The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Leonard arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Sellers wasn't the type to believe in coincidences-he knew better.

He shot Leonard a look, then answered the ringing phone.

"Mr. Gardner, how can I help you?"

Joshua was sitting on a private jet, a satellite phone in hand, his tone cool and measured. "Tell Leonard to let Stella go. If he doesn't, the Gardner family and the Lerman family will be at war. There'll be no backing down."

Sellers froze, instinctively glancing at Leonard.

"Mr. Gardner, I'm not sure I understand-"

But Joshua cut him off, his voice sharp and cold. "I know you're together. Put Leonard on."

Sellers hesitated, then passed the phone to Leonard.

How on earth did the head of the Gardner family know Stella? What exactly was their relationship?

Leonard took the phone from Sellers, unfazed. "Mr. Gardner, what can I do for you?"

waste words. "Let Stella go. I'll owe

had her sights set on the Gardner family's patriarch, dreaming of marrying Joshua. Yet, for reasons unknown, Joshua kept his identity hidden and lingered

judging by Joshua's call, things were clearly

man like Joshua, interested in a divorced woman with a child—a secondhand mother, so to speak? What exactly was it about Stella

at Stella, doubt flickering in his eyes. Did she

even in Novaris right now. Maybe you've got

was ice-cold. "Quit playing dumb. You know

"Mr. Gardner, accusations

it's a

at me,

you

a voice in the background on Joshua's end. "Mr. Gardner, we've tracked their

in acknowledgment and

line, his face darkening. Joshua

***

leaned in, uncertain. "Mr.

holding the

knew full well

a