The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 999

After signing the agreement, Stella left the room with Joshua in tow.

This time, no one from the Williams family-or Leonard's side-tried to stop them.

The hallway was silent, the only sound the muffled thud of Stella's heels on the crimson carpet.

Joshua walked by her side. "Were they always like this to you?" he asked quietly.

Stella knew exactly who he meant: the Williams family.

"More or less," she replied.

Back then, whether it was her, or Coleman, or Israel, they'd all been younger. People said what they meant, sometimes bluntly, often cruelly. Things were out in

the open.

Now, their attitude hadn't changed, but the cruelty wore a mask of politeness. The malice was just dressed up in false concern.

for a while before Stella finally asked, "Joshua,

"You're only asking me now? Don't

late," she said

"And what if I lied? What

you have actually sold your original shares to

lips curled into a small smile. "Of course

back out of

at her, surprised.

Leonard. He's never cared about principles or keeping his word-why should I? I'm just

smile played

nothing more than putting on a show-loves seeing people fall apart in desperation. If he's so desperate

couldn't be

readily to the Williams family's demand wasn't blind trust in

complicated process," she explained, "As long as I don't sign, as long as don't cooperate, there's nothing they can do. Besides, this kind of one-sided agreement would never hold up in court. I can't prove Leonard kidnapped me, so I'm supposed to hand over my shares? It's a joke. This isn't a sale. It's not even a negotiation.

back in the Williams family, Leonard can't

hopes in someone else's hands. The moment she agreed