The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Skyler waved off Aurora's concerns with a smirk. "This is Neo-Vespera. What, do you think I'm going to kidnap him and run off? Besides, if the O'Briens can't even keep an eye on their own kid, that's hardly my fault, is it?"

Aurora looked like she wanted to protest further, but just then she noticed Haynes and Stella walking in behind her. She lowered her voice. "Dad, we have guests."

Skyler turned, and as soon as his eyes landed on Stella, a warm smile broke across his face. "Star! You're here."

But the moment he spotted Haynes, his expression turned frosty. He let out a heavy, dismissive huff. "Well, if it isn't Mr. O'Brien himself. You must be so busy saving the world that you can't even keep track of your own child."

On the way over, Haynes had already gotten a call from Deanna. Apparently, Deanna had taken Keen to the shooting range, and while she was chatting with an acquaintance, Keen had wandered off. She assumed he'd gone ahead to the range, but when she went to check, he was nowhere to be found. After searching everywhere and coming up empty, she finally called Haynes.

Faced with Skyler's accusation, Haynes didn't show a hint of anger, nor did he make any excuses. "You're right, Mr. Williams. I'll be more careful next time."

Skyler, mollified by Haynes's willingness to admit fault, let his expression soften a little. Turning to Stella, he beckoned her over. "Star, come sit with your father."

But Stella didn't budge. "Mr. Williams," she said evenly, "I'd like to know why you brought Keen here. What exactly is going on?"

Mr. Williams? The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Even Jonathan and Aurora glanced at her in surprise.

Jonathan was the first to speak, his expression stern. "Stella, is that any way to address your father?"noveldrama

She looked at him, her voice cool. "Wasn't it you who said I was no longer part of the Williams family? Or have you forgotten your own words?"

Jonathan's handsome features tightened, his tone frosty. "That was just something said in anger. How could you take it seriously? Stella, a father is always a father. Blaming your parents isn't the way a daughter should behave. Now, as long as you apologize to Dad for what happened back then, you'll always be the Williams family's daughter."

Stella heard the implication loud and clear. He was dangling the so-called privilege of being a Williams in front of her, as if she should be grateful for it. Did he really think she cared about that anymore?

Her expression was icy. "You apologize when you've done something wrong. I haven't done anything wrong, so why should I apologize?"

Jonathan stared at her, as if he couldn't recognize the woman in front of him: The Stella he remembered wasn't like this. When she'd first come back to the Williams family, she might not have been especially obedient, but aside from the issue with Sherman, she'd never stirred up any trouble. For the most part, Jonathan had been satisfied with her behavior during that time.

As for the incident with Sherman, well, he could understand how it happened. Stella had grown up in an ordinary home-she didn't have much experience, and having just returned to the Williams family, she must have felt insecure. Sherman had treated her kindly; it made sense she'd latch onto him as a lifeline.

They couldn't expect Stella to live up to Aurora's standards when she hadn't grown up in the Williams household. If she'd just said a few kind words at the time, or reached out to them afterward, they would have let it go. Who would have thought she'd stay angry for so long?

This time, Jonathan had assumed Stella was just putting on a show, trying to make them see how badly she was doing. In the end, no matter how much drama played out behind closed doors, they were still family. The Williamses could easily take in one more member. If she wanted to come home, she could come home.