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.

as he was heading out, his phone rang

Aurora's been kidnapped. You need to come to the

in his tracks. "What did

in Leonard's voice, Israel pressed, "Wait, what

'too'? Was

"Simone was

it be the

yet. We're still looking into

We need

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

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

say no anymore. He also admitted he wanted an excuse to

he brought Keen

Joshua met them at the

Keen broke into a run

missed you so much! Did you

Stella had

and smiled. “Of course I missed you,

but she