The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 991

Stella met Israel's furious glare with icy calm. "And why exactly should I listen to you?"

Israel faltered, momentarily taken aback.

Even Coleman and Aurora looked at her in disbelief.

Coleman's voice, usually warm, had turned cold. "Stella, that's enough. Leonard is a guest of the Lerman family-he's not yours to treat however you like.

I'm warning you. Apologize to Leonard, right now, or "

Stella cut him off. "Or what? You'll throw me out again, like last time? Maybe call security and have them drag me out?"

She settled back onto the couch, unbothered. Joshua, ever attentive, offered her a sanitizing wipe.

Stella took her time, meticulously cleaning the hand she'd just used to slap Leonard across the face.

Once again, she felt a silent surge of gratitude-Joshua always seemed to know exactly what she needed, sometimes even before she did.

Israel watched her act so fearlessly, his expression growing darker by the second.

now, the commotion had drawn attention from every corner of the room. Guests stared, wide-eyed, at the unfolding scene—some in shock, but others merely shrugged. To them, it

anyone he deemed a threat. And everyone knew that stepchildren and biological children rarely got

at odds? Hardly surprising. In fact, considering Leonard's abrasive personality, some

a bit much. There's an old rule: if you must hit someone, at least

and rising fury. With all these

her, worried she'd made an enemy out

a wine-stained napkin at Leonard's cheek, shooting Stella

him this way?" she demanded,

and Coleman exchanged grim

voice cut through, cool and unyielding. "If you're here to demand an apology from me, don't waste your breath. With so many people watching, I'd hate to embarrass you

what you say,

apologizing to him."

swept over the Williams family, her expression cold as steel, her words sharp and

haven't thrown him out

because this is

me. I don't want

of you keep meddling, don't blame