The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Joshua smiled and replied, "Alright."

A sudden thought crossed Stella's mind, and she asked, "Joshua, how's your insomnia? Has it gotten any better?"

Joshua paused before answering quietly, "Not yet."

Stella's long lashes fluttered as she looked down. "I'll ask Dr. Burton to find a treatment for you," she promised softly. "But as for music therapy... I'm afraid that's off the table now."

Joshua's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly, though he kept his easy, untroubled smile.

"It's alright. Abby recorded all your performances for me. Listening to those is just as good."

But even as he said it, they both knew that hearing a recording could never compare to Stella's live violin playing.

From now on... would he never hear her play again?

A wave of restless anger surged in Joshua's chest at the thought.

Unlike Joshua, Abby was never good at hiding her feelings. Her eyes immediately darkened with hatred.

"Leonard really is hard to kill. Two near-death experiences and he's still breathing!"

Joshua, however, just shrugged. "If he died that easily, it'd be letting him off too lightly. Better to consider those two close calls as mere interest on what he owes."

Abby had long since considered Joshua one of her own, so his words didn't surprise her. In fact, she agreed wholeheartedly.

"You're right. Dying quickly would be a mercy he doesn't deserve. Joshua, in your opinion, what would make Leonard truly suffer?"noveldrama

Joshua pretended to ponder for a moment. "Take away what he cares about most. Tear his family apart. Make sure he loses everything, is betrayed by those he trusts... Make him wish he were dead."

Abby's gaze sharpened thoughtfully. "Take away what he cares about most..."

***

Three days later, Antoney sent Abby a comprehensive dossier on the Lerman family.

He sounded a little worried when he called her "Abby, what do you need all this information on the Lermans for? Leonard may be arrogant and ruthless, but he's no fool. Don't go picking a fight you can't win."

Even now, Antoney knew he didn't have the power to stand against Leonard directly.

Though Antoney hated Leonard as much as anyone, for now he had no choice but to bide his time.

Abby, meanwhile, was thumbing through the documents on the Lermans sas she spoke on the phone. "Don't worry, I'm not about to do anything reckless. I just need to understand their family better. Leonard is our enemy-and also a major business partner of the Williams family. We need to know everything we can about him. Now that Star's joined the Williams Group, I'm her assistant. I may not know much about business, but I need to get up to speed on the people involved. Otherwise, I'd just be holding Star back."

Antoney finally seemed reassured. "If you come up with anything, let me know. I'll help however I can."

"Will do. Oh, and send me the information you have on the Burton family too. Those two sycophants around Aurora need to be on our radar."

"Got it," Antoney agreed.

After hanging up, Abby stared at a page in front of her, her eyes darkening with thought.

She murmured, "Harland Lerman, Leonard's older half-brother. Was supposed to inherit the family, but after that car accident, he's been in a wheelchair and had to drop out of the running..."

A faint smile curled at Abby's lips as she closed the folder.

***

Lythania General Hospital.

Simone finally felt a wave of relief as Leonard's heartbeat stabilized and he was brought back from the brink once again.

She hesitated, then gave in and typed out a message to Joshua.

"Joshua, my brother says it was you who tried to kill him. Is it true?"