"I want a lot, but is it as much as your Rachel?" Ste nced at Haynes with a slight lift of her eyes. "For your precious Rachel, you gave her my wedding. You dropped one hundred million tounch her career without batting an eye, and then you froze my card, iming I''m the one who''s asking too much?"


    Haynes'' voice was icy. "These aren''t reasons for you to keep targeting Rachel."


    Ste retorted with sarcasm, "Oh, it''s all on me because Ms. Pearce is pure as the driven snow."


    Haynes heard the sarcasm loud and clear, which irked him. Ste seemed unreasonable to him now.


    Just as he was about to speak, Ste cut him off. "I hope Mr. O''Brien and Ms. Pearce clear up all the false information about me online. Or else, don''t me me when your reputations get ruined."


    Haynes'' deep eyes were inscrutable. "Ruined reputations?"


    "Yes, Mr. O''Brien, don''t you believe it?"


    "Not really," he replied dryly.


    Ste smiled, not pressing further. "Well, let''s wait and see."


    Their conversation ended on yet another sour note.


    Not long after Haynes left, Neville returned and drove Ste back home.


    ...


    The following day, Ste drove to pick Marvin up from school. Though the storm was far from over, Marvin hadn''t seen her in days and insisted on meeting her.


    Thinking of Marvin warmed Ste''s heart. Even the pain in her chest seemed to ease a little.


    Traffic was heavy at this hour, and Ste texted Marvin lest he got anxious. [Sweetie, I''m stuck in traffic and might be a few minuteste.]


    Marvin quickly texted back, [I understand, Ste. Don''t worry. Just be careful.] A small smile tugged at the corners of Ste''s lips.


    Back in the day, whenever Ste went out, even if she wasn''tte, Keen would give her a hard time if she got slightly dyed. Once, when she had a cold and coughed the whole way, Keen was too busy texting Rachel to ask if she was okay.


    As she approached an intersection, ready to turn, a car suddenly hurtled towards her! Ste''s expression changed, and she tried to swerve, but it was toote. The car crashed straight into hers.


    Bang! With a deafening noise, Ste lost consciousness briefly.


    ...


    She didn''t know how long had passed, but through the shattered ss, she heard soft sobbing that slowly brought her back to consciousness.


    "Haynie, you''re finally here. That rookie driver was terrifying. She didn''t even hit the brakes and mmed into me. I thought... I thought I''d never see you again..."


    Blinking groggily, Ste could see through the cracked windshield the tall, familiar figure of Haynes lifting Rachel out of the car. Rachel? Could Rachel be the one who hit her?


    Rachel was crying, her face streaked with tears.


    She threw herself into Haynes'' arms, "Haynie, I thought I was going to die. I was so scared..."


    Haynes soothed her in a low voice, "Don''t be afraid. I''m here."


    The scene outside was chaotic, with plenty of onlookers around the spectacle.


    Haynes didn''t nce in Ste''s direction as he moved through the crowd, seemingly intent on getting Rachel away from the scene.


    ck smoke mingled with fiery sparks, and the acrid smell of gasoline stung Ste''s throat, making her cough.


    "Cough, cough!"


    Ste struggled to get out of the car, only to find her foot trapped and unable to move. Instinctively, she reached for her phone in her pocket, desperate to call for help.


    The car was catching fire, and if she called the emergency services, they might not arrive in time to save her from being burned alive.