The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1961

Stella didn't offer a verbal reply. Instead, she pushed the crisp cotton fabric off his broad shoulders, her fingertips gently tracing the faded, silvery scars mapping his chest and ribs.

These were relics of a brutal past.

For scars to remain this prominent after years of cutting-edge medical treatment, the initial trauma must have been catastrophically severe.

A sharp, suffocating ache seized her heart.

No one was simply born with the terrifying power Joshua wielded.

His entire empire had been forged in blood, agony, and ruthless survival.

She was currently standing safely inside a fortress built entirely on his shattered bones.

It was almost laughable how she had spent so long believing he was an untouchable god.

Leonard had been absolutely right—before she could pull him out of the darkness, she needed to plunge her hands into the very depths of his horrific past.

Leaning in, Stella pressed a feather-light, reverent kiss directly over the jagged scar tissue.

Joshua's entire body went rigidly taut, his muscles bunching beneath her lips.

"Star..."

She tilted her head back, her cheeks flushed a stunning shade of crimson, but her dark eyes were resolute and unyielding.

"Let me take care of you today," she whispered softly. "Please."

Joshua swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing sharply. The darkness in his eyes ignited into a raging, blistering inferno, hot enough to scorch the very soul.

Her breathtakingly gorgeous, flushed face reflected in his dilated pupils.

A violent, intoxicating surge of adrenaline and raw euphoria roared through his veins, setting his blood on fire.

The muscular arms banded securely around her waist actually began to tremble as he fought to suppress the overwhelming tsunami of emotion crashing into him.

Much later, whenever he was forced to relive this exact, perfect moment, his chest would constrict as if venomous, thorny vines were wrapping around his heart.

Suffocating, shredding his insides.

Only when the agonizing pain brought him to his knees would he finally realize that the emotion tearing him apart was pure, unadulterated hatred.

What billionaire heiress would willingly shackle herself to a deformed cripple?

And marrying some ordinary woman would offer absolutely zero leverage against the board. His chances of securing a power alliance were dead in the water.

At the sound of Aurora's name, a dangerous spark finally flickered to life in Sellers's deadened eyes.

The horrific memory of Joshua's parting taunt echoed in his mind like a death knell.

And McCoy Chapman... I highly doubt he'll just politely look the other way.

Tell me, Sellers, do you think that bastard child is going to survive the fallout?"

Sellers's one good eye darkened with a chilling, desperate malice.

He turned his head toward his brother, his voice a hoarse, grating rasp. "Sherman. Call Aurora. Tell her to get here right now."