The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 999

After signing the agreement, Stella left the room with Joshua in tow.

This time, no one from the Williams family—or Leonard’s side—tried to stop them.

The hallway was silent, the only sound the muffled thud of Stella’s heels on the crimson carpet.

Joshua walked by her side. “Were they always like this to you?” he asked quietly.

Stella knew exactly who he meant: the Williams family.

“More or less,” she replied.

Back then, whether it was her, or Coleman, or Israel, they’d all been younger. People said what they meant, sometimes bluntly, often cruelly. Things were out in the open.

Now, their attitude hadn’t changed, but the cruelty wore a mask of politeness. The malice was just dressed up in false concern.

They walked in silence for a while before Stella finally asked, “Joshua, do you really have any proof?”

He shot her a sidelong glance. “You’re only asking me now? Don’t you think it’s a bit late for that?”

“It’s not too late,” she said calmly.

Joshua regarded her. “And what if I lied? What if I just bluffed and never had proof at all? Would you have actually sold your original shares to them?”

Stella’s lips curled into a small smile. “Of course not. If you didn’t have any evidence, I’d simply back out of the deal.”

He stared at her, surprised. “Back out?”

But Joshua was already looking at her, a faint, gentle smile lighting up his eyes, their expression shimmering like sunlight on water.

She paused, caught off guard. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He smiled. “I thought you’d stick to your principles, no matter what.”

Stella looked away, her own smile tinged with irony. “Principles depend on the person. With someone like Leonard—someone without a shred of decency—holding onto your principles is just plain foolish.”

Joshua said softly, “I was worried you’d still be weighed down by the past.”

“I’m not,” Stella replied. Ever since Leonard destroyed her hand, she hadn’t carried any burdens.

“But…” Joshua’s tone shifted, a spark of mischief in his eyes. “I do have evidence.”