The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Joshua's tone remained calm and almost detached. "This is Neo-Vespera-we're

on Haynes's turf. How would I even stop her? Besides, do you think she'd give me a heads-up before she made her move, so I could brace myself?"

Rachel was silent. What was the point of arguing now? The damage was done, and going over it again wouldn't change anything. Better to focus on what to do next.

She softened her voice. "Joshua, is there any way out of this?"

If anyone could come up with a clever solution, it'd be Joshua.

He pretended to think for a few seconds, then said, "Rachel, you were careless. You handed over solid, incriminating evidence. With proof like this, it's almost impossible to turn things around."

Hearing this, Rachel's composure finally started to crack. "I don't even know how someone was watching me! Joshua, you always come up with something-can't you help me? Please?"

Joshua let out a long sigh. "Rachel, it's not that I don't want to help. But this is Novaris-Haynes holds all the cards here. There's really nothing I can do. If we were in Aetheria, I could make black look white for you this wouldn't even be a problem."

A heavy sense of dread settled in Rachel's chest. If even Joshua couldn't help, maybe there really was no hope.

This whole ordeal made it clear: Haynes was done with her. She was well and truly cast out.

was no longer an

up. "Joshua, maybe I should just go back

and power rivaled- maybe even surpassed-Haynes's. Starting over in Aetheria with Joshua's backing, she could claw her way back to the top, maybe

never been her first choice, but as a last resort, he would

voice softened suddenly. "Rachel, I told you, as long

back, my door is always open

skipped. "But

you really

everything she'd put in, how could she possibly

I don't have any other

e'

her, let alone kidnapher. What else can I do besides leave? Wait around to

almost devilish chuckle. "Actually, there

this, Rachel's eyes lit up and she nearly trembled with

think of something,

cut her off. "But it's a last resort.

you're willing to go through