The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella glanced at Haynes without betraying any emotion, then lowered her gaze.

She climbed into the vehicle without another word.

Benson had brought around an oversized SUV, its cavernous trunk stacked high with nineteen suitcases.

As Stella was about to start the engine, Joshua-who had been silent until now- finally spoke up.

"Ms. Cameron."

She looked over at him.

Joshua offered her a gentle smile. "Take care."

Stella nodded, her hesitation gone. She started the car.

Haynes, Foreman, and Joshua stood in place, watching as she drove away. In the rearview mirror, their figures shrank smaller and smaller until they vanished from sight.

Stella's hand slipped into her pocket, brushing against something cold. Her pupils flinched.

A pistol.

She steadied her nerves and focused on the road ahead.

About twenty minutes later, Stella reached a secluded spot on the outskirts of town. An abandoned warehouse loomed before her, surrounded by dense brush and tangled undergrowth-a place perfect for hiding, but a nightmare for anyone hoping to stage a rescue.

Whoever chose this place for a handoff was clever-maybe too clever.

The moment Stella parked, her phone buzzed.

"Get out now. Leave the keys in the ignition. My people will check the money. Once it's confirmed, we'll talk about letting them go."

Stella glanced at the suitcases in the back. "Fine. But I need proof-they're still alive."

The kidnapper didn't hesitate. "Head inside the warehouse. Someone will bring you to them."

Her fingers brushed the pistol in her pocket again, feeling a little steadier.

"All right."

She stepped out and made her way toward the warehouse.

Stella knew Haynes' team would be tailing her, likely tracking her every move

through some discreet device hidden in the SUV.

At the warehouse door, she noticed it was left ajar.

She pushed it open, the hinges groaning under years of neglect.

Inside, a

guard at a closed door down the hall. They'd clearly been expecting her and didn't even look surprised as approached.

hall. of burly men stood

she

Stella stated her purpose. The guards simply stepped aside, allowing her to enter.

She was caught off guard by how cooperative they were. Was it a trap? Her instincts prickled with caution.

But as soon as she entered the room, her doubts faded-Rachel and Keen were both there.

Stella swept her gaze around the space, searching for anything out of the ordinary, but saw nothing amiss.

The moment Keen spotted her, his eyes lit up.

"Mom!"

Stella hurried to his side and, with the small knife she always carried, sliced through the ropes binding him.

Freed, Keen threw himself into her arms, sobbing.

She gently rubbed his back, her voice soft and soothing. "Keen, did they hurt you?"

He shook his head. "No. They didn't."

As if remembering something, Keen glanced at Rachel, a flicker of doubt crossing his face.

"Mom, Rachel..."noveldrama

He wanted to speak up for Rachel, to

plead

much case. But he knew how

mother disliked her. Was it

right to bring her up now-after everything Mom had risked for him?

While Keen hesitated, Stella's eyes shifted to Rachel, sensing something was wrong.

Rachel looked even worse than she had in the videos.

Stella's attention fell to Rachel's wrists, raw and bloody from the

ropes. For a violinist, here

everything more precious than her facè.

Rachel felt Stella's eyes on her. She opened her mouth, intending to say something, but the words caught and died in her throat.

Slowly, she dropped her head.