The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1004

He was just about to slip into the shadows and follow when someone gently tugged at his sleeve.

“Joshua.”

Joshua turned. To his surprise, it was Simone Lerman.

Simone beamed at him. “Joshua, what are you doing here? Not keeping Stella company?”

Joshua calmly slipped his arm free from Simone’s grasp. “Did you need something?”

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, Simone lowered her voice. “Joshua, I wanted to talk to you. Would you take a walk with me?”

He wasn’t in any particular rush, so after a moment’s thought, he nodded.

Simone had always been fond of Joshua. After learning that his background matched her own, even her last reservation had melted away. Now, the more time she spent with him, the more she liked him.

They strolled together into the quiet, secluded back garden.

Joshua’s true identity still wasn’t public knowledge. Simone wanted to seem as though she liked him for who he was, not because of his status or connections, so she chose her words with extra care. She couldn’t risk asking if his closeness to Stella was part of some scheme to acquire shares in The Williams Group.

Watching Joshua’s expression closely, she asked, “Joshua, is there some misunderstanding between you and my brother?”

After Leonard’s injuries healed, Simone had asked Joshua about the attack. Just as Aurora Williams had suspected, Leonard had claimed to have seen Joshua at the hospital.

“Maybe there is,” Joshua replied. “After all, your brother did come to see me once. He told me to stay away from you—that I wasn’t good enough for you.”

Simone’s smile faltered. “My brother came to see you? When was this? Why didn’t I know?”

Joshua pretended to think for a few seconds. “It must have been not long before your brother was hospitalized.”

If Aurora could count on Joshua’s help, she’d have no trouble joining The Williams Group or acquiring Stella’s original shares. And as luck would have it, Joshua was now spending time with Stella.

If all of this was for Aurora’s benefit, things would fall into place far too easily.

Of course, helping Aurora would mean Leonard gained another rival in love. But if it meant Aurora’s happiness, Simone knew her brother would gladly accept it—even if it meant sharing Aurora with someone else.

Most people would never dream of undermining their own sister for the sake of their beloved. But Leonard absolutely would.

Simone had always known that, in Leonard’s heart, she’d never come before Aurora.

She used to think it didn’t matter. Back then, she’d been so weak—there was nothing she could do except accept Leonard’s protection.

It was only after meeting Aurora that things changed. With Aurora’s support, she finally found the strength to stand on her own.