The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Everyone's eyes were fixed anxiously on Stella.

No one had anticipated Leonard would go this far.

Stella stood with a gun aimed at her. Aside from a noticeable pallor, she stayed remarkably composed her expression calm, not a trace of terror in her features.

She spoke up, her voice steady. "No, it isn't."

Leonard narrowed his eyes. "Ms. Cameron, I told you I can't stand liars."

Stella's reply was cool. "And I can't stand having a gun pointed at me."

Leonard's gaze was glacial. "If you don't want to be threatened, you'd better answer my question."

Her tone didn't waver. "I already have. Perhaps Mr. Lerman has a hearing problem? Or-"

She lifted her chin, meeting Leonard's cold, murderous stare.

"Or maybe my answer just isn't what you wanted to hear? If that's the case, Mr. Lerman, why don't you tell me exactly what you want to hear? I'll answer accordingly. Or, you could just go ahead and shoot me now-save us both the trouble."

As her words faded, Haynes, Skyler, and Jonathan all turned pale, shouting in unison.

"Star!"

Leonard was already notorious for being unhinged, and Stella was only provoking him further-did she have a death wish?

flash of icy malice

dared to challenge

with a chilling calm. "Don't think I wouldn't

smiled ever so

"Then do it."

cold light flickering in his eyes as he slowly squeezed the trigger. The click was loud

snapped, "Leonard, that's enough! This is the Williams estate,

him, the gun still aimed squarely

so eager to die,

ready to pull the

about to intervene, when suddenly a woman's frail, sickly

the staircase

"Leonard, stop."

and looked

Haynes seized the opportunity,

to get it back; instead, his attention shifted to Aurora,

resting. Why are you out of

over, slipping his suit jacket

chill dressed like

summoned by

Aurora Skyler had shot her a look, urging her

even