The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

She'd been convinced that Lind was the one hired to carry out the kidnapping.

Turns out, Lind was actually someone Joshua had switched in.

No wonder he seemed to know everything—and even went out of his way to warn Stella.

Rachel fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Still, I think getting rid of Stella is the best option. Joshua, wasn't that your idea in the first place? Why are you changing your mind now?"

She stared at him intently, her gaze unwavering. "Don't tell me... you've fallen for Stella?"

Joshua lifted a brow, countering, "And why would I fall for her?"

Rachel faltered, but finally admitted, “Because... she's prettier than I am.”

Joshua replied flatly, "There are plenty of women more attractive than you. Do you expect me to fall for all of them?"

Rachel didn't respond.

If she truly was the person Joshua had been searching for, she wouldn't be this anxious and insecure.

But the truth was... she wasn't the one he was looking for at all.

That's why she was so desperate to get rid of Stella.

Rachel shifted the subject. "There's something else-Lind warned Stella, told her this kidnapping had something to do with me. What was that about? Is he trying to throw me under the bus?"

Joshua answered, "I told him to say it."

Rachel stared at him in disbelief. "Why would you do that? Now Stella's going to suspect me!"

Joshua shot her a glance. "Do you really think that keeping her in the dark means she won't get suspicious? Lind has a grudge against Haynes-so why send Haynes's ex-wife to pay the ransom? Why would Lind kill his enemy's ex-wife, but not Haynes himself? For revenge? To make Haynes suffer? But if their relationship was so close, why did they get divorced? Or is it..."

Joshua paused, his voice lowering. "Are you planning to get rid of Keen as well?"

Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came out.

She hadn't intended to harm Keen. If Haynes's only child ended up dead, and if Haynes really lost his mind

and went after Lind with event

he had she'd be caught in the crossfire. There was nothing to gain—she might even be exposed herself.

Rachel lowered her head. "I... I didn't think that far ahead."

Joshua said, "Even if Stella finds out, she has no proof. You don't need to worry. Besides, my main goal in all this was to see if she was clever enough to put the pieces together. She didn't let me down."

Rachel was completely lost. "Why do you care about that?"

For a brief moment, Joshua's dark eyes turned almost unfathomable. A sly,noveldrama

enigmatic smile curled on his lips.

"Because I've already found a way to help you deal with her."

Rachel's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? What's the plan?"

Joshua put a finger to his lips, feigning secrecy. "That's for me to know for now. Treat it as a surprise."

Rachel was both frustrated and

anxious that Joshua had turned the

plan from a clean elimination to a

risky game. But seeing the

confidence in his eyes, a wave of

hope surged through her.

Nobody knew Joshua's methods better than she did. If he put his mind to it,

getting rid of Stella would be almost effortless.

"All right," Rachel finally managed a smile. "I'll wait for your surprise."

Joshua checked his watch, then stood and left.

As he reached the ground floor, Jasper appeared, just coming in with a bag of takeout lunch.

Joshua walked past him as if he hadn't even noticed.

But Jasper suddenly stopped, as if something had just occurred to him.

"Hey-you! Hold on a second!"