The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1110

Haynes had once heard Stella mention that her relationship with the Williams family was strained, but seeing it firsthand was another matter entirely. The ugly truth of who they really were stood before him now, impossible to ignore.

No wonder Stella never wanted to come back. No wonder she barely spoke of them. The Williams family wasn’t a safe haven—it was a den of vipers.

Haynes glanced toward the emergency room, then back at the Williams family members in the hallway. A dull ache settled in his chest. The Williams family was a snake pit—but truthfully, had the O'Briens been much better?

All these years, he’d grown used to Stella’s quiet sacrifices, barely noticing how much he overlooked her, how often her needs went unspoken and unmet. Only now, standing in this corridor, did the realization finally hit him.

Stella never asked for much. All she wanted was a warm, normal family.

And yet, because of Rachel, he’d forced her to endure and compromise, time and time again.

Was he really any different from the Williams family?

Sensing the tension, Aurora quickly stepped in, hoping to diffuse the situation. “Mr. O’Brien, this was truly Jonathan’s mistake. But he never meant to set Stella up. He only heard that Stella had been mistreated by Shawn and wanted to help her get justice. That’s the only reason he vouched for this.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “No one expected Shawn would dare take things so far. We’ll make sure the Pearce family gives us an explanation. We won’t let Star suffer for nothing.”

Haynes lowered his gaze, silent.

Aurora had a point—Jonathan probably had no idea what Shawn was planning. According to Foreman and Joshua, when Jonathan came to find Stella, the three of them—Foreman, Joshua, and Keen—were all present. If Jonathan intended to collaborate with Shawn, he wouldn’t have been so public about it.

Which meant Shawn likely acted on his own.

Haynes’s eyes narrowed in thought. “I heard the Pearce and Williams families have been close for generations. For all Shawn’s vices, he’s never dared target anyone from the Williams family before.”

A heavy silence fell.

This kind of underhanded scheming was just Leonard’s style.

Israel finally broke the quiet. “That’s all speculation. If you don’t have proof, don’t go around accusing people.”

Haynes’s eyes were ice cold as he looked at Israel. “Funny. When you were so quick to suspect Star just now, I didn’t see you demanding evidence. You’d rather believe a man who hurt your own sister than trust your own flesh and blood.”

His voice was frosty. “And now you’re rushing to defend Leonard. Makes me wonder—were you involved in Star’s kidnapping too, Mr. Israel?”

Israel’s eyes widened in outrage. “Haynes, that’s a filthy accusation!”