The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 518

Joshua arched an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Rachel, didn't I offer before? I could have taken care of her for you, but you refused."

Rachel's expression stiffened.

He was right-he had made the offer, and she had turned it down. All she'd ever wanted was to win Haynes for herself. She wasn't some heartless monster-why would she ever want blood on her hands?

But things were different now.

With Mr. Burton backing Stella, she had become untouchable. Even Joshua would struggle to go up against the Burtons and come out on top.

Maybe it was time to stop hesitating. Maybe Stella just needed to disappear, once and for all.

Rachel parted her lips, instinctively searching for some excuse. But when it came time to speak, not a single word made it out.

Things really had changed. Her heart was growing colder by the day.

and didn't bother waiting for an answer. Whether she was kind or cruel-it made no

up, his tone calm. "I can handle this for you. But before I do, there's something I

"What is

with a look. His eyes, usually so clear, were now as dark and impenetrable as ink-cold, fathomless, impossible to

is it, after all these years, you've never

realization dawning almost immediately-Joshua must have heard Stella's

that night, so of course she

for the feeling he wanted. But emotion in music was such an

night, I was in a really

cut her off. "But today I heard Stella play, and she came

faltered, uncertain. "Are you talking about... her original

"Original style?"

was very close to the

always try to mimic the original style. But professionals-real violinists-they

popular. I practiced it every day in the garden. At first, I copied the original as closely as I could. But after