NovelGoldChapter 455
Rachel shot Stella a sharp, steely glance, her eyes glinting with cold determination.
"I'd rather have nothing at all than let a murderer walk away free!"
Haynes's brow furrowed involuntarily.
"Rachel, you need to calm down."
"How am | supposed to calm down when you're the one who got hurt?" Rachel's eyes were rimmed red, her voice
trembling with raw emotion.
"Rachel..." Haynes parted his lips as if to say more, but Rachel, overtaken by her feelings, cut him off.
She fixed him with a grave look. "Haynie, we can always find another studio. If we need a new composer, we'll
ask your old mentor for help. | can endure whatever comes my way—but the one thing I'll never accept is you
getting hurt."
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Stella stood a few paces away, watching the deeply emotional exchange between the two. A sly smile curled on
her lips, her tone icy as she interjected.
"Ms. Pearce, if you give up on everything now, doesn't that make all of Haynes's sacrifices for you meaningless?
Even that knife wound-just for nothing. Are you really willing to throw it all away?"
Rachel glared at her coolly. "None of it will be for nothing. I'll make sure you pay for what you've done. And for
Haynie's sake, I'd rather lose everything."
Rachel's words sounded noble, but Stella could tell she was simply stung by her earlier taunt—she'd rather risk it
all, just to one-up Stella.
Stella let out a soft laugh. "Too bad what you want doesn't really matter. What matters is what Mr. O'Brien
wants."
Rachel instinctively glanced at Haynes, only to find his dark, unreadable gaze fixed on Stella.
A knot tightened in Rachel's chest. "Haynie, you don't actually want to let Stella off the hook, do you?"
Haynes's eyes flickered. "Rachel, the concert is just around the cornery and we don't even know if you're healthy
enough to make it through. We don't have any more tto waste."
Stella flashed Rachel a faint, triumphant smile.
"Ms. Pearce, see how devoted Haynes is to you? He's even willing to put up with being stabbed by me, all for
your sake. Normally, he'd never letoff this easily."
Rachel bit her lip hard, tasting blood-Stella was flaunting her victory. Once, Rachel's "illness" had won her so
many advantages. Now, it was tying her hands.
She drew a deep breath, her face set with resolve.
"| won't accept this."
Haynes's voice was low and steady "Rachel, don't be stubborn. |
volne
remember you once said that
love for music was above
verything
else. You'd sacrifice anything for it."
Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came. She knew Haynes fell for her because of her unwavering passion
for music. If she gave all that up just to spite Stella, she'd be betraying everything she stood for.
Haynes's tone softened a little. "Rachel, go wait outside. | need to speak with Stella in private."
Disappointment clouded Rachel's eyes, but she didn't dare defy him. She turned and walked out, leaving the
room in heavy silence.
Once, she'd always had something to say to Haynes. Now, she couldn't find a single word.
It was Haynes who finally broke the quiet.
"So, you're that sure | won't do anything to you?"
Stella's answer was light, almost careless. "Yes."
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