The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1525

"People like them have a streak of madness etched into their very bones. When they snap, they hurt themselves and others, often leaving a trail of destruction."

For some reason, hearing Neville's critique of the Gardners made Stella feel a faint sense of unease. She felt that Joshua was definitely not that kind of person.

Just then, Neville's phone rang. He excused himself from Stella and moved to a quiet corner to take the call.

Seeing Neville walk away, Joshua and Marvin came over. He asked, "What were you and Neville talking about so happily?"

Stella said, "Nothing much. We were just speculating that this exhibition might have been organized by some big shot from the Gardner family. Neville said only the Gardners could pull off something like this."

Hearing this, Joshua gave her an unreadable look.

"If you want to know about the Gardner family, why not ask me? How could an outsider possibly know more than I do?"

Stella thought to herself that her curiosity about the Gardners was really a way to indirectly understand the kind of environment Joshua had grown up in. Besides, hearing him talk about his family felt strange, almost like picking at an old wound.

Just as Stella was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye—someone who had no business being there.

She froze for a moment, thinking she must be mistaken.

Joshua's gaze had been fixed on Stella. Noticing her strange expression, he sensed something was wrong.

"Star, what is it?"

Stella sounded uncertain. "I think... I just saw Leonard Lerman."

She wasn't that familiar with Leonard, so it was possible she was mistaken. Still, Stella turned to look in the direction of the figure.

Stella's expression was cold. "I'm not sure about the cat, but the revulsion of seeing a rat is definitely real."

Having clawed his way from being an illegitimate son to the head of his family, Leonard had heard every insult imaginable. Stella's words didn't faze him in the slightest.

He lifted an eyelid, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"By your logic, Ms. Cameron, it seems I'm not allowed to be in the same place as you. What's the matter? Does your family own this exhibition?"

As he spoke, his eyes swept meaningfully over Joshua, a slight curl on his lips.

"But the person who organized this exhibition is certainly generous. To display their entire collection for one person... it's quite the grand gesture. If it weren't for this, I doubt I would ever have the chance to appreciate so many masterpieces in my lifetime. Have you any idea, Stella, what an astronomical sum the paintings in this exhibition are worth altogether?"