The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1023

Everyone present had heard stories about Leonard’s methods. But witnessing them firsthand was another matter entirely—it made people’s skin crawl.

Worse still, the person he tormented was one of their own. The Williams family wore identical expressions, each face clouded with rage and disgust.

Aurora frowned at the sight, unable to bear it any longer. She turned her head away, refusing to look at the footage playing on the screen. Only Simone watched, her satisfaction clear—finally, justice felt within reach. Abby’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. Old hatred for Leonard flared anew, her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles turned white. It took every ounce of self-control not to leap up and curse him to his face.

Time seemed to crawl and race at once. For everyone in the room, every second was pure agony.

The video ended, the screen fading to black. Silence fell over the home theater, heavy as a shroud.

Out of the quiet, a man’s calm, clear voice rang out. “Now, do any of you still think Star wronged him?”

No one spoke. Even the air felt frozen.

The Williams family cycled through shock, disbelief, anger, and a tangled mess of other emotions. Joshua didn’t care what they were thinking. He simply announced, “According to the terms of our agreement, starting today, all collaboration between the Williams family and the Lerman family is terminated. Leonard, you’ve lost. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Leonard’s face was so dark and twisted it was almost frightening. He locked eyes with Joshua, voice cold and sharp. “How did you get your hands on that footage?”

Leonard’s gaze turned dangerously dark. Even knowing Joshua was deliberately sowing discord, trying to pit him against Sellers, he couldn’t help but admit there was some truth behind the words. Did Sellers really just want to relish Stella’s pain? A man sharp enough to become head of the Burton family wouldn’t be so childish. And clearly, the leak had started with Sellers.

Suddenly, Skyler shot to his feet, fury blazing in his expression. “Leonard, you cold-blooded bastard! How dare you treat Star like that—don’t think I won’t make you pay!”

The three Williams brothers snapped out of their shock, all turning to Leonard with icy stares. He’d gone too far—he’d dared lay hands on one of their own. Even if they’d only wanted to teach Stella a lesson, to frighten her, slap her around, or even target her friend Abby, they could never feel this level of rage. But to cripple Stella, to do it so brazenly—and have it recorded, no less—was beyond forgiveness.

He’d thought he was untouchable. Now, he’d finally gone too far.