The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 1182

"Help you?" Leonard let out a mocking laugh. "You're nothing more than a plaything for him-a little amusement when he's bored.

All this so-called 'help' you think you're getting? It's just a few well-chosen words for him. That's all it's ever been.

Rachel, you seriously overestimate yourself.

He knew you were a fraud from the very beginning."

Leonard and Joshua were cut from the same cloth-when it came to manipulating people, Leonard could write the rulebook.

Rachel was never much of a liar. She could fool Simone and Aurora, perhaps, but trying to deceive men like them-men who'd clawed their way out of hell-was laughable.

Leonard looked down at Rachel, his gaze cold and superior. "Tell me, Rachel, did it ever occur to you that a man as ruthless as Joshua wouldn't fall hopelessly in love with you just because you played a pretty tune?

If he were really that easy to handle, do you think you'd have ended up like this?" The truth was becoming crystal clear to Leonard.

All that talk about "the one that got away" or "seeking redemption"-it was nothing more than a story Joshua spun for his own amusement.

would ever buy

turned out to be plain, or horribly ugly, or even older than his own mother? Would he just live with that?

actually talked; she'd encouraged him, offered him genuine

what had that violinist

Stepped in to help him? No-she'd

least seen her face, maybe

back, all he ever heard was a

yet Rachel honestly believed that a single song and a fleeting silhouette were

Ignorance truly is bliss.

Leonard watched Rachel's face

then added quietly

Joshua kept you around was to use you against

s

shook his head, almost in disbelief. “I never thought Simone would actually

scene flashed through Rachel's mind, all the old mysteries suddenly making

now, she refused to accept the truth-that she'd been a

Joshua, why did he come to find me in person? Why did he get so