The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1977

...

The following morning, right after she finished washing up, a gentle knock rapped against the door.

"Star, breakfast is ready."

She swung the door open to find Joshua waiting.

Before she could utter a single word, he smoothly intervened.

Grabbing her hand, he said, "Let's eat first. Whatever you want to say can wait until you've had a proper meal."

Down in the dining room, a lavish spread of her favorite dishes adorned the table.

The exquisite plating was an immediate giveaway—Joshua had cooked everything himself.

Taking her seat, she picked at the food, completely distracted.

A choice piece of meat suddenly landed on her plate.

"Isn't this your favorite, Star?" his crisp voice chimed. "Eat up."

She lifted her head.

Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, catching the striking angles of his handsome face. The soft glow made him look ethereal, like an untouchable work of art.

Catching her stare, he looked back. A devastatingly tender smile touched his eyes, dissolving the tension in the room.

Panic flared in her chest. She couldn't let this drag on.

He was boiling the frog slowly, chipping away at her fragile defenses with relentless affection.

Joshua was far too brilliant. Screaming, threatening, or demanding a breakup simply didn't register with him.

Abby, Leonard, Neville Connolly, and even Aurora Williams and Sellers Burton had all warned her of how utterly impossible Joshua could be when cornered.

But she had never felt it before.

Because up until now, his dangerous obsession had always been aimed at her enemies, never at her.

Only now did she truly grasp the terrifying extent of his unyielding control.

If she actually managed to enrage him, what extreme lengths would he go to in order to keep her?

Forcing down the last of her breakfast, she said, "I need to visit Mr. Burton today. I haven't apologized for the scene we made yesterday."

Laurel poured Stella a steaming cup of tea.

A woman of science, she skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the point.

Pulling several documents from a folder, she handed copies to both Mr. Burton and Stella.

"I've analyzed the trajectory of his memories over the past few years. Your presence has deeply anchored his psyche.

Because of this... I recommend setting the erasure point to right before he started searching for Rachel Pearce.

It was his debilitating migraines that prompted him to seek her out in the first place.

Once the mental block is established, the headaches will vanish.

Knowing him, if the pain is gone and no one prompts him, he'll abandon the search entirely.

Rachel is an unstable variable, and she is inextricably linked to you.

Since she served as the bridge that brought the two of you together, she must be entirely wiped from his consciousness."