The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

The thought steadied Rachel, and she drew a slow breath to calm herself.

"Joshua, I will prove to you that I'm the one you've been searching for," she whispered to herself.

After a quick glance at her watch, Rachel stood up. "I need to get going, Joshua. I'll come by again in a couple of days," she said, her tone casual.

She knew Simone would arrive any minute now-she had to leave before their paths crossed.

Rachel slipped out of the café just as Simone pulled up outside.

Sitting by the window, Joshua was visible from the street. Simone noticed a woman speaking with him, but with Rachel's careful disguise, Simone couldn't make out her face. She dismissed her as just another girl trying to flirt with Joshua -something she'd seen happen plenty of times before.

Without much thought, Simone asked, "Who was that you were talking to, Joshua?"

Joshua waved down the waiter and ordered two coffees. His voice was relaxed, almost lazy. "Rachel."

Simone froze for a split second, unable to believe what she'd just heard.

"...Who did you say?"

"Rachel," Joshua repeated.

already gone, nowhere in sight. A cold glint flickered in her gaze, but her expression remained perfectly

ignorance, she asked, "And what did Rachel

for, that you're

knuckles turned

lips. "She said she only confessed to being an imposter to get out of prison early. She couldn't fight someone as

clenched under

nerve to stab her

Rachel had just kept her head down and stayed out of sight, Simone would have ignored her a nobody, a rat scurrying in the gutter. But instead, Rachel had the audacity to show up right

wanted to

as she was concerned, Rachel was already

wanted to tear Rachel apart, Simone's face remained

she asked Joshua,

know you'd never do something like that, but... some of what

a poised, graceful smile. "Of course. Well, I

She showed

rush to defend