The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 2013

Whether he loves you or hates you, Joshua is out of options."

Stella closed her eyes. "Tell Colby to get everything ready. Let me know when it's time."

"Do you want to rest for a day first?" Laurel asked.

Stella shook her head. Even that tiny movement seemed to drain whatever little strength she had left.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "You and Beckett Torres need to erase every trace of my existence. And his two assistants..."

She paused, a faint, humorless smile touching her lips.

"Actually, if Joshua agrees, we won't need to sneak around doing it. He'll handle the arrangements himself. He'll wipe the slate clean on his own. I'm overthinking it."

For some reason, Laurel—who rarely felt much of anything anymore—felt a sudden, sharp pang of sorrow.

Stella had lost her baby, and now Joshua was leaving her forever.

She wondered how much more this woman could take before she shattered completely.

Exhausted, Stella murmured, "Go prep the room. I just want to rest for a bit."

Laurel slipped out, closing the door softly behind her.

Since the pregnancy began, Stella's health had been fragile. Now, she was completely depleted.

She closed her eyes and drifted into a heavy, dreamless sleep.

When she finally woke, the room was bathed in the golden, dying light of the sunset pouring through the window.

Yet, Stella still felt as if she were trapped in a freezer.

She hadn't dreamed at all. Not even a glimpse of her baby coming to say goodbye.

Sensing a presence, Stella turned her head.

Joshua was sitting in the chair beside her bed. He was watching her in total silence, so still and calm that it was almost unsettling.

The moment she saw him, tears pricked the corners of her eyes.

But when she opened her mouth, the words that came out were absolute ice. "Joshua. Go do the hypnosis."

"Is there really nothing else you want to say to me?" he asked.

With that, he pushed the door open and walked out.

...

An hour later, a knock sounded, and Laurel stepped into the room.

"He's ready for the procedure."

Stella forced herself to sit up. "Ms. Quinn, please help me up."

In her current state, she was supposed to be on strict bed rest.

But this might be the very last time she ever saw him.

Laurel supported her weight and draped a heavy coat over her shoulders.

Leaning heavily on Laurel, Stella managed the agonizing walk down the hall toward Colby's office.

As they approached, she only caught a fleeting glimpse of Joshua's broad back as he disappeared into the hypnosis room.