Chapter 294
The morning flew by in a blur. By noon, Stella and Abby left city hall and headed out for lunch. Abby, nerves still frayed and tension coiling in her chest, couldn’t relax for a second. “Star, you don’t think anything else will go wrong, do you?”
Stella shook her head. “It shouldn’t. Rachel’s not stupid—she won’t be reckless enough to rush back right away.” Drug tests took time, after all. If Rachel handed the sample over one minute and got the results the next, it would raise more than a few eyebrows.
It was around two in the afternoon when Rachel finally returned—the lab report in hand. She was visibly anxious, desperate for Stella and Haynes to be divorced already, but she managed to keep her excitement in check. Until the signatures and official stamps were on the papers, nothing was certain.
Haynes, for his part, seemed to have cleared his schedule for the day. He took a few calls, but never stepped away from the waiting room. Seeing both Stella and Haynes still there, Rachel finally allowed herself to breathe a little easier.
She passed the lab report to Haynes. “Haynie, there’s nothing wrong with the medication. In fact, they found all sorts of rare, valuable ingredients. Supposedly, it’s the kind of stuff you can’t even buy on the market these days…” Rachel talked up Mr. Burton’s medicine like it was some kind of miracle cure—all but promising it could heal anything and everything.
If Stella had been the one making those claims, no one would have taken her seriously. But hearing it from Rachel? That was a different story. By the end, Rachel almost sounded convinced herself. “Haynie, the doctor said these pills might really have extraordinary effects. Maybe they’ll even cure my illness!”
Haynes finally nodded. “Alright. I understand.”
He turned and caught sight of Stella, perched on a chair a few steps away, watching the whole scene unfold with an almost amused expression. His gaze darkened. “That’s all…”
Stella stood, walked over, and managed a polite smile for Rachel. “Ms. Pearce, thank you for your faith in Mr. Burton’s medical skills.” Rachel bristled—she heard the sarcasm loud and clear. Those so-called miracle pills were nothing more than expensive supplements, dressed up with empty promises.
She couldn’t tell whether Stella had figured out Mr. Burton was a fraud, but it didn’t matter anymore. Rachel had gotten what she wanted. Even if she’d been conned, it was worth it.
A staff member came over, going through the routine: Did either Stella or Haynes wish to withdraw the divorce application? Both answered no without hesitation, and the clerk wasted no time finishing up the paperwork.
When Stella finally held the divorce certificate in her hands, she felt a fleeting moment of unreality. At last, she was free from this toxic marriage. She didn’t feel sad, or lost, or regretful—just an overwhelming sense of relief.
Abby rushed over as Stella emerged, certificate in hand, visibly excited. “Star, it’s really official?”
Nearby, Jasper chimed in with a mocking drawl. “Well, aren’t you the best of friends—cheering each other on through a divorce? Some best friend you are.” He sneered. “Birds of a feather, I suppose. The kind of people you surround yourself with says a lot about you.”
Abby rolled her eyes and let out a cold laugh. “Are you talking about yourself? No one’s more eager to see their best friend get divorced than you. Anyone watching would think you were Haynes’s loyal sidekick.” She shot him a look. “Or maybe you’ve got a crush on Haynes yourself. How else do you explain your meddling in his marriage at every opportunity?”