The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Joshua was silent for a few seconds before finally saying, "No, actually... I'm kind of happy about it."

But even as he said it, Stella couldn't spot the slightest trace of joy on his face.

It was his private matter, and Stella knew she shouldn't pry. Still, after everything Joshua had done to help her, she couldn't just pretend not to care.

She hesitated, then asked, "Joshua, did you remember something?"

There seemed to be only one explanation for his sudden shift in mood: he must have remembered something important.

His hands, steady on the steering wheel, tensed just a little.

"You could say that."

Stella glanced at him. "Do you want to talk about it? Maybe I could offer some advice... Of course, if you'd rather not, I understand."

Silence fell between them, thick and unmoving.

Stella assumed he didn't want to share, so she let the subject drop. She turned her gaze outside, watching the scenery blur past, her mind wandering to thoughts of the upcoming international competition.

unexpectedly, Joshua's voice-clear and cool as a mountain spring-broke the hush inside the

been searching

flickered in and out of the shifting glow from

mind, the image

sounds like good news. Why do you

to swallow up all the light, and even Joshua's voice, usually warm and upbeat, sounded

Honestly it was just me, reaching for something to

suffocating-dark, hopelenovel.ne

was

about to lose my mind, or I wasn't going

Stella didn't feel

own share of darkness. Maybe not as extreme as Joshua's, but enough to know what it was like to stand

for Joshua... She'd never endured what he had, so she didn't feel qualified to judge him.

like a caring older sister's. “And then what

replied, "Then, I met someone in the garden playing the

ed

the time, he'd been barely holding back the urge to destroy

the