The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Queenie hesitated. “If Simone finds out you're scheming against the guy she likes, you know she won't let it go."

Aurora replied, “That's part of why I didn't tell my father or brother. If they find out who Joshua really is, they'll either try to win him over to our side—and if that happens, they'll probably try to set him up with Stella-or they'll see him as a threat and become his enemy. Either way, it could get ugly.

Simone likes Joshua. I don't want our family to go to war with him. Leonard will hold back for Simone's sake; he won't push things too far."

Queenie grinned. "You always think things through, Aurora."

That was one of the reasons Queenie and Aurora were such close friends- Aurora was nobody's doormat, but she wasn't ruthless either.

Noticing the time, Aurora stood up with Queenie, and they left the café together.

They had barely stepped outside when a car with no plates screeched to a halt right in front of them.

Before either woman could make sense of what was happening, they were forced into the car.

Meanwhile, Leonard got a call: Simone had been kidnapped.

His voice turned cold as he instructed his assistant to trace Simone's movements,

then shrugged on his coat, ready to handle the rescue himself.

just as he was heading out, his

Aurora's been kidnapped. You need to come to the Williams estate right

froze in his tracks. "What did you say? Aurora

in Leonard's voice, Israel pressed,

Was someone

"Simone was taken

be the

don't know yet. We're still

need

to the airport- Haynes O'Brien had called to say that Keen was visiting her

had been ages since Stella had seen Keen. The last time she'd been in the hospital, she was worried something might happen and hadn't let Keen visit. But Keen missed her terribly and begged every day to see

anymore. He also admitted he wanted an

he brought

met

soon as he saw Stella, Keen broke into

missed you so much! Did

Stella had

him gently and smiled. “Of course I

but she had to face