A sh of anger darkened Haynes'' eyes as he strode purposefully toward Ste.


    Ste''s foot slipped, and she nearly lost her bnce, but Neville reacted quickly, steadying her before she could fall.


    "Thank you," Ste murmured.


    She had barely straightened up when a powerful force wrenched her and Neville apart.


    Caught off guard, Ste stumbled back two steps and nearly slipped again on the loose gravel beneath her feet.


    "Star!" Neville instinctively reached out to catch her.


    But before he could, another hand seized Ste''s wrist, yanking her forward.


    "Ste, Neville-just what do you think you''re doing?" Haynes'' voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.


    Neville gripped Ste''s other wrist. "Let go of her, Haynes."


    Haynes'' expression was icy, his lips pressed into a thin line. He spoke each word slowly, his tone like frost: "You''re the one who should let go."


    Ste''s face paled when she saw who it was.


    "Haynes, what are you doing? Let me go!" She struggled, trying to break free from his grasp.


    But Haynes'' hand was like a steel trap-unyielding and impossible to escape. The more she resisted, the tighter his grip became, until a dull ache radiated up her arm.


    Even Neville, who was always quick with a smile, looked suddenly grim. "Haynes, Star is divorced from you. She has her own life now. You have no right to interfere."


    Haynes let out a coldugh. "I have no right? And you do?"


    With that, he ignored Nevillepletely, pulling Ste away as if he owned her.


    Neville held fast to her other hand, blocking their way. "Let her go, Haynes. She doesn''t want to go with you."


    Haynes'' grip tightened even more. "If she doesn''t want toe with me, does she want to go with you instead?"


    Neither man would let go, and the pain shooting through Ste''s wrist made cold sweat bead on her forehead.


    "Let go! That hurts..." she gasped.


    Neville snapped to attention at the sound of her distress. Seeing how pale she was, he immediately released her hand.


    Haynes, however, didn''t loosen his hold at all-in fact, his grip tightened.


    "Haynes, you''re hurting her," Neville said icily. "Are you nning to break her wrist?"


    Haynes nced down and finally


    noticed Ste''s ashen face. He loosened his fingers, not gripping so hard anymore, but he still refused to tet go, as if releasing her would make her vanish into thin air.


    His voice softened. "Star, we need to talk."


    The pain in her wrist eased slightly, but before Ste could protest, Haynes was


    already pulling her away.


    Neville, unwilling to risk hurting


    could


    Ste further, let them go. He only watch in silence as the two disappeared from view.


    Haynes led Ste to a quiet, secluded corner. Only when he was sure Neville


    hadn''t followed did he finally release her hand.


    The moment he let go, Ste pped him hard across the face.


    The crack echoed in the stillness.


    Haynes'' handsome face snapped to the side, but he didn''t even flinch.


    "Feel better?" His voice was calm, almost detached.


    Ste''s tone was cial. "No."


    "Then hit me again."


    Without hesitation, she pped him a second time.


    Haynes remained unbothered, ncing at her reddened hand. "If you''re not done, go ahead."


    Ste scoffed. "Your skin is thick enough. I''m more worried about hurting my hand than your face."


    She rubbed her aching wrist and red at him. “Haynes, what is it? Are you not satisfied until you break my wrist-or is this the only way you can prove yourself to Rachel?"