The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1165

She’d found like-minded friends in Lauretta, Katrina Greene, and Wendy Burke. Lately, she’d even gotten to know Neville, Marvin Connolly, Foreman, and Mr. Burton.

There were plenty of people who couldn’t stand her, but honestly, just as many who liked her.

Stella was about to say that both she and Abby could be his friends when Joshua’s voice cut in again.

“Actually, there’s another reason I wanted you to come with me today.”

Stella lowered her voice, “What reason?”

Joshua took a swig of beer. “Today’s my birthday.”

Stella froze. “Wait—today’s your birthday?”

It hit her then—she hadn’t prepared a gift.

“I’m sorry,” she said hastily. “I didn’t know. When we get back, I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

Joshua just shrugged. “No one ever remembers my birthday anyway. You coming here with me is enough. Really.”

A pang of regret tugged at Stella. If she’d asked more questions when he first mentioned taking her somewhere, maybe he would’ve told her.

She said softly, “I’ll remember your birthday from now on. You won’t have to spend it alone again.”

Joshua looked at her, his eyes shimmering like a lake under a starry sky.

“Really?” he asked.

“Really,” she replied without hesitation.

He smiled, but his voice was wistful. “Someone once promised to spend every birthday with me. That didn’t last.”

Stella guessed he was talking about someone special from his past.

She thought for a moment, then said, “You’re right. No one can really guarantee the future. So how about this—let’s just make a plan for next year. Next year, I’ll be there for your birthday too. Deal?”

For a moment, the serious lines of his face softened, as if washed in gentle moonlight.

He nodded. “Deal.”

Then he stuck out his pinky finger. “Pinky swear?”

About half an hour later, Aicken replied: everything was set.

Stella turned, ready to ask Joshua to set the GPS for the restaurant—when she caught the sudden tension in his expression.

He said quietly, “Star, check your seatbelt. Make sure it’s fastened.”

Stella instinctively checked it. “It’s fine… Joshua, what’s going on?”

They must’ve been there for a while; she’d only just noticed now that they were so close.

She looked again, her stomach tightening. There were a lot of them.

Joshua pressed down on the gas. “We’re being followed. Whoever they are, they’re not here to make friends.”

He’d barely finished speaking when a gunshot cracked through the night—shattering the side mirror.

Suddenly, the car was peppered with bullets, each impact ringing out louder than the last.