudden ache in his chest.

He remembered something he’d once heard: true indifference isn’t about calculated coldness or refusing to speak a word. It’s when her tone is light, her face calm, as if nothing ever happened.

Maybe, he realized, she really had moved on.

Neville handed Stella a small gift bag. “Star, congratulations on rejoining the Williams family. I got you a little something to celebrate.”

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