The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Vacation? Star, even if you don't really mean it, you should at least try to keep Joshua around, right?

And honestly, don't you think Joshua is amazing?

Think about it: if you hired a professional bodyguard, assistant, and driver who's on-call twenty-four hours a day, someone as skilled as Joshua would cost you at least eight grand a month.

And that's not even counting the fact that, in his spare time, he helps you with the kids.

Marvin and Keen both love him.

If you wanted to hire a full-time nanny these days, you'd be paying at least two grand a month—and there's no guarantee the kids would even like them.

Plus, Joshua can teach Marvin and Keen to ride horses and shoot-things you'd have to pay a fortune in private lessons for. One session from a decent instructor costs hundreds.

And sometimes, he even helps you put your ex in his place. Isn't that the dream?"

Abby ticked off Joshua's virtues on her fingers. "Honestly, even if we paid him ten grand a month, we'd still be getting a bargain."

The real issue was that too many people were watching Stella these days. Rachel had resurfaced, and there was no way she wouldn't stir up trouble.

Then there was Sellers Karl.

And, of course, the Williams family, who never missed a chance to make trouble.

Stella was silent for a few seconds. "It's just... Joshua seems really burned out. I thought he could use some time off.

If you want me to try and convince him to stay, I can, but Abby, honestly-our little world is too small for someone like Joshua.

Do you really believe he's just an ordinary guy?"

Abby fell quiet.

After a while, she let out a soft sigh. "Honestly, I'm just being selfish. I want him to stay."

She knew perfectly well that someone like Joshua was anything but ordinary.

If they hadn't lucked out and found him first, with his skills, he could easily be making a six-figure salary somewhere else.

Stella said, "Alright, Abby. Let's give him a break. When he's ready, I'll talk to him again."

Abby nodded. "I guess that's all we can do."

***

The international competition started soon after.

This year, by coincidence, it was being held in Novaris.

For Stella, not having to travel abroad was a blessing.

Right

andan Neo-Vespera, Neville watches were helping keep

hotel

so Sellers couldn't make any moves.

But if they left the country, all bets were off.

Haynes might be a jerk, but at least he was useful in situations like this.

The truth was, Stella was desperately short-handed.

Sellers was the head of the Burton family, with all their power behind him he could do whatever he

wanted.

But Stella...

ét

The Williams family? Forget it. She'd be lucky if they didn't make things worse.

Not only

her, the old they never support t

were always scheming to

squeeze whatever they could out of her.

***

Lerman family estate.noveldrama

Simone had called Joshua dozens of times, but he never picked up.

She'd texted him he hadn't answered a single message.

Now, anxiety was starting to get the better of her.

Had he figured out that she wasn't the one he met in the back garden?

Simone remembered that Joshua had been in the front row at Stella's recital.

Could he have recognized her that day?

But that didn't make sense.

Joshua was always around Stella-he must have heard her play plenty of times.

If he'd been able to recognize her, he would have done it long ago.

Lost in restless thoughts, Simone's phone suddenly rang.

Her heart leapt-maybe it was Joshua!

She grabbed her phone, but when she saw the caller ID, she froze.

Instinctively, she answered.

On the other end, a man's deep, rough voice came through.

"Simone, I'll be in Neo-Vespera tomorrow."