The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 1220

This was to be expected. This was the Lerman family's stronghold, and Leonard was no amateur. Still, Harold couldn't shake his worry.

Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps and rushed forward.

Jake's face was grim. "Mr. Gardner is injured. Get a surgical team ready. Now."

Harold's blood ran cold. Without asking questions, he made the arrangements. It was only after Joshua was wheeled into surgery that he finally spoke. "Jake, what happened? Did the plan go wrong?"

Jake's expression was complicated. "The plan went perfectly. We found Abby, but she didn't want to leave just yet, so we didn't force her."

In truth, rescuing Abby was a secondary objective. Joshua's real target was Leonard. He had gone after Leonard alone, sending the rest of them to find Abby. With the explosives he had planted as an insurance policy, it was a risk he was willing to take.

"If everything went smoothly, why is Mr. Gardner hurt?" Harold asked. "Did you run into other trouble?"

Jake's eyes darted away. "Nothing major. We were ambushed passing through a garden."

"A garden?" Harold repeated, confused.

"The Lerman family's gardens are famous in these circles," Jake explained. "Something about the soil and climate there produces exceptionally beautiful flowers. They say a single bloom from that garden can fetch a high price at auction."

pull a single, perfect rose from his pocket. It was an unusual varietal, with an enormous bloom and a vibrant, almost glowing color. Under the light, it seemed to shimmer with

it together. Joshua had been injured... while picking this rose. It was exactly the kind of reckless,

through a lot of trouble for this flower; don't let it wilt. And have you notified Stella? Give it to her when she

seen here again, so

will," he

organs. An hour later, it was successfully removed. Just as the surgery ended,

shot, the color

who was beside her, had to steady

Is he going to be

couldn't meet her

for now." He then remembered his instructions and retrieved

it

a nearby table. In

magnificent rose. 's

Joshua passed by a garden," Harold said, his voice strained.

it was

stared at it, then took the vase with

the scene, even Antoney was