chapter1283

Israel was stunned, unable to form a rebuttal. He pointed a trembling finger at her. "Stella, how can you be so flippant at a time like this? I knew it! You want him dead!"

Stella's eyes turned to ice. "Joshua."

Joshua stepped forward, grabbed Israel's outstretched arm, and twisted.

A sickening *crack* echoed through the hall, followed by Israel's agonized

scream.

Stella looked down at him, her gaze colder than ever before. "I'm in a very bad mood today. Don't test me. If you say one more word, I promise you will regret it."

Sweat beaded on Israel's forehead as he clutched his broken arm, his lips trembling too much to speak.

Aurora rushed to his side. "Brother, are you alright?"

Queenie, however, simply sized up Stella, then glanced at Joshua, a smirk playing on her lips. Stella ignored her and started to walk away, but Queenie called out.

"Ms. Cameron, wait a moment."

Stella stopped, her expression impassive. "Is there something you need?"

Queenie stepped in front of her, her face a mask of derision. "I feel so sorry for Haynes. He's done so much for you, given you so much, and you won't even save your own son. Stella, I have never met a woman as heartless as you."

Stella fought to contain her irritation. With Keen missing, her patience was already worn thin. She was trying to coordinate a search and plan a rescue, and now these two were cornering her with accusations. It was infuriating.

Her tone became sharp. "Whether I'm heartless or not is none of your business. You're an outsider, and you have no right to interfere. And don't talk to me about what Haynes deserves. You could give him the world, and he wouldn't spare you a second glance So Ms. Burton suggest you stop acting so high and mighty, trying to lecture me."

Stella gave her a dismissive look, her words cutting like glass. "You aren't qualified. And you aren't worthy."

The retort may not have been Official source is

complex, but it struck a nerve. The

Burton family had few women, and Queenie had been adored and

pampered since birth, she was used

to being the center of attention, not the target of such blatant scorn-especially not from Stella, the woman she detested most.

Just recently, she had learned from her uncle, Sellers Burton, that their grandfather had given Stella a highly coveted business opportunity an opportunity that was supposed to have been hers.

Then, a few days ago, Aurora told her Haynes and Keen had moved into the Williams Manor. Seizing the chance, Queenie had Aurora arrange for her to stay as well, hoping to get closer to Haynes But when she finally managed to speak with him, he had shut her down completely.

"Don't waste your time on me," he'd said. "The only woman I will ever marry is Stella."