The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Joshua's reaction wasn't what Rachel had expected. For a moment, she was stunned-then, unexpectedly, a flicker of hope sparked in her chest.

"Joshua, when Haynes had me thrown in jail, why didn't you answer my calls? Why didn't you come to help me?"

Joshua suddenly let out a soft laugh. "Why I didn't come? Don't you already know the answer to that?"

Rachel's gaze darted away, but she fought to keep her composure.

"I... I honestly don't know..."

Joshua sighed, his tone gentle but resolute. "Rachel, I already know you're not

the one I've been searching for."

Rachel's fingers clenched tight.

So it was true-this was why Joshua had abandoned her, why he'd left her to fend for herself.

Rachel's voice grew desperate. "It's Simone, isn't it?!"

surprised. "How did you

balled her hands into fists. "She came to see me! Joshua, she's not the one you're looking for-I

know anything else—not which garden it

the prison, trying to trick me-pretending to be me, trying to

her throat dry and tight. But she didn't dare stop; she knew that if she paused, Joshua might never

frowned as

"Is that so?"

earnestly. "I swear to

everything Simone and Aurora had said to her, carefully omitting any hint that

Joshua's trust in her was already hanging by a thread. Whether he'd believe her

it didn't matter. Even if Joshua never trusted her again, she was determined not to let Simone benefit from his

for a long moment after she finished. Rachel held her

idea how much, if

Finally, Joshua spoke.

got hold of an identical earring, and came to me, saying you

coincidences stacked up, and I started to wonder-maybe I'd been looking for