The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Maybe it's just some overblown misunderstanding-someone thinking they saw the wrong person or something dramatic like that? But honestly, none of that matters. As long as they have an agenda, they'll slip up sooner or later.

Whoever loses their patience first is the loser. All we have to do is wait."

When Rachel returned to the field, she saw Joshua already challenging Keen to a horseback riding contest.

Joshua's skill with horses-and archery, too—was in a league far beyond Simone's.

Keen was absolutely enthralled. His adoration for Joshua was written all over his face, impossible to miss.

Watching this, Rachel felt a flicker of alarm in her chest.

She'd spent so much time and effort winning Keen over, slowly getting him to like her. Yet Joshua, after meeting Keen only a few times, had completely won the boy's admiration in record time.

And then there was the matter of Joshua deliberately sending her over to greet Aurora earlier. What had that been about? Was he suspicious of something, or was it just a casual gesture?

With Joshua, Rachel knew better than to rely on luck. She wanted to ask him directly, but he kept busy with Keen all afternoon, never giving her a chance to approach.

Rachel grew restless, so unsettled that she couldn't even bring herself to bother with Haynes as usual.

Haynes, she could always pester him later. But without Joshua's support, she'd be cutting off her own arm-no, both arms.

dangerous, but the help he gave her was real and tangible. Without him, there's no way

far away, Stella noticed Rachel hadn't come to flirt with Haynes.

an eyebrow. "Looks like your precious Rachel

could see Rachel's attention was glued to Joshua. As for her motives... who

eager to charm, never quite accepting or rejecting anyone—maybe she

of this and his gaze darkened

out how to get Joshua away from

always clung to him, which led

meanwhile, was clearly up to something

Stella.

not...

moment the

his mind,

be too

Rachel

He couldn't use

solve his own problems.

after her, Jasper would be the obvious choice

maybe she'd finally stop obsessing over him. Noticing Haynes lost in thought, Stella