The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 983

They stepped into the back garden, where Jonathan and Lauretta finally came to a halt.

Lauretta turned to face him. "Mr. Williams, if you have something to say, let's talk here."

Jonathan didn't beat around the bush. "Ms. Chapman, back when you and Star were classmates, did she ever mention anything about the Williams family to you?"

Lauretta arched an eyebrow, catching the pointed undertone in his words.

So, he's implying that Star only befriended me after revealing her true identity?

A flicker of irony passed through Lauretta's mind, though nothing showed on her face. She smiled politely. "No. When we met Star, none of us knew a thing about her family."

Jonathan's expression remained unreadable. "Is that so?"

Despite his words, it was clear from his face that he didn't believe her for a second.

Lauretta frowned slightly, but her voice stayed gentle and calm.

time. Whenever school was on break, the rest of us would go

eyes, her lips curved in a soft smile, but her

so much. We always wondered why did she have to support herself like that? Didn't she have family to help her? Eventually, we realized that not once had we ever seen Star get a call from home. The only family she ever mentioned was her

Williams family, she wouldn't have struggled financially. But that year, when Abby's family hit a rough patch, Star and Anthony lent all their savings to Abby. That's why Star ended

Star a loan, but Star refused, insisting she could handle things on her own and didn't need the help-at

pulled through those hardest days by sheer

said, 'If you're so proud you ran away from home, why bother calling now?' Then he hung up before I could explain anything. I tried calling the next brother,

didn't you call me or my

classmates and friends. Those two calls? We dug them out from her call history. I think Star must have deleted all your numbers. The call log didn't even show any names.

to-we just

our luck."

for Skyler and Jonathan himself... not even a trace of their numbers

volumes-neither of them had ever bothered to call

gradually turned

was the kind of luck that took several lifetimes to earn. The Williamses-three