The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella suspected it probably had something to do with Simone.

She didn't ask any further.

After Stella and Joshua left, Aurora turned to Simone.

"So? Did he buy it?"

Simone shook her head. "Hard to say. I think he's half-convinced, half-doubtful. Still, he's not nearly as cold as before."

Aurora shrugged. "It's normal for him to have his suspicions. If he just swallowed everything you said, he'd either be a terrible liar or a complete idiot. And if he were that much of a fool, you wouldn't even look at him twice."

Simone nodded in agreement. "True. But he did let slip some useful things."

Aurora was always the sharper one. Simone shared what Joshua had told her, laying it all out for Aurora to help her sort through what was true and what might be a trap. Simone wasn't naïve enough to take Joshua at his word-what if he was deliberately trying to test her?

After listening, Aurora laughed lightly. "If you really want to know if he's telling the truth, there's an easy way. Ask Rachel. She'll know."

Rachel know each other? If that's the case... then maybe Joshua has a whole other reason for staying close

yet. But Rachel's out of options right now-we could

brilliant. I never would have thought

and she grinned. "Good thing you had me wear Stella's old earring. It's a bit worn, not quite the same as the

After having the earring

custom-made, Aurora, ever cautious,

insisted Simone wear Stella's

original one. The

v matching net

had been quietly

room. Stella might have forgotten the earring even existed,

herself intrigued by the little game, Simone wasted no time arranging for someone to

in jail, unable to post bail,

Simone and Aurora were

behind bars, Rachel's condition wasn't nearly as miserable as one might expect. She looked

but he wasn't so cruel as