Chapter 32
Seeing the situation unfold, Stella felt like a heavy stone pressing down on her chest, suffocating her.
During their five-year marriage, Haynes had never accompanied her to drop Keen off at kindergarten. She had suggested it once, but Haynes brushed it off, claiming he was too busy with work.
It turned out it wasn’t about being busy. It was just that Haynes didn’t want to go with her.
Still groggy and yawning, Keen looked like he had stayed up late again. But upon hearing Rachel’s words, his eyes widened in surprise, and he saw Stella standing not too far away.
Rachel glanced down at Keen and smiled. “See, Keen? I told you Ms. Cameron isn’t mad at you. Look, she came to see you so early.”
A glint of triumph flashed in Keen’s eyes as he glanced at Stella, putting on an air of mock superiority. “Don’t assume your little schemes will make me fall in line. I won’t forgive you until you apologize to Rachel.”
Rachel turned to Haynes and smiled, “Haynie, it seems Jasper’s idea did have some effect.”
Haynes gave a nonchalant nod and told Stella, “Rachel doesn’t have a good appetite lately. Go and prepare some special meals for her.”
Stella gave him a strange look and quietly muttered, “Ridiculous.”
Stepping in to mediate, Rachel adopted a soothing tone. “Ms. Cameron, there’s no need to argue with Haynie. Let’s sit down and work this out calmly. You haven’t worked in years and don’t have any income. You’ve grown accustomed to a comfortable life, so it must have been quite difficult for you since you left home, hasn’t it?”
Her words implied that Stella had used their child as a pawn to draw attention. Haynes’ cold gaze landed on Stella. “Apologize to Rachel now. And I might overlook what happened.”
Keen frowned, his face full of displeasure. “Mom, I’m not your tool for gaining favors.”
Stella looked at the trio united against her and found it utterly laughable. To an outsider, it might seem like they were a family, and she was the villain bullying them.
Rachel pleaded with a sincerity akin to a close friend, “Ms. Cameron, let it go.”
Stella laughed coldly. “Let it go? Freezing my accounts and demanding an apology is your idea of letting it go? Ms. Pearce, would you want such a deal?”
Rachel opened her mouth, at a loss for words.
Just then, Keen suddenly stepped before Rachel, arms spread protectively, his expression serious. “Don’t bully Rachel anymore!”
Stella was genuinely shocked. Keen had always been eager to please Rachel but had never taken such an openly oppositional stance against her.
No, that wasn’t right. Stella often conceded first, so situations like this never escalated.
Seeing Keen’s hostile glare, Stella stumbled, nearly losing her balance.
Rachel’s eyes flickered with a subtle glint as she moved to support Stella. “Ms. Cameron, be careful-ah!”
Rachel suddenly stumbled sideways, as if shoved, swaying dangerously toward the street.
A car was speeding closer, and just as it seemed Rachel might collapse into its path, Haynes reacted instantly. With sharp reflexes, he yanked her back, pulling her safely into his arms.
Rachel’s eyes brimmed with tears, her body trembling with fear. “Haynie, I, I almost couldn’t see you again.”