The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 826

She returned to the hospital room and glanced at Joshua.

“Joshua, what do you want for lunch? I can go pick something up for you.”

The man’s deep, clear eyes settled on her. “Are you planning to expose Rachel?”

Stella didn’t hide anything. “Yes.”

He looked at her steadily. “Because of me?”

She answered honestly, “You’re involved, but you’re not the only reason. You’re just the spark that set things off.”

Joshua pressed further, “But if this hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t be exposing Rachel right now, would you?”

Stella didn’t deny it. She smiled. “That’s true, but it would only be a matter of weeks. It makes little difference. Better her fans see her for who she really is now—it might even save them the price of a ticket in the long run.”

Joshua lowered his head, his long lashes shadowing his eyes. “So it’s still because of me.”

Stella thought he was blaming himself, so she reached out to reassure him. “No matter what, you’re with me. If people around me can be framed for anything and get away with it, then anyone could walk all over us. You don’t need to feel guilty. If it hadn’t been you, it could just as easily have happened to Candida.”

Joshua ignored her last comment, his voice unreadable. “Alright then.”

Thinking he’d accepted it, Stella didn’t press further. “So, what do you want to eat? I’ll go get it.”

Joshua casually listed a few dishes, naming a restaurant halfway across town—almost an hour’s drive each way.

Stella laughed. “What’s got you so worked up? What happened?”

Abby’s voice trembled with excitement. “I’ve been digging up dirt on Rachel, right? There were some videos and recordings, but the truly crucial evidence was always missing. Especially—proof that Rachel’s been faking her illness!”

That particular secret was the key to all the sympathy and special treatment Rachel had received. She’d fooled not just Haynes and the others, but all her fans, too. If anyone ever found concrete proof, Rachel’s reputation would be destroyed beyond repair.

But Rachel had always covered her tracks too well. Neither Stella nor Abby, nor even Antoney or Neville, had ever found anything substantial. Only Mr. Burton, when he’d examined Rachel, had suspected she was faking, but when he’d tried to warn Haynes, Haynes had brushed him off, thinking Mr. Burton was just taking Stella’s side.

To this day, Stella and Abby hadn’t been able to get anything on Rachel—until now.

Abby’s voice rose again, even more breathless. “Star, just now, I got an anonymous email. The attachments—it’s all dirt on Rachel. And there’s even proof that she’s been faking her illness! I have no idea who sent it, but without it, no matter how much dirt we spread, it would never have been enough to really take Rachel down!”