The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 2112

"It's getting late," Leonard offered seamlessly. "Let me give you a ride home."

Stella immediately thought of Joshua waiting for her. She opened her mouth to decline, but a crisp, commanding voice cut through the air behind her.

"Star. Are you finished?"

Stella's body went completely rigid. For a split second, that familiar, possessive drawl dragged her three years into the past.

Before she could recover, a tall, elegantly imposing figure stepped into the light.

Joshua's gaze swept over the baby's breath in her hands, then slid to Leonard. His lips curved into a cryptic, predatory smirk.

He extended a hand toward Leonard, his tone dripping with false warmth.

"Mr. Lerman. I've heard a lot about you."

Leonard's gaze turned somber. "You know who I am?"

"Who hasn't heard of the head of the Lerman family?" Joshua purred. "Even if we hadn't met, doing a thorough background check is mandatory before stepping into Solmaris.

After all, one should tread carefully in someone else's territory."

Leonard stared at the outstretched hand for a second before politely returning the handshake.

"A pleasure, Mr. Gardner."

Their hands met and parted instantly.

Joshua tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "What happened to your hand, Mr. Lerman?"

Leonard met his stare. "Is there a problem?"

"Your grip is unnaturally cold and stiff," Joshua mused aloud. "It feels distinctly like a prosthetic hand, not a living one."

Leonard's dark eyes narrowed fractionally, though his expression remained an icy mask.

"Good eye, Mr. Gardner. It is indeed a bionic arm."

"And what happened to your original hand?" Joshua pressed.

"It was severed."

"Ah, severed..." Joshua paused, letting the silence stretch before flashing a look of polite regret. "My apologies. I didn't mean to pry into a painful memory."

Leonard's voice was dangerously smooth. "You certainly have a knack for finding people's sore spots, Mr. Gardner."

Joshua chuckled darkly. "A man my age wouldn't have survived this long without knowing exactly where to look."

Leonard studied her face intently for a long moment, but he didn't push the issue.

He was sharp enough to piece together the unspoken dynamics from her earlier explanation.

"Alright," his voice was a low, resonant rumble. "Call me if you need anything."

Stella nodded.

With that, Leonard gracefully departed.

The moment he was out of earshot, Joshua's voice dropped into a dangerous murmur. "Do you have feelings for him?"

Stella whipped her head around. "What?"

Joshua's smirk didn't reach his eyes. "A few minutes ago, I was 'Joshua'. But the second Leonard showed up, I was suddenly 'Mr. Gardner' again.

What's the matter? Were you terrified he might get the wrong idea about us?"

Stella was speechless. "..."

"Do you want me to call him back?" Joshua taunted softly. "I'd be more than happy to explain things to him."

"You're completely misunderstanding this," Stella insisted. "Leonard and I are just friends."