The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1173

Under the flickering firelight, the man’s eyes shimmered with a brilliance that reminded Stella of a starlit night—deep and impossibly clear. Even his striking features seemed touched by gold, the flames casting him in an almost unreal glow.

Joshua spoke quietly. “No need. Even if I tried to sleep, I doubt I’d get any rest.”

Stella let her gaze linger on his face. “Is your insomnia still that bad?”

He shook his head. “Hasn’t changed.”

“Is it because you have too much on your mind?”

Stella herself had rarely suffered sleepless nights—at least, not until her own troubles began piling up.

Joshua didn’t argue. “Maybe.”

She lowered her voice. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Joshua fell silent.

Worried she’d overstepped, Stella quickly added, “It’s okay if you don’t want to share…”

Before she could finish, his crisp, clear voice broke through the quiet. “Would you ever forgive someone who hurt you?”

Stella thought for a moment. “Depends on the kind of hurt. Not all wounds are the same.”

He looked away, then suddenly asked, “What about Haynes? Could you forgive him?”

She answered honestly, “I don’t forgive him, but I don’t hate him anymore, either.”

After Rachel Pearce’s lies were exposed, Haynes had done his best to make amends—more than she’d expected. Stella hadn’t pretended to be above accepting his help. After all, five years of marriage should have meant something; even a housekeeper wouldn’t have left with nothing.

“No,” he admitted quietly, his gaze locked on her. “Do you think I should tell her?”

Stella hesitated, words caught in her throat. She didn’t know the details—how could she offer advice on something so important? What if her ignorance made things worse between Joshua and this woman? She would never forgive herself.

After a moment she said, “I’m sorry, Joshua. I can’t answer that. I just don’t know enough about the situation.”

She didn’t try to hide her uncertainty or the reason for it.

Joshua gave a rueful laugh. “Fair enough. I don’t even know what I should do, so how could you?”

Stella managed a small smile. “If you already know you were wrong, then before you decide to tell her, just do everything you can to make it right.”

Joshua’s next question caught her off guard. “And if it was you? Would you forgive me?”