The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Joshua looked like he wanted to say something more, but Stella gently interrupted him. "Joshua, I need you to stay here and watch over Keen. If I hand him off to anyone else, I just can't be at ease."

If she had to choose between something happening to herself or to Keen, the answer was obvious. She'd rather take the risk herself.

Joshua understood that perfectly well. All he could do was stand there and watch as Stella and Jonathan walked away.

Foreman, seeing Joshua had finally run out of excuses to linger around Stella, let a faint, knowing smile curl his lips.

"Stay here with Keen. I'll go check on Star," he said, pausing for effect before adding, "You know, Joshua, you're not the only one in the world who can protect her."

Joshua looked him straight in the eye. "You did this on purpose."

He didn't have to spell out exactly what he meant; both of them knew. Foreman had deliberately brought Keen over to tie Joshua's hands. Even if Jonathan hadn't come for Stella, Foreman would've found some other way to keep him from following her. He just wanted a chance to be alone with Stella.

"I'm not

Keen's hand, he said, "Come on, Keen. Let's go find

safe before he could go after Stella. If anything happened to

didn't waste another second and strode off in the direction Stella

...

an unremarkable corner of the party, someone dressed as a janitor was

of her face, but her eyes glinting with malice-remained

Haynes, Simone, Joshua. Seeing Stella and Simone together made her seethe with resentment. But with Joshua always at Stella's side, she hadn't dared to make a move

that she almost didn't want to start there. Better to pull Joshua to her side first, to make sure he completely lost

Rachel's lips curled into a cold smile. It wouldn't be long before she reclaimed

Jonathan into a quiet

so important that you needed to talk to me alone?"