Haynes had a grip like a vice, and Ste felt a sharp, piercing pain in her wrist.


    She gritted her teeth against the pain and looked up at the man, her voice cold and steady. "I heard you. So, what now?"


    Missing the underlying meaning in Ste''s words, Jasper eximed, "What now? You apologize to Rachel, of course!"


    Foreman sighed silently to himself. If Ste had intended to apologize to Rachel, she wouldn''t have asked, "What now." She meant she heard Haynes but didn''t


    want to say sorry.


    Haynes fixed his cold, piercing eyes on Ste''s face. "I''ll say it onest time. Apologize to Rachel."


    Ste lifted her gaze, meeting his with defiance. "Haynes, how often have you told me to apologize to Rachel? If you''re not tired of saying it, I''m tired of hearing it."


    She smirked, "You and Rachel enjoy apologies so much. Maybe I should hire some folks to apologize to you round the clock."


    Jasper was fuming. "Ste, you messed up and don''t even want to apologize? Have some decency!"


    Ste shrugged, her tone a masterss in indifference. "If you''re so convinced of my crimes, Jasper, dial the police yourself. I''ll wait."


    Jasper''s finger jabbed toward her, trembling with the force of his fury. "You" The word choked off, strangled by his own rage.


    Then it came—a searing pain thatnced through her wrist, as though the bones themselves were splintering under some invisible vise. She flinched, a faint pallor stealing over her features. Yet Haynes'' gaze remained locked on her, unyielding. "Mr. O''Brien." Ste wasn''t about to y tough in a situation like this. It would only end badly for her. "You''re about to crush my wrist."


    Haynes didn''t let go. "So, you''re still not going to apologize?"


    Jasper egged him on, "Good on you, Haynie! Show this woman she can''t do whatever she pleases!"


    Ste''s forehead was in cold sweat, her face as white as a sheet. Her eyshes fluttered with pain. "If you break my wrist, Mr. O''Brien, I''ll call the police and charge you with assault. Or perhaps..."


    She managed a sardonic smile. "This might even be domestic violence. Imagine the headlines, ''President of The O''Brien Group, a domestic abuser.'' That''s sure to grab the media''s attention."


    The pressure on her wrist abruptly disappeared. Ste lifted her hand to inspect the damage, finding bruises on her delicate skin.


    Haynes'' eyes flickered slightly.


    Seeing that, Jasper was not satisfied. "Haynie, did you hear her? She''s threatening you! You can''t let his woman off easy. Maybe this is all a ploy to get your attention..."


    Jasper was about to say more, but Foreman mped a hand over his mouth. "Jasper, stay out of it. They''re a couple. It''s not our ce to interfere."


    Foreman nced at Rachel. "Ms. Pearce, perhaps we should give them some space."


    Rachel looked at Haynes with concern, her voice soft, "Haynie, maybe Ms. Cameron is just overwhelmed from being at home all day. Let''s not take her words to heart. She might need some space to unwind."


    Jasper let out a derisiveugh. "She''s a housewife living infort. What does


    she need to unwind from? Bad mood? Sure, maybe sneaking around with another guy will cheer her up."


    Foreman tugged at Jasper. "Come on, Jasper, let''s wait for Haynie back in the room."