NovelFameChapter 414
The man's dark gaze fell on Stella, its intensity almost suffocating.
"You really had no idea?"
"Of course | didn't," Stella replied, her expression calm and unflinching. "What, do you think I'm skind of
psychic?"
Haynes studied her face, searching for the slightest sign of guilt, but found nothing.
If she truly didn't know, then she was one hell of an actress.
He spoke quietly, his tone even. "According to my investigation, the people who trashed Rachel's stuwere
your fans."
"And?" Stella met his stare, unbothered.
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Haynes's lips barely parted. "Are you going to tellyou didn't put them up to it?"
Stella actually laughed. "If I'd done something like that, | wouldn't bother denying it. If I did it, I'd say so. If |
didn't, I didn't. Honestly, | have a concert to prepare for. | hardly have tto waste on people who don't
matter."
Haynes's reply was frosty. "Whether you did it or not, this two-million-dollar compensation isn't a loss for you."
"Not a loss?" Stella lifted her eyes, meeting the sharp lines of his face. "The concert's right around the corner. |
have to find a new studio, redo the setup, start all over again. Your tmatters, but mine doesn't?"
Haynes's voice was cold and distant. "Blyour fans for wrecking Rachel's studio."
Stella caught his meaning instantly.
Even if she hadn't orchestrated it, she couldn't wash her hands of it. Those people were her fans, and that made
her responsible. Besides, she knew she looked guilty. She and Rachel had never gotten along. In Haynes's and
Jasper's eyes, she'd never bothered to hide her disdain for Rachel, even in front of them. No one would be
surprised if she was behind the paint attack.
Stella set the contract back down on the table. "If you wantto give up the
studio, then stick to my terms-ten million. Cash for the keys."
Haynes's handsface was a mask of ice. "Stella, don't be greedy. I'm still offering compensation. Be smart
about this."
"And if | say no?"
A cold smile flickered across Haynes's lips, but his eyes glittered with menace. "If I'm not mistaken, the studio's
currently owned by Antoney, isn't it?"
Stella's guarded expression sharpened. She stared at Haynes, all nerves and suspicion. “What are you planning?
If you've got a problem, take it up with me, not him!"
Haynes's gaze lingered on her tense face, his eyes colder than ever.
He didn't know why, but in that moment, something clicked. Stella had always ticked every box-she'd been the
perfect wife in every way yet somehow, she'd grown so dull and distant. Now, as she stood up for Antoney,
Haynes suddenly understood why.
"You've never defendedthe way you're defending Antoney right now," he said, voice unexpectedly soft.
Stella stared at him, not quite following his train of thought. "You have plenty of people to defend you. Do you
really need me, too?"
A derisive smirk tugged at Haynes's lips. "I always thought you were like srobot-programmed to never get
angry, never show any emotion. Turns out you do have feelings, just not for me."
To him, Stella had always been the perfect wife: gentle, considerate, endlessly understanding. Whether she was
giving birth or juggling.
everything on her own
matter if he was there. Even if she needed him and he didn't answer, she'd just tell him, "It's fine, you go take
care of your work." She never seemed to need him at all.
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