The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

He raised his phone and, aiming in Haynes' direction, snapped a quick photo.

Without hesitation, he sent the picture to Rachel, along with a short message. "This is as much as I can do for you."

Rachel replied almost instantly.

"I'm on my way!"

Then, as if suddenly realizing she hadn't thanked Joshua, she sent another message.

"Thank you, Joshua."

Carrying four bottles of water, Joshua strolled back at an unhurried pace.

When he returned, he spotted Aurora sitting across from Stella, the two deep in conversation.

On the table in front of them sat the four drinks he had just brought.

Joshua had sharp hearing and could vaguely catch Aurora's words.

"Think it through. If you agree to come back, my father is willing to give you ten percent of The Williams Group's shares."

Stella was about to respond, but when she noticed Joshua returning, she simply said, "Alright, I'll consider it."

Aurora stood up. "Well, I'll be going then."

She offered Joshua a polite smile, just as she was about to leave.

Joshua's eyes narrowed suddenly. "Ms. Williams, wait a moment."noveldrama

Over the past few weeks, Joshua and Aurora had run into each other a handful of times. They were acquaintances, but only in the most superficial sense-barely more than a nod in passing, with hardly any real conversation.

So when Joshua called out to her now, Aurora couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

"Yes, Mr. Joshua? Is something the matter?"

Joshua's gaze fell to the earrings she was wearing. "Ms. Williams, may I ask- where did you get your earrings?"

Aurora instinctively touched her earlobe, puzzled. "My earrings...? Is there something unusual about them?"

Joshua didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Would you mind if I took a closer look at them?"

It was a bold, even slightly rude request-completely out of character for the usually reserved and courteous Joshua.

Stella glanced at Joshua but didn't say a word.

Aurora looked at him thoughtfully.

She'd always respected people with strength of character. Joshua wasn't exactly her type but she'd always

had a decent impression

of him.

He was, after all, a strong presence among ordinary men.

With that in mind, Aurora nodded. "Sure."

She unclasped her earring and handed it to him.

int

Joshua examined it closely. The piece

palm exactly the same maiset t smooth and cool in hisnet

as

the earring he already had

He quickly returned it to her.

"I'm done, thank you, Ms. Williams."

Aurora took it back, glancing down at it herself.

Her father had commissioned these as a custom design-unique, yes, but not so extraordinary that they'd be one of a kind.

She couldn't see anything particularly special about them.

Aurora didn't press him for an explanation. Instead, she smiled. "Anything else,

Mr. Joshua? If not, I'll get going."

"No, that's all," Joshua replied.

Aurora left.

Halfway across the lawn, she caught sight of Haynes teaching Keen how to shoot a bow.

Suddenly, she remembered Rachel had also once tried to buy these earrings from her.

Joshua and Rachel. Why were they both so interested in this pair of earrings?

Was there some connection between them?

Aurora mind,

no matter how hard

trieved everything in her

evidence linking Joshua an

couldnt recall any

After she left, Stella turned to Joshua. "Is there something special about Aurora's earrings?"

The pair did look familiar to Stella.

She'd known Aurora for a few years, so maybe she'd seen her wearing them before-that must be why they rang a bell.

She'd never really paid much attention to Aurora's accessories.

Joshua turned to her, his gaze deep and unreadable, carrying a weight that made

Stella's heart skip a beat.