The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Rachel crashed to the floor, clutching her face in shock as she stared up at Stella.

Even Keen stood frozen, eyes wide.

Ignoring Rachel entirely, Stella turned to Lind. "Mr. Moore, let's go. We shouldn't hang around and risk any more trouble."

Lind grinned, giving a small nod. "Let's."

Stella took Keen's hand, hustling him toward the exit.

"Mom..." Keen hesitated, glancing nervously back at Rachel.

Stella's expression darkened.

Men like Lind-reckless, desperate types-were utterly untrustworthy. She knew better than to rely on him for anything. He might be playing along now, but who could say when he'd turn on them?

She remembered their conversation on the way here.

Lind had admitted, "Honestly, we've been watching your family for nearly a year now. Kidnapping someone isn't easy-you have to know every detail, especially when you're targeting the Haynes family.

Ms. Cameron, when you're out with your son, your routine is so rigid, it's nearly impossible to find an opening.

But then, your ex-husband's first love came back into the picture..."

Lind let out a low chuckle at that.

"Truthfully, I never planned to snatch your son at first. You were the original target. But after watching for so long, it was obvious your ex-husband didn't care about you at all. Even if we took you, I doubt he'd lift a finger, so I changed plans- Rachel and your son became the targets.

But Haynes was always with them, so we had to wait for Rachel to leave with your boy alone.

And even then, it's not as simple as just grabbing a kid-everything needs to line up just right."

He'd gone on, his tone casual and almost lazy. "From what I could tell, your son often wandered off by himself, but I figured someone must've been watching from the shadows. I wasn't about to walk into a trap set by that snake, Haynes.

If Rachel hadn't left halfway through and made your son wait alone, we might never have pulled it off."

Stella's blood ran cold as she listened.

Rachel had taken Keen out, and he'd been kidnapped as a result.

Just as Lind said, pulling off a kidnapping wasn't something you could do on a whim.noveldrama

Her mind snapped back to the present. Stella's brow furrowed as she shot Lind a sidelong glance.

He was already watching her, a sly, unreadable glint in his eyes.

A strange suspicion flickered across Stella's mind, making her grip Keen's hand even tighter.

"Mom." Keen winced, his little brow furrowing in pain.

Lind's

Owidened. "Ms. Cameron,

you're

at me like to say. Care

t belongs to Sone

Stella met his gaze. "You-"

He cut her off. "Relax. I'll stick to our agreement-I'll let you and your son go. As for that woman..."

He glanced over at Rachel. “I'll take care of her for you, but we still need to finish the final step. Otherwise, it's just Child's play-Haynes would never buy it."

Rachel's eyes went wide as she shrieked, her voice trembling. was this whole kidnapping plan?"

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Keen looked around in confusion. "Mom, what do they mean?"

Dread prickled at Stella's spine.

She shot Lind another look.

His smirk deepened. "Ms. Cameron, you really are clever. You figured it out."

He turned his gaze back to Rachel.

"If only Ms. Pearce were half as smart as you, she wouldn't be in this mess."