The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1341

From Keen, Stella and Haynes learned the full story of what had happened. Hearing it only made Stella's heart ache more for Joshua. Haynes, too, was silent after listening. As much as he disliked Joshua, he had to admit that the man's sacrifice had been enormous.

Keen recounted the tale between sobs. When he finished, he asked timidly, "Mom, I heard Mr. Joshua is awake. Can I go see him?"

Stella nodded gently. "In a few more days, when he's a little stronger, I'll take you to see him. Keen, I need to talk to your dad for a minute. Why don't you go get some rest?"

Obediently, Keen left the room.

Once he was gone, Stella asked, "Haynes, have you been in touch with Foreman lately?"

"I've tried," Haynes said, "but I haven't been able to reach him. I don't know if he went back to Novaris."

Stella's brow furrowed.

Seeing her expression, Haynes asked, "Star, did you... know Foreman before all this?"

Stella sensed what he was getting at. "You mean, he knew me?"

Haynes hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell her everything he knew about their past.

Stella's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Whatever his reasons, they don't give him the right to hurt Joshua, to try and kill him."

Haynes snapped back to the present, turning to look at her. Her delicate features had taken on a sharp, cold edge. The woman before him felt like a stranger. He had never seen her look so fierce. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if she would have ever been this way for him, even when she had loved him most.

Instead of defending Foreman, Haynes asked a different question. "Star, in your heart... is Joshua more important than Keen?"

Stella met his gaze. "Haynes, do you also believe that my child should, by default, be the most important person in my life?"

Before he could answer, she continued, "Let me tell you something, Haynes. I am a person first, and a mother second. A child isn't someone's entire world. He has his own path to walk, and I have my own life to live. The title of 'mother' is not a cage."