Chapter 88
“Haynie’s out of town on a business trip, so I finally got the chance to meet Ms. Cameron. Otherwise…” She chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness gracing her features. “Otherwise, Haynie would never have let me out of the house.”
“Did you invite me here just to flaunt all this?” Stella asked.
“I heard you’re divorcing Haynie,” Rachel continued. “Not that it matters whether you genuinely want a divorce or you’re just pretending. Either way, you can’t change anything.”
Rachel wasn’t as brash as Jasper, but every word she spoke carried an unparalleled confidence. “Ms. Cameron, between you and me, he’ll always pick me first,” she said confidently.
Stella stayed quiet for a moment, then asked, “If that’s true, why did he marry me and not you?”
Rachel just smiled. “That’s because I let him marry you… You know how it is- people always want what they can’t have. Otherwise, why do you think he still cares so much about me?”
Just then, the waiter brought over their freshly brewed coffee. The rich aroma filled the air, tinged with a subtle bitterness.
Stella, tired of the charade, cut to the chase. “Is Abby with you?”
“No, she’s not with me. She’s in Haynie’s hands,” Rachel replied with a smile. “She was the reason I almost ended it all, so Haynie isn’t going to let her off easily.”
Stella fixed her gaze on Rachel, “You’re saying Abby is with Haynie?”
Rachel feigned surprise. “Abby is your best friend. She stood up for you, confronted me, and crossed Haynie. And you don’t know where she is?”
“So, Ms. Pearce, do you know where she is?” Stella inquired.
“No,” Rachel frowned slightly. “From what I’ve gathered, Haynie wants to give her
a taste of her own medicine, make her experience some real fear.”
“Her words did upset me, but they weren’t the reason I tried to end it all.”
“I don’t want this to end in tragedy, but I can’t sway Haynie. He’s determined to settle this score for me…”
Rachel’s voice was soft and gentle. “Since I can’t change his mind, perhaps you, as his wife, can. Especially since Abby is your friend.”
Stella detected the underlying message in Rachel’s words and felt a cold chuckle rise within her. Was Rachel boasting about how Haynie was willing to go to great lengths against her friend, all in her name?
The steam from the coffee slowly dissipated.
Stella responded coolly, “If you truly don’t want this to end badly, can you tell me where Abby is?”
Rachel shook her head, “Sorry, I honestly don’t know. I came here hoping you could talk some sense into Haynie.”
With that, she glanced at her watch, stood up, and said, “Haynie’s flight is about to land. He’d be worried if I’m not there… I should get going.”
Rachel picked up her bag and turned to leave.
Watching Rachel’s retreating figure, Stella’s clenched fists slowly relaxed.
Foreman had said Abby wasn’t with Haynie. Rachel insisted she was. Stella’s mind raced-who was lying, and who was telling the truth?
After settling the bill, Stella left the coffee shop. She didn’t head home but instead made her way to the hospital. Stella knew where Rachel had been hospitalized; finding out her room number wasn’t difficult.