The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Israel's face twisted with rage. "Coleman, why are you even talking to him? He's just Stella's lapdog-what could he possibly know?"

Before Israel could finish, Coleman cut him off. "Israel, let him finish."

Coleman fixed his gaze on Joshua. "You said something just now-what did you mean?"

Joshua, still holding the file folder, stepped forward and faced the group. "I meant this: just because you never saw her, doesn't mean she never saw you. Maybe she watched you all from the shadows, more often than you realize. Maybe those birthday presents you got every year-some of them were from her. But you never noticed. You never cared.

You all say she wasn't around growing up, that she owes you for it. But in the end, she left everything she had to Star. Do you know what that means?"

Israel blurted out, "What does it mean?"

Joshua's voice was icy calm. "It means she was utterly disappointed in you. Mrs. Nora wanted Star to return to the Williams family so her brothers could protect her after she was gone. And what did you do? You turned your back on your real sister, treated her like an outsider-worse, like an enemy.

You're supposed to be her family, but when she needed you, you weren't there. If she can't even rely on her own sons, who else could she trust to look out for her daughter?"

Joshua's lips curled into a smile, cold and sharp as a blade. His eyes were dark, glacial-like water beneath winter ice.

only know how to bully their own sister, who scheme against her at every

demeanor slipped away, and something

eyes widened

calling me pathetic? You're the one living off a woman's charity-you're the real

pressed it to Joshua's forehead. "Let's see who's

shouted at once.

"Don't do it, Israel!"

even flinch. His voice was lazy, almost bored. "Pointing a gun at my head? J That's all you got? If you've got the guts,

insane? Anyone else in Joshua's shoes would be begging for their life, but he was actually provoking Israel, of

would pull the trigger on anyone if pushed hard enough.

people-hothe fall.ne

The man in front of her didn't play by

own. He was dangerous in a way that

"Israel, please! Don't

managed to break through Israel's