The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 2093

A flicker of genuine amusement lit up his eyes. "And why would I do that?"

"Aurora and I have a toxic relationship, and it's only going to get worse," Stella explained, keeping her voice steady. "If you stay close to her, you're going to get dragged into the crossfire. I don't want to be enemies with you, so I'd prefer it if you kept your distance from her. If you agree to my terms, I'll keep investigating and find the real woman who played the violin in the garden for you."

He stared down at her, his dark eyes unreadable.

"Why are you so opposed to us being enemies?"

She avoided his piercing gaze, looking out toward the brightly lit track.

"You and Laurel Quinn have been partners for years, and Laurel is my best friend. If we end up at each other's throats, it'll put her in a terrible position."

Laurel Quinn was basically a human shield, dragged into every excuse.

Miles away in her office, Laurel suddenly sneezed three times in a row.

"Is it purely for Laurel's sake?" he pressed smoothly.

Stella lowered her eyelashes, masking the turbulent emotions swirling in her eyes.

"I have my own selfish reasons too... Over these past few months, I've come to view you as a friend. So, I really don't want to become your enemy."

A sudden, heavy silence fell between them.

The deafening roar of the crowd seemed to fade away, leaving them in a secluded bubble.

She refused to look at his face, terrified she would only see cold mockery—a look that told her she was overestimating her own importance.

The seconds dragged on like hours, though barely a moment had passed.

"You're very honest, Ms. Cameron."

Her breath hitched, and her head snapped up to meet his gaze.

"If I win, you're not going to turn around and claim this was all just a joke, are you?"

"Lies breed lies," he replied smoothly. "People only get played when they start the game with deceit. You've been completely transparent with me. Why would I trick you? Besides, you're Laurel's best friend. If I actually screwed you over, she'd never let me hear the end of it."

Back in her office, Laurel, who had just put on a heavy sweater, sneezed twice more.

Before Stella could respond, Aurora and Henley swaggered over to them.

Aurora was glowing, an air of untouchable confidence radiating from her. She looked up at Joshua, her eyes practically sparkling with expectation. "Joshua! How was my race? Do you have any pointers for me?"

Stella silently looked away.

His cold, detached voice drifted over her head. "Your reaction time off the starting line is excellent. You secure the optimal racing line in seconds. But your cornering technique is flawed and a bit sloppy. Overall, you're definitely at a professional level, but you're still a long way from the top tier."

Stella was utterly speechless.