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.

to bully their own sister, who scheme against her at every turn?

demeanor slipped away,

eyes widened in

control. "Pathetic? You're calling me pathetic? You're the one living

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

and Aurora both shouted at

"Don't do it, Israel!"

lazy, almost bored. "Pointing a gun at my head? J That's all you got? If you've got

in Joshua's shoes

Israel, who would pull the trigger on anyone if pushed

people-hothe fall.ne

of her

He was dangerous in a

"Israel, please! Don't do

managed to break through Israel's fury