MainNovelChapter 412
"Haynie, are you not even going to seeanymore?"
Rachel swept into the room, carrying a thermos in her hand, her posture elegant as always.
Haynes's eyes darkened. "Rachel, what are you doing here?"
She spoke softly. "I heard your stomach's been acting up again. | made you
something soothing-thought you could use it."
Sof the coldness faded from Haynes's striking, austere features.
"You didn't have to go through all that trouble."
Rachel smiled gently and unscrewed the lid, letting the steam curl up between them.
"Keen toldyour stomach's always been a problem, and that Ms. Cameron used to cook for you. | spent a
while at Mr. Burton's place, too, and learned sof those recipes. They're supposed to help."
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She looked at Haynes, her eyes luminous with tenderness.
"Haynie, | can make these for you and Keen from now on, if you'd like."
If Stella could do it, so could she. Rachel never thought herself any less capable.
Haynes's gaze was as unreadable as ever. "Rachel, you should focus on your own health first. Don't worry about
all this."
Rachel paused, biting her lip unconsciously. Ever since Haynes's divorce from Stella, he'd grown distant. He still
showed up when she needed him, but the special way he used to favor her was gone.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile. "Haynie, do you remember, back in the garden, when | was practicing
‘Starlight Serenade'? You said you'd never heard anything so beautiful. | had no idea it was your birthday that
day—if I'd known, | would've played you another piece."
The mention of old times stirred something in Haynes's eyes.
His voice was low, nearly cool. "Back then, | didn't realize you were the one who saved Jasper."
Rachel's smile softened. "Jasper said he
bet
hted to introducet
his best friend. When | first
I was a little int
you,
Those had been the most carefree days for all of them. Even Haynes, usually so guarded, let a trace of nostalgia
flicker in his expression.
Rachel caught the look and, lowering her voice, asked, "Haynie, did you ever find out who was behind what
happened at my studio?"
Haynes's tone was neutral. "Yes. It was a few of your online haters-they put someone up to it."
Rachel met his gaze evenly. "And... weren't sof them Stella's fans, too?"
He fell silent for a moment. "Yes."
A faint, wordless smile touched Rachel's lips. "Haynie, do you still believe Stella had nothing to do with it?"
Haynes's expression gave nothing away. "Right now, there's no evidence linking her to any of it."
"But it was definitely her fans, wasn't it?" Rachel pressed, voice quiet but insistent.
Haynes's eyes were dark, almost fathomless. "Rachel, you know as well as | do- suspicions aren't proof."
Rachel held his gaze. "So what, then? Do we just let the real culprit walk free?" He swallowed hard, but said
nothing.
Rachel's long lashes fluttered, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"Haynie, | get it. She's your ex-wife, Keen's mother. Of course you want to protect her. If it were just the
usual if she wanted to humiliate usual-ifagain-I'd keep my mouth shut, like always."
She looked up at him suddenly, her gentle eyes ablaze.
"But you should know this. Even after years of illness, | never gave up performing. I've sacrificed
everything for the violin-my
comfort, my health, even my life, if it
comes to that. But | will never let anyone insult what | love."
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