The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1303

Stella, who had been reaching for the map, paused.

"It's late. He's probably asleep."

Foreman's voice held a note of disapproval. "Keen was kidnapped because of him, and he can sleep through it?"

Haynes had already given up the idea of trading Joshua for Keen. "Let him be," he said coolly.

Foreman noticed the shift in Haynes's attitude, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Ignoring the topic of Joshua, Stella and Haynes focused on the map. By the time they had finalized their plans, the sky outside was beginning to lighten.

Haynes looked at Stella's weary face. "Star, go get some sleep. We'll move out at noon."

They still needed to gather their team and equipment. Though both were frantic with worry, they knew that rushing in unprepared wasn't rescue—it was suicide.

Stella didn't argue. She needed to conserve her energy to face Gibson.

"Alright."

After seeing them off, Stella didn't go to rest. For some reason, she suddenly felt an urge to check on Joshua. It was five in the morning. She wasn't sure if he'd be awake, but remembering his insomnia and the current crisis, she suspected he hadn't slept at all.

She hesitated for a moment before walking to his room and knocking softly.

"Joshua, are you awake?"

There was no answer.

She knocked again, but still, silence. Joshua was a light sleeper; his senses were too sharp to sleep this soundly. The fact that he wasn't responding was wrong.

Wasting no more time, she strode to Haynes's room and knocked sharply on the door.

"Change of plans. We're leaving now."

Haynes saw the grim look on her face. "Star, what's wrong?"

The commotion drew Foreman out of his room as well.

"Star, what happened?"

"Joshua went after Gibson," Stella said. "We have to move immediately and back him up."

Foreman's face soured. "When we needed him to step up, he hid. Now that we don't, he decides to play the hero and make a mess of things? Isn't he just getting in our way?"