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

I'd been searching for all this

handsome features flickered in and out of the shifting glow

mind, the image

gently, "That sounds like good

and even Joshua's voice, usually

been looking for was just someone I used to pin my hopes on. Honestly it was just me, reaching for something to hold onto.

suffocating-dark, hopelenovel.ne

was

I could feel it: I was either about to lose my mind, or I

him, Stella didn't feel

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

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

a caring older sister's. “And

replied, "Then, I met someone in the garden

ed

been barely holding

the brink of