The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"I've taken care of everything else," Stella said quietly.

Joshua looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. I haven't been any help to you just trouble. And now, I'm the one you're taking care of."

Stella was about to reply when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen.

Antoney.

She answered, "Hey, Antoney."

"Star, I just landed in Germany," he said.

"Thanks for handling things so openly these past few days," Stella replied. "We need the Gibson family's attention on you for now."

Antoney chuckled. "That's no problem at all."

He hesitated before adding, "Star, are you sure you don't want my help?"

"You're already helping me just by being there," Stella assured him.

Antoney pressed, "We could just leave together. Even if Gibson finds out, he wouldn't dare touch me."

Stella shook her head, glancing over at Joshua, who was scrolling through his phone. "I could leave with you, but Joshua can't. There's no way they'd ever let

him go."

many times. This time, I have to

a fault; he understood perfectly. He sighed. "Just be

anything goes wrong, call me

"I've already arranged for

that they handed over the last of Nora's connections and resources to her. For the first time, Stella

knew Stella never acted recklessly, so he didn't push

the call, Stella turned to Joshua. "You should get some rest. I'm going out to pick up

was recovering, but still vulnerable-any

again, so he could

leave

the apartment yet. s

the door, Joshua called out

and

"Be careful," he said.

Stella smiled. "I will."

evening, Stella brought up their new plan for Joshua's

nerves, maybe other things will too. Let's try bedtime

widened in

was

"he couldn't fall asleep on his own. I'd read to