The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1076

Stella opened her inbox and, just as she expected, found Neville’s meticulously annotated report waiting for her.

He’d thoroughly analyzed the three companies she’d singled out, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in detail. Even the other firms she’d dismissed received careful scrutiny; Neville had listed their pros and cons as well.

The language was clear and approachable, free of jargon—a thoughtful gesture, considering she was just starting out in this field.

It was obvious how much care he’d put into it.

Not much time had passed since she’d first reached out for his help. Neville must have dropped everything the moment he got her call, just to do this for her.

A gentle warmth bloomed in Stella’s chest. “Mr. Connolly, thank you so much for this.”

Neville’s deep, smooth voice suddenly softened, almost teasing.

“Star, we’ve known each other for quite a while now—wouldn’t you say we’re pretty good friends? You call Foreman Richards by his first name, and you never hesitate to call Joshua just ‘Joshua.’ But me? You’ve always stuck with ‘Mr. Connolly.’ Are you really so formal with me, Star? Are we still strangers?”

Stella hesitated. “I guess I just got used to it. It’s a habit.”

She paused, then said softly, “So… should I call you Neville?”

Neville chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. “Yes. From now on, just call me Neville.”

Stella smiled too. “Alright. Thank you again, Neville.”

Both had work to get back to, so they soon ended the call.

Unbeknownst to her, Joshua had stopped poring over his paperwork at some point. Now, he sat perfectly still, watching Stella with that dark, fathomless gaze of his—eyes so deep they reminded her of an ancient well, their intensity carrying a strange, unspoken pressure.

Stella’s smile hadn’t yet faded when she met his eyes. It froze on her lips, and a sudden tension prickled in the air.

Quickly regaining her composure, she pointed. “This one.”

Joshua glanced at the screen and nodded, his voice calm but cool. “His recommendation isn’t wrong, but it’s too conservative. No company, no matter how promising, can truly transform within a year without outside intervention.”

“Conservative?” Stella echoed, turning toward him.

He explained, “What I mean is, Neville’s suggestion is the best choice—if you and Aurora are competing on equal footing. But do you really believe things will be fair between you two?”

Stella faltered, unsure how to respond.

Joshua went on, “You’re not like your brothers. Their challenges are about testing their skill and grit. But you—your situation is different. Because you and Aurora started at the same time, everyone will naturally pit you against each other, whether you want it or not. Even if you don’t care to compete, everyone in the Williams Group will compare you two. People are self-interested. Everyone knows Aurora has the upper hand. But if you can surpass her—if you can climb higher by stepping over Aurora—you’ll earn the shareholders’ support faster than you can imagine.”

Stella stared at her screen, the report blurring before her eyes. In an instant, all those careful analyses seemed to lose their meaning.