The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Keen actually wanted her gone too.

She felt like an outcast-unwelcome wherever she went.

Joshua, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up with a smile. "Ms. Pearce, if you need a place to rest, there's a lounge upstairs. Ms. Williams and Miss Lerman are there as well. You could go say hello."

Aurora and Simone?

Honestly, Rachel had always hoped to get to know them, but never found the right opportunity. She'd heard from Joshua that Stella and Aurora weren't on good terms. Supposedly, Stella had been thrown out of her family for stealing Aurora's fiancé.

If she could get Aurora on her side...

Rachel's heart skipped with excitement.

Joshua really was her secret weapon-so much more reliable than Jasper.

"Thank you for the tip," Rachel said, "I'll head up now."

She made her way to the second-floor lounge. Sure enough, Aurora and Simone were chatting quietly on a sofa tucked away in the corner.

Rachel approached them. "Ms. Williams, Miss Lerman-hello."

Aurora glanced up at her. "Ms. Pearce. What a coincidence."

here for the party as well? Oh, did you see Keen and the

nodded. "We

sit. As for Simone, she didn't even

awkward. She glanced around, then lowered her

have something I'd like to discuss privately.

her,

didn't change. "If you have something to say, Ms. Pearce, you can say it here. Simone and I don't keep secrets

the issue. She took

heard Stella is the long-lost

wasn't surprising that Rachel knew-Haynes had already learned the truth

Aurora smiled and nodded.

and Stella aren't exactly close. Rumor has it Stella

are you

may not know is that Stella only managed to marry Haynes through

flickered as she remembered how, last

the initiative to

Joshua.

of everyone in

only spoken to

slyly. "Even Joshua, Stella's assistant, is with her