The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

At Jasper's words, he immediately assured, "Haynie, don't worry. I swear-I won't ever go after Stella again."

Haynes frowned, but shook his head. "That's not what I wanted to talk about."

"Then what is it?" Jasper asked, confused.

Haynes grew quiet for a few moments, then finally spoke. "I want you to take care of Rachel for however much time she has left."

Jasper was taken aback. "I've always looked after Rachel..."

His voice faltered. Suddenly, he understood what Haynes really meant by "taking care."

He shot up, alarmed. "Haynie, what do you mean? Are you saying—you're just going to walk away from Rachel?!"

Haynes's voice was cold and detached. "Whatever I owed Rachel, I've paid back in full. Because of her, I lost my marriage and forked over another hundred million. I've done enough to repay the debts of the past.”

He paused, then added, "Jasper, you know as well as I do-Keen can't grow up without a mother. I'm done letting Rachel's problems ruin things between me and Stella. If you agree to this, I'll talk directly to your father and make sure you get the heir's position. If you refuse..."

Haynes fixed Jasper with a hard look. "Even though I'd feel more at ease leaving Rachel in your care, it's not as if you're the only option."

Jasper caught the underlying threat and stared at him in disbelief. "Haynie, you're really thinking of..."

Ever since Haynes had discovered that Rachel had framed Stella, that the kidnapping and Stella's hospitalization were real, his attitude toward Rachel had changed. From the very beginning, he'd never intended to divorce her. If it hadn't been for Rachel's illness, he would never have agreed to the divorce in the first place. Even then, he'd assumed they'd remarry soon enough.

But things hadn't turned out as he'd expected. Instead, Stella seemed to drift further and further away.noveldrama

If that was how it was going to be, he'd solve the problem at its root-by finding Rachel a proper home.

Haynes continued, "Jasper, think carefully. Even if you say no, there are others who will say yes."

The warning in his words was unmistakable.

Everyone knew Jasper's feelings for Rachel—it was hardly a secret. Yet he'd never acted jealous or possessive, not even when Rachel had just started dating Haynes Haynes had never tried to hide their relationship from Jasper, either.

Rachel had often muttered that maybe Haynes didn't care about her as much as she thought.

Jasper made up his mind quickly. "Haynie, I'll do it. I promise."

Right now, Selters was making trouble for him behind the scenes. Without the position of family head Jasper would never be able to stand up to him. If he refused Haynes's offer, and something happened to the Wilkinson family, Haynes

wouldn't bail him out again.

As for Rachel... he'd always liked her. And she didn't have much time left anyway.

All things considered, the benefits far outweighed the risks.

These days, he was locked in a fierce struggle with Sellers and had no energy to spare for Stella's affairs.

Haynes was satisfied. "Set up a dinner with your father tonight. I'll handle things with him personally."

Jasper nodded.

Whatever else could be said, Haynie was still making arrangements for Rachel's future.

The position of head of the Wilkinson family would have to be bought, with Haynes trading the O'Brien Group's benefits for it.

As for whether Haynes could ever win Stella back... Jasper didn't think much of his chances.

Haynie had burned every bridge for Rachel's sake. Winning Stella back wouldn't be so easy.

Once Jasper secured his spot as the Wilkinson family's heir, and Haynes ran into another dead end withe Stella, he'd finally give up on her and come back to Rachel instead.

The break didn't last long-Stella was soon called back to compete in the next

round.