Chapter 21
Suddenly, Rachel’s eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling, “Ms. Cameron, you don’t need to remind me. I know I don’t
have much time left.”
“Ms. Cameron, you’re right. What Haynes gave me is all a sham. I’m sorry. That wedding should have been yours…”
Before she could finish, a furious shout echoed from behind Stella. “What do you mean God favors Rachel? Stella, who are you
cursing?”
Stella turned around to see three figures standing not far away.
Jasper surged forward, his features contorted by a rage that seemed to ripple the air between them. “Stella,” he spat, each
syllable a dagger, “how dare you drag Rachel’s name through the mud? Have you lost your mind?”
Beside him, Foreman Richards arched a brow, his calm a deliberate counterpoint to Jasper’s storm. “Easy, Jasper,” he
interjected, his voice a steadying hand. “Condemnation without evidence is its own kind of madness.”
But Jasper, clearly still furious, cut him off. “What misunderstanding could there be? You and Haynie heard her loud and clear!
She’s jealous of Rachel’s popularity and says God favors Rachel as if wishing her dead!”
“This two-faced woman puts on an innocent act before everyone and bullies Rachel behind their backs. If we hadn’t overheard,
who knows how long she’d have fooled us!”
Jasper sneered, “Caught you red-handed this time, didn’t I?”
Stella stood her ground, looking calm and unyielding, showing no guilt or panic. She had suspected from the moment Rachel’s
demeanor changed that they might not be alone.
And there it was, Rachel played her usual trick again.
Acknowledging Stella’s glance, Foreman nodded, a gesture of greeting. “Jasper,” he warned, his tone a blade sheathed in velvet,
“Stella remains Haynes’ wife. Her missteps – if any — are not yours to correct.”
Jasper hesitated, his steps faltering. He turned to Haynes, “Haynie, you heard it, too. You can’t let her get away with treating
Rachel like this, can you?”
Haynes’ face was a mask of tension, his lips pressed into a thin line, an icy aura surrounding him. “Stella, apologize.”
Jasper smirked with glee, “Haynie’s pissed, and that’s bad news for you. You’re in big trouble, Stella.”
Ignoring Jasper’s taunting, Stella remained silent, her gaze unwavering.
Foreman raised an eyebrow, a bit stunned. Was it his feeling, or was Stella different today?
Usually, she would have been quick to justify herself. But today, she hadn’t even tried. Her demeanor was surprisingly detached.
Haynes felt his frustration mounting as he looked at Stella’s indifferent face. He couldn’t shake off the anger.
Jasper had told him that Stella had come there for fun.
She was married. Shouldn’t she act like a responsible adult instead of hanging out in places like this?
“Stella,” Haynes’ voice dripped with frost. “Apologize to Rachel right now!”
Jasper egged on, “Yeah, and make it a sincere apology. A bow should do!”
Stella’s lips curled dismissively, unwilling to waste any words on them. Without a sideways glance, she walked past Haynes.
But as she brushed past him, her wrist was suddenly seized in a firm grip.
“Stella,” his voice was cold and harsh above her, “Did you hear me? I said apologize.”